VIENNA, Austria (CNN)—DNA tests have confirmed the identity of a young Austrian woman believed to have been held captive in a basement “dungeon” and sexually assaulted over an eight-year period.

read more…. http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/08/25/austria.kidnap/index.html

According to the BBC they haven’t actually determined if she was sexually assaulted.  In fact, they’re rather unsure of how she even escaped.

Being sexually assaulted would have been just one destructive factor, of more importance is that her childhood was stolen from her, that she was stolen from her parents, that she was confined in a small ‘cell’ for nearly a decade, denied an education, social interaction, access to fresh air,  and that under just these circumstances alone she was brainwashed or institutionalized (Stockholm Synd.) and the continuing years of her life will never be normal or routine. 

I cannot even imagine the first feelings of betrayal, hysteria, calling for her parents, calling for anyone to save her; and no one came.  Even is no sexual assault occurred, I doubt that would have been much more than icing on the cake of Hell under the circumstances.

Yep, a lot is unsure yet. It’s an amazing story. After she fled last wednesday, her 44 year old captor committed suicide by jumping in front of a train.

I never said the rest of her ordeal was lessened by the fact that she may not have been sexually assaulted.  I simply stated that the actual situation is still in doubt.

Well, we all agree the situation she went through was horrible, no matter what.

It just simply defies me that people could actually do this sort of thing to other people, you know?

Dan the Mystified

Moved from new thread

In today’s paper, the girl who escaped from the dungeon gave an interview, and geez, this girl is sharp as can be!  Quite assertive, quite sure of herself, and not one to be maneuvered into saying anything she doesn’t absolutely mean to say.

Link

Dan the Observer