Ariel Castro
Ariel Castro is seen in a courtroom during the sentencing phase, in Cleveland. Castro, convicted of holding three women captive in a house he turned into a prison and raping them repeatedly for a decade, was sentenced to life without parole plus 1,000 years. He later committed suicide in Sept. 2013.
The women — Amanda Berry, Michelle Knight and Gina DeJesus — have detailed the horrifying accounts of their years in captivity. The women had to follow strict rules, including bizarre things like keeping pots in the center of the stove while cooking, and lived in dirty, unhygenic conditions. Each of them have described being raped repeatedly, barely fed, and chained to walls and poles. Amanda also gave birth to daughter Jocelyn with him in December 2006. Jocelyn later became imperative in womens’ dramatic escape, recognizing that her “daddy” was not home one day at only six years old. Amanda then made a run for the door, and was able to create enough commotion for a neighbor to help break through the alarm system and padlocked door.
Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight are seen after their rescue
Michelle Knight, Gina DeJesus, and Amanda Berry appear at the Performing Arts Center in Medina, Ohio. The event took place a year after their dramatic 2013 escape, which saw them held captive by Ariel Castro for years. They revealed they had learned to drive since becoming free.
Michelle Knight makes an appearance on ‘This Morning’ in London
Held captive with two other women for 11 years, Michelle Knight was tortured, abused and raped daily by Cleveland kidnapper, Ariel Castro. One year on she tells her horrifying story on ‘This Morning’ in London, England.
Amanda Berry is pictured before her kidnapping
Amanda Berry is seen smiling in a photo prior to her kidnapping in April 2003. She was lured into the home of Ariel Castro, who she knew as a elementary school bus driver and father of her classmate, just a day before her 17th birthday.
Gina DeJesus is seen before her kidnapping
Georgina ‘Gina’ DeJesus is seen prior to her kidnapping by Ariel Castro in Cleveland, Ohio. She was later found after years in captivity in 2013.
Ariel Castro is seen in court
Ariel Castro makes a statement in the courtroom during the sentencing phase, in Cleveland. Castro, convicted of holding three women captive in a house he turned into a prison and raping them repeatedly for a decade, was sentenced to life without parole plus 1,000 years. He later committed suicide in Sept. 2013.
