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.
Ariel Castro’s Daughter, Arlene, Speaks Out
The daughter of Ariel Castro and former friend of Gina DeJesus finally breaks her silence, as news breaks of her father’s dark secrets and the discovery of the three missing women.
Arlene Castro made a tearful plea on Good Morning America, asking her best friend for forgiveness for her father’s actions.
Gina DeJesus, then 14, was last seen with Arlene at a payphone as they called their mothers to ask if they could have a sleepover. Arlene went home, but Gina never made it. Arlene, choking back tears, also said she hopes she gets a chance to see Gina and to introduce her to her children. She contends that she never had any suspicions her friend was tied up inside the house. See the rest of her account, here.
Ariel Castro’s Bond Set At $2 Million For Each Case
Making sure that he wouldn’t walk before his trial, a judge set Ariel Castro’s bond at $2 million today during his first appearance in court. Yesterday, Castro was charged with four counts of kidnapping and three counts of rape. First photo and video of him in court is below:
His two brothers, Pedro Castro, 54, and Onil Castro, 50, were initially arrested as suspects in the case, but were not charged after investigators determined they had no knowledge of the abductions or captivity of the women, police said.
Michelle Knight Delivered Amanda Berry’s Baby While Castro Watched
It was revealed yesterday that 6-year-old Jocelyn, Amanda Berry’s daughter, was actually delivered by Michelle Knight in the small, fortified basement where they lived for 10 years.
When Berry went into labor, Ariel Castro grabbed Knight and forced her to deliver the baby into a plastic tub or pool to catch the afterbirth and amniotic fluid. When Jocelyn was finally born, she stopped breathing, and Castro allegedly said to Knight, “If that baby dies, I’m going to kill you.”
She said that she put her mouth to Jocelyn’s and ‘breathed for her’ – to save both their lives.
Michelle Knight Forced To Have 5 Miscarriages
When Michelle Knight was pregnant, things ended up differently, she told police. While she was forced to deliver Amanda Berry’s child, whenever she became pregnant, Ariel Castro would starve and punch her until she eventually miscarried.
The incident report also states that Knight was pregnant a total of five times, and each time she was beaten until she lost the child.
In conversations with police immediately after she was freed, Michelle Knight said that when Ariel Castro found out she was pregnant, “Ariel would make her abort the baby,” the document states.
Knight “stated that he starved her for at least 2 weeks, then he repeatedly punched her in the stomach until she miscarried,” the initial police report states.
Ariel Castro Made The Girls Celebrate “Happy Abduction Day”
In a sick insult to the already unfortunate situation, Ariel Castro would make the three girls celebrate the day they were kidnapped, according to police. The 52-year-old would buy the girls a cake every year on the anniversary of their abduction in a bizarre ritual that was done to replace their birthdays.
He would also play cruel games with the girls, by telling them that he was leaving when he was not to see if they would try to escape.
Another Neighbor Claims to Have Saved Amanda Berry
A second neighbor of Ariel Castro is telling reporters that he is the one who saved Amanda Berry, not Charles Ramsey.
The neighbor, Angel Cordero, was never mentioned by Ramsey, but says that he was sitting on the front porch when they heard some commotion and went to check it out. That’s when he found Berry, desperate for help.
“I kicked the door at the bottom because I was trying to get it open because it was too hard so I got it at the bottom and that’s when Amanda ran out of the house.”
Read the rest of his account, here.
The Bone-Chilling Letter Left By Ariel Castro
Inside the “House of Horrors,” police found a 2004 letter written by Castro that was reportedly supposed to be a suicide note. He writes that he’s a “sexual predator” and also says “I don’t know why I kept looking for another. I already had 2 in my possession.”
He also addresses his sexual addiction, family problems and a poor childhood. Read more of the chilling letter here.
This story is developing.
