In what might be one of the craziest stories of 2013, three Cleveland women have been rescued after being kidnapped by Ariel Castro, where they were beaten, sexually abused, and forced to live in fear for more than a decade.
Amanda Berry, Gina Dejesus and Michelle Knight were all kidnapped on the same street, however, in 2003, 2004, and 2002, respectively. On Monday, Berry attempted to make an escape with her 6-year-old daughter through the front door of her prison. That’s when bystander-turned-hero Charles Ramsey heard her cries, called the police, and helped her through the screen door.
While Ramsey has subsequently shot to internet stardom due to his charismatic personality, punchlines and, of course, heroism, the facts trickling down from the investigation are proving to be much more gripping…and gruesome.
Here are the latest updates in the bizarre case.
1. “Don’t Let Me Go!” Dramatic Moment When Michelle Knight Was Rescued By Police
A female police officer is recalling the moment she first saw kidnapping victim, Michelle Knight, as police rescued the three abducted woman from Ariel Castro’s home. Barbara Johnson was one of the first officers inside the home, and when Knight saw her, she grabbed her tightly and asked her not to go.
“Michelle hugged me first, then clutched me and said, ‘Don’t let me go,'” Johnson said at an awards ceremony for the officers involved in the miraculous rescue. “You can’t really describe how I felt…it rips the heart out of my chest.”
Read other accounts from police officers about the emotional rescue, here.
2. Ariel Castro’s Jailed Daughter Admits She Went To School With Amanda Berry
Ariel Castro’s oldest daughter, who is serving time in an Indiana prison for slashing her baby’s throat, has just revealed that she went to school with victim Amanda Berry. This new information confirms that Castro used his daughters to get to know the three women he held captive for 10 years.
Emily Castro spoke out in an interview with a private investigator earlier this week. She told Chris Giannini that she knew both Gina and Amanda before they were kidnapped.
Concerning her relationship with Amanda, Emily Castro said: “I went to Wilbur Wright (Elementary School in Cleveland) with her. I seen Gina a couple times.”
“It couldn’t be coincidence.”
If you remember, Castro’s other daughter, Arlene, was best friends and the last to be seen with Gina DeJesus before her disappearance.
We’ll keep you updated on the latest.
