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The Man Who Killed His Lover’s Husband After Hiding In Their Attic for 10 Years
Fred Oesterreich was murdered by his wife’s lover, who had secretly lived in his home for a decade leading up to the crime
Fred Oesterreich, an Austrian-born businessman who immigrated to the United States, found himself as the victim in a captivating murder case in the early 20th century. His life was snuffed out after he unwittingly became entangled in a love triangle involving his wife and a younger man in his employ, who secretly lived in the married couple’s basement for a decade before jealousy led to the murder that became a national scandal.
Born in 1877, in Vienna, Austria, Oesterreich later moved to the United States and settled in Milwaukee. He established the successful Oesterreich Piano Company, which solidified his position within the local business community. He gained a reputation for hiring other immigrants, including Walburga Korschel. At the age of 17, she married Oesterreich, who was three years her senior. They complemented each other well, as she was gregarious and friendly, whereas he was seen as more closed off and gruff.
The couple appeared to lead a respectable and prosperous life, but behind closed doors, it was a different story. After the death of…
