An Austrian woman died on June 26 after allegedly being severely beaten and sexually assaulted by her husband while she was "extremely intoxicated." Authorities in Marchtrenk, near Wels in Upper Austria, are investigating the incident, with local media dubbing the case "Pelicot 2.0."
Paramedics pronounced the woman, who has not been identified, dead at the scene. Investigators reported that she suffered blunt force trauma to her abdomen and genital area and bled to death during what authorities referred to as a "sex game."
Prosecutors in Wels have confirmed they are investigating reports that other men may have also sexually assaulted the woman, potentially in exchange for money. However, they have not yet confirmed the existence of a wider "rape network."
A 51-year-old neighbor has been taken into custody along with the husband. Both are alleged to have confessed to sexually abusing the woman, including on the night of her death. Authorities stated that only the husband is currently linked to the sexual act that resulted in her death.
The husband initially described his wife's death as an "accident" during consensual sexual activity, but her injuries indicated violence, according to officials. It remains unclear if the woman was drugged, though she was reportedly extremely intoxicated at the time of the assault.
The case has drawn comparisons to the Frenchwoman Gisèle Pelicot, whose ex-husband was convicted of drugging her and orchestrating her rape by numerous men over nearly a decade.
The husband faces charges including abuse of a defenseless or impaired person resulting in death, which carries a sentence of 10 to 20 years or life imprisonment. A potential murder charge is also being considered depending on the findings of the sexual abuse investigation. Charges against the neighbor have not yet been specified.
