Natascha Kampusch, now 22, has described the harrowing details of her eight-year captivity in a windowless basement in Vienna. Abducted at age 10 on her way to school, she was held by Wolfgang Priklopil, who subjected her to beatings, starvation, and control over every aspect of her life. She recalled the moment of her abduction: 'I saw a man standing in front of a white van... The next thing I knew he had grabbed me and bundled me into the back of the van.'
Kampusch was kept in a small room under Priklopil's garage, with only a sink, toilet, and bare light bulb. He shaved her hair, forced her to cook and clean, and had fits of rage, throwing heavy objects at her. Despite the abuse, she noted that his rage stemmed from frustration that his 'perfect life' was not meeting expectations. She said, 'Even though he'd locked me up, he couldn't own me. Once I figured this out, it helped me to survive and cope.'
Priklopil subjected her to what she described as minor sexual assaults, tying her to him and forcing her to share his bed, but she believes it was more about needing companionship than sex. He set up an intercom to shout orders without opening the doors. Over time, Kampusch admitted she craved his attention, even asking for hugs and kisses, which she said made her feel 'kind of still at home' and showed her that her kidnapper was human.
She felt sorry for him at times, describing him as a 'loner' with no friends or workmates, only his mother and her. Despite having chances to escape during trips to shops and ski resorts, she only managed to flee in 2006 when Priklopil was distracted by a phone call. Since her escape, she has re-established contact with her family but struggles with trust. She speculates that he abducted her to mould her into a 'perfect woman or wife,' seeking someone innocent and defenceless to shape into his ideal.
