Austrian probed for abusing daughters for 41 years

LINZ, Austria—Austrian officials said Thursday they are investigating allegations that a man locked up his two mentally disabled daughters in a small room in their home and sexually abused them for 41 years.

Police said that the 80-year-old repeatedly raped the women between 1970 and May 2011. The alleged victims are now 53 and 45 years old.

A police official did not name either the suspect or the alleged victims. He did not identify himself on the telephone.

Police confirmed they are investigating the case after a report in the Oberoesterreichische Nachrichten newspaper. The daily said the women escaped when the father was unable to get up after the older daughter pushed him over when he last tried to rape her.

The allegations evoke the case of Austrian Josef Fritzl, who imprisoned his daughter in a windowless cellar for 24 years and repeatedly raped her, fathering her seven children. Fritzl was sentenced to life imprisonment two years ago for that crime and for responsibility in the death of one of the children.

The police official said Thursday that the 80-year-old suspect is free, pending an investigation and possible charges because there is no danger of him fleeing.

State broadcaster ORF said the allegations were only recently revealed because the two alleged victims did not tell anyone about them for weeks after their escape.

It said the suspect is now in a home for the elderly.