Natascha was kidnapped from the street when she was 10 years old. For over 3 thousand days she lived in captivity

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Natascha Maria Kampusch was born exactly 34 years ago, on February 17, 1988. She lived on the outskirts of Vienna. Its neighborhood was not very friendly, because many people addicted to alcohol lived there. Her dream was to get out of there and start an independent life. At that time, the first step was to go alone to a primary school, a few minutes away.

This was the kidnapping of Natascha Kampusch

10-year-old Natascha went to school alone for the first time, which was five minutes away from her home. The girl had problems at home, her parents divorced, which had an impact on her psyche and at one point she even wanted to throw herself in front of an oncoming car. Instead, something completely different happened to her. A white van drove up to her was Wolfgang Priklopil, communications technician. The man kidnapped the girl from the street. Natascha started asking him various questions. – “What size shoe are you wearing?” She asked. The girl knew from television that it was necessary to get as much information as possible about the kidnapper in order to support the police. Unfortunately, in her case, there was no opportunity to do so for eight years.

It was a carefully planned action

Some criminals sometimes kidnap their victims on impulse. He traps them in rooms of everyday use or places remote from the city center. Wolfgang had a plan and it was perfected. The man brought her to the quiet town of Strasshof, 24 km north of Vienna. He created a small, windowless, soundproofed room underneath the garage. Interestingly, the entrance to this hideout was so complicated that it took an hour. This is where the girl was held.

The disappearance of the girl caused a stir among the residents. Wolfgang Priklopil was for a moment even suspected, because one of the witnesses saw his van at the scene, but the police quickly abandoned the trail, claiming that the 35-year-old is not a monster capable of such an act.

Appearances of normality in captivity

From Natascha’s account we learn that on the first night in captivity she asked the torturer to kiss her goodnight. – “I did everything to keep the appearance of normalcy,” – she said. Priklopil even read to her and brought small gifts, such as mouthwash or duct tape.

The 10-year-old knew then that what was happening was wrong, but she tried to rationalize it.

While he was bathing me, I imagined myself at a spa. When he gave me something to eat, I pictured him as a gentleman who would do it all for me. He was serving me. I found it very humiliating to be in this situation.

– he recalls.

Dark moments of life in captivity

Priklopil demanded that the girl call him “Maestro” and her lord, and claimed to be an Egyptian god. When she grew up and started to rebel, he beat her up to 200 times a week, he says. He also denied her food, forced her to clean the house half-naked, and locked her in the dark.

I realized I had no rights.

– he says.

Many people wondered if the girl at that time was because of him. In an interview with “The Guardian” she admitted that it was a small part of what was happening. Apparently, Wolfgang tied her to the bed, but only to cuddle with her.

The girl never stopped dreaming about freedom. Deep down, she kept repeating to herself, “I’ll get you out of here, I promise you that. Now you’re too young. But when you turn 18, I will overpower the kidnapper and free you from your prison.”

How did she manage to escape?

Years later, Wolfgan felt better and better in Natascha’s company, thanks to which he often opened up to her. He talked about conspiracy theories and even took her skiing once. Natascha listened, nodded to her tormentor, and never stopped looking for an opportunity to escape. By her 18th birthday, she felt a surge of courage to confront the kidnapper.

You brought on us a situation in which only one of us can survive. I’m really grateful to you that you didn’t kill me and that you look after me so well. It’s very kind of you. But you can’t make me stay with you. This situation must end.

– she announced.

A few weeks later on August 23, 2006, Natascha Kampush was cleaning Priklopil’s car when he left to answer the phone. It was the moment that turned out to be her greatest chance. “Before, he was watching me all the time,” she recalled. Cleaning disturbed Wolfgan’s conversation, so he took a few steps to hear his interlocutor better. She tiptoed to the gate, which fortunately was open, she recalls, she could barely breathe.

My arms and legs felt paralyzed. Jumbled images flashed through my head.

– she said.

However, this was the moment when Natascha broke free and fled after eight years in captivity. Her tormentor after the girl escaped, lay down on the rails and committed. Before his death, he told his best friend that he was “a kidnapper and rapist.”

Her story became a bestseller

Natascha Kampusch has written three books. In the first one she described the story of the kidnapping, in the second she described the return to normalcy, and in the third she described the hate she had to face overnight. Soon, Polish viewers on the Viaplay platform will be able to watch a documentary series about her life in confinement and a difficult return to reality. The premiere is scheduled for February 22.