Amanda Berry, 26,(left) went missing in 2003 when she was 16
Gina DeJesus, 23,(right) disappeared when she was aged 14 in 2004
Michelle Knight, 32, disappeared in 2000 when she was 20
Read the touching story below...
Three girls who went missing as teenagers managed to escape from their captor after spending a decade chained up in the dungeon of an Ohio house.
Amanda Berry, 26, and Gina DeJesus, 23, and Michelle Knight, 32, were found alive in the Cleveland house just a few miles from where they disappeared.
The trio escaped after a neighbour helped break down the door after hearing Berry scream for help when their captor left the house.
Ariel Castro, 52, has been arrested and is in police custody in connection with the kidnapping case along with his two unnamed brothers, who are 50 and 54.
(Reunited: Amanda Berry (centre) at the Cleveland Hospital alongside her emotional sister (left) and the daughter that she gave birth to during the 10 years she was held against her will)
The women appear to be in good health and were taken to a hospital to be evaluated and to reunite with relatives.
The disappearances of Amanda and Gina captured the attention of the entire city for the past decade, as their relatives have continually held vigils and kept the story alive in the local press
After 10 years being held against their will, the women were finally freed after neigbour Charles Ramsey, heard screaming from the house.
Mr Ramsey, told WEWS-TV he saw Berry, who he didn't recognize, at a door that would open only enough to fit a hand through screaming "Help me get out! I've been in here a long time.'
'We had to kick open the bottom,' he said. 'Lucky on that door it was aluminum. It was cheap. She climbed out with her daughter.'
When Berry fled the home and ran across the street to call police, she was holding the hand of a young girl.
'Help me I'm Amanda Berry...I've been kidnapped and I've been missing for ten years and I'm here. I'm free now,' Berry is heard saying in the call to police that has been publicly released.
'I need them now before he gets back!' she said in the frantic phone call to 911, going on to identify her captor as Ariel Castro.
Castro has lived in the house since 1992 and he was arrested for domestic violence in 1993.
Sources close to local station WOIO are telling the station that the women were reportedly tied up during their captivity and police found chains hanging from one of the ceilings.
They also reported that there were signs that dirt had recently been moved in the backyard of the house, though police continue to investigate whether or not the dirt will lead to any new evidence in the case.
Berry disappeared on April 21, 2003, a day before her 17th birthday, and a year later then-14-year-old DeJesus went missing on April 2, 2004.
Police will hold a press conference Tuesday morning to address the case.
The women were taken to MetroHealth Medical Center, as they are reportedly suffering from severe dehydration and slightly malnourished but alive.
On Monday evening, DeJesus' cousin Sylvia Colon spoke to CNN, saying that the missing girl's mother Nancy Ruiz confirmed to relatives that Gina is alive and well in hospital.
'What a phenomenal mother's Day gift this is,' Ms Colon told the station.
Berry went missing shortly after she called her sister to say that she was getting a ride home from her job at Burger King.
DeJesus went missing on her way home from school.
Michelle Knight went missing in 2000 at the age of 20-years-old.
Berry was photographed with her older sister Beth Serrano, who has maintained the search for her sister since their mother died in 2006.
Beth's husband Ted Serrano told local station WOIO that his wife is overjoyed about her sister's return.
'She said (Amanda)'s okay, she's got a daughter. She said she's okay, she looks good,' Mr Serrano told the station.
Amanda's mother Louwanna Miller, died in March 2006 after the years of her daughter's disappearance had taken a toll on her deteriorating health.
Local news reports said that she 'died of a broken heart
Daily Mail
Forced imprisonment. The man should be castrated
ReplyDeleteAfter the man will claim he suffered an abused childhood and oyibo go gree
ReplyDeleteI imagine being tied and chained in one place for 10years. Worse than prison
ReplyDeleteGod is good
ReplyDeleteOh and the mother dies not knowing her children were alive
ReplyDeleteSpeechless
ReplyDeletewhat a sad story.10 years of their lives wasted with one pshyco. Gosh
ReplyDeleteA nija babe wld hv escaped d nxt day,oyibo n ajebo fear fear
ReplyDelete.....as in Naija babe for don kill the man since
Deletesighssss
ReplyDeleteIts a sick world indeed
ReplyDeleteMany crazies in the world. People should be careful and prayerful. Always ask God to protect you all the time.
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I think that is one of the sadest things I've heard that the mom died of a broken heart.But thank God that they are safe bless his name.
ReplyDelete