The Vienna Strangler

the poet, the writer, the killer!

Overview

The chilling story of Austrian author and serial killer Johann “Jack” Unterweger. Convicted in 1976 for the brutal murder of 18-year-old Margaret Schäfer, strangled with her own bra, Unterweger was sentenced to life in prison. Behind bars, he reinvented himself as a writer, publishing poetry, plays, and an acclaimed autobiography that portrayed his crimes as the product of a troubled youth. His transformation into a literary figure won him the support of intellectuals and politicians, who campaigned for his release. In 1990, after serving just 15 years, Unterweger walked free — hailed as a symbol of rehabilitation.... or was he?

Production

Discovery Channel