Lawyer Seeks Transfer of Josef F. to Dementia Care Facility

Josef F., who is serving a life sentence for his involvement in the notorious incest case in Amstetten, is approaching his 90th birthday next Wednesday. His attorney, Astrid Wagner, reported that while he is in reasonably good physical health for his age, his advancing dementia is becoming increasingly evident. Consequently, she is advocating for his transfer from the Krems-Stein prison, where he is currently held under normal conditions, to a specialized dementia care facility. Wagner emphasized that although Josef F. can manage daily life in prison, he requires specific therapeutic interventions. Recent communications from him suggest a disconnection from reality; for instance, he believes he has been contacted by Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, who allegedly instructed him to care for children. Additionally, he perceives that he is communicating non-verbally with former U.S. President Donald Trump during televised press conferences, interpreting applause directed at performers on his favorite shows as personal recognition. In light of these developments, Wagner plans to file a petition with the Krems District Court to facilitate the transfer of her client to a more suitable environment, indicating that a psychiatric evaluation may be necessary to reassess his mental health. She asserted that the general population area of Krems-Stein prison is not appropriate for someone of his advanced age. When asked about Josef F.'s feelings regarding his upcoming milestone birthday, Wagner noted that he expresses a desire to age further, hoping for release from incarceration. The decision regarding any potential transfer lies with the General Directorate for the Execution of Sentences and other custodial measures. The law stipulates that health-related assessments may prompt official reviews of an inmate's situation, including those in need of special medical attention. A ruling by the Krems District Court last spring concluded that Josef F. no longer poses a significant danger, negating the need for placement in a forensic therapeutic center. The court recognized that his previously diagnosed combined personality disorder had effectively been overshadowed by his progressing dementia and physical decline. As a result, Josef F. was reassigned from a secured facility to a general unit within the prison. The Amstetten incest case drew public attention in late April 2008, when it was revealed that Josef F. had imprisoned his daughter for over two decades in a cellar and fathered several children with her, one of whom died shortly after birth. In March 2009, he was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a concurrent order for his placement in a secure facility due to concerns over his dangerousness as defined by the law. Josef F. was convicted on multiple charges, including murder by omission, human trafficking, deprivation of liberty, rape, incest, and severe coercion.