An Austrian woman has died from injuries sustained during alleged sexual abuse, after her husband is accused of drugging her for other men to assault. The case has drawn comparisons to that of Gisele Pelicot in France.
Emergency services were called to the couple's home in Marchtrenk, Austria, on June 25, where the 39-year-old woman was found unresponsive and covered in blood by her daughter. Her husband, who was intoxicated, initially told first responders his wife had suffered an accident during "rough sex," according to news outlet 20Minuten.
Subsequent investigation, including an autopsy and a review of the husband's phone, revealed a more sinister series of events. Police discovered that the husband had allegedly searched for information on how to drug someone days before his wife's death. Local media reports indicate he repeatedly drugged his wife over an extended period, providing her to men for payment, including on the night she died. The husband is reported to have received up to 500 Euros per session and referred to his wife as "dead meat" in text messages.
The woman's husband has been arrested, along with a neighbor accused of sexually assaulting the woman twice, including on the night of her death. Text messages between the two men reportedly mention the alleged abuse.
The investigation is ongoing, with more suspects potentially under investigation.
This case echoes the high-profile trial of Dominique Pelicot in France, who admitted to drugging his wife, Gisele, for nearly a decade and inviting dozens of men to rape her while she was unconscious. He was found guilty of all charges in 2024 and sentenced to the maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. His co-defendants were also convicted of various charges. The Gisele Pelicot trial gained international attention, and her stance against closed hearings was seen as an inspiration to campaigners against sexual violence, contributing to a national discussion on rape culture in France.