An Austrian man is being investigated on suspicion of drugging his wife and forcing her into sexual encounters for money, a case prosecutors have dubbed "Pelicot 2.0." Robert Aichinger, 51, is accused after his wife, Daniela, 39, was found dead on June 25, having sustained injuries consistent with sexual abuse.
Police discovered messages on Aichinger's phone indicating he had repeatedly drugged his wife and handed her over to men for payment. His younger sister told investigators that he had bragged about selling his wife for 500 euros (approximately £429) per encounter, claiming this financed their life together. She stated that "strange men were constantly coming and going from the couple's home" and that her brother had shown her suggestive photos of Daniela.
Previous Allegations of Abuse
Aichinger's ex-wife has also come forward with allegations of past abuse. She reported that Aichinger had violent outbursts, including an incident where he punched her in the face, leaving her with a broken jaw. She also described an occasion where he severely beat their pet dog, causing the animal to become fearful of him.
Discovery of Wife's Death and Investigation
Robert Aichinger was arrested following the discovery of his wife's body. Daniela Aichinger was found by her teenage daughter on a waterbed, covered in blood. Paramedics attempted to save her but declared her dead at the scene. The autopsy revealed extensive injuries to her abdomen and genitals, prompting authorities to suspect foul play.
Initially, Aichinger, who was intoxicated at the time, told first responders that his wife had suffered an accident during "rough sex." However, further investigation, including an autopsy and a review of his phone, pointed to a more sinister scenario. Police found that Aichinger had disposed of the waterbed and deleted an app from his phone. Investigators also found he had searched for information on how to drug someone shortly before his wife's death.
Allegations of Systemic Abuse
Authorities allege that Aichinger drugged his wife repeatedly over an extended period and handed her to men while she was unconscious. Text messages between Aichinger and a neighbor, who has also been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting Daniela twice, revealed discussions about the alleged abuse. On the night of Daniela's death, Aichinger reportedly sent his neighbor a photo of his unconscious wife.
In text messages, Aichinger allegedly stated that his wife was not participating willingly and that he would "regularly make her available for you to rape" if he had date-rape drugs. He is also accused of sharing photos of his wife with the neighbor the day before her death and discussing with him that it was "a real rape and she would never go along with it."
Further messages suggest discussions with a third individual, a plumber, who allegedly expressed that the victim fighting back was a turn-on. Aichinger allegedly responded to this with "Hot." On the night of her death, Aichinger reportedly complained that his wife was not yet unconscious and stated, "I don't care, then rape her sober. Leave the door open, I'll hit her hard in the face until she's down."
Public Reaction and Legal Developments
Neighbors expressed shock at the revelations, with some describing the couple as normal and others recalling Aichinger as peculiar and having made strange propositions, such as wife-swapping.
Austrian Justice Minister Anna Sporrer announced intentions to tighten sex offense laws, with a working group scheduled to evaluate potential changes. Profiler Patricia Staniek commented that Aichinger appeared to have led a "double life," exerting power and control over his victim.
The case has drawn comparisons to that of Dominique Pelicot in France, who was convicted in 2024 for drugging his wife, Gisele, and facilitating her rape by dozens of men over nearly a decade. This case sparked national discussions on rape culture in France.