What happened to Natascha Kampusch after her abduction?

Natascha Kampusch was abducted at the age of 10 and held captive in a soundproof concrete bunker for 8 years, where she was beaten and abused by her captor, Wolfgang Priklopil.

How did Natascha Kampusch eventually escape from her captor?

In 2006, while cleaning Priklopil's van, the same vehicle used in her abduction, Kampusch seized the opportunity and fled to a neighbor's house, alerting the authorities. Hours later, Priklopil died by suicide before police could reach him.

What has Natascha Kampusch done since her dramatic escape?

Now 37 years old, Kampusch has reclaimed her story, writing several books, hosting a talk show, and even purchasing her captor's home to prevent it from becoming a shrine.

Home / Crime and Justice / Kidnapped at 10, Natascha Kampusch Reclaims Her Story After 3,096 Days

Kidnapped at 10, Natascha Kampusch Reclaims Her Story After 3,096 Days

19 Oct

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Summary

Natascha Kampusch escaped captivity after 8 years, abductor died by suicide
Kampusch was beaten up to 200 times a week, kept in a soundproof concrete bunker
Now 37, Kampusch has written books, hosted a talk show, and bought her captor's home

Kidnapped at 10, Natascha Kampusch Reclaims Her Story After 3,096 Days

In a harrowing ordeal that spanned nearly a decade, Natascha Kampusch was abducted at the age of 10 from a Vienna street and held captive in a soundproof concrete bunker beneath her captor's home. For 3,096 days, from 1998 to 2006, Kampusch endured beatings, humiliation, and confinement in the five-by-five-meter cell, accessible only through a hidden trapdoor.

Her captor, 36-year-old Wolfgang Priklopil, subjected Kampusch to severe physical abuse, with her recounting being beaten up to 200 times a week. Despite the trauma, Kampusch found ways to survive, including regressing to a dependent toddler and imagining her 18-year-old self overpowering Priklopil.