The Associated Press

Fri, May 9, 2008 (5:22 a.m.)

An Austrian judge has ruled that a man accused of keeping his daughter captive in a dungeon for 24 years should remain in custody.

St. Poelten provincial court spokesman Franz Cutka said the decision Friday extends Josef Fritzl's pretrial detention by a month.

The ruling was made during a routine, closed-door session required under Austrian law and will be re-evaluated in a month.

Josef Fritzl has been detained since April 26 on the suspicion he locked up his daughter Elisabeth for 24 years and fathered seven children with her. Authorities say he has confessed. He first appeared before a judge on April 28.