Typically victims names are not shared. So why are the names Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight on the lips of most reporters across the nation? In short these three victims all vanished between 2002 and 2004. The disappearances were national news back at the time of their disappearance so finding the women alive in 2013 was big news. Berry was on all of the national networks after the 27 year-old told police that she escaped when Castro forgot to lock the "big inside door" of the home when he left to go to McDonald's. Berry's screams for help were answered by a neighbor who came to her rescue. Berry's 911 call has been played hundreds of times on TV and radio networks.
Castro has also been charged with kidnapping Amanda Berry's 6-year-old daughter (Jocelyn); however, if Castro fathered the child is it really kidnapping? Perhaps no one other than legal scholars will question the wisdom of such a charge; however, the charging information on this count seems technically flawed. Since Jocelyn is the daughter of Castro and there is no custody order to the contrary, it would appear that kidnapping is an erroneous charge. Child abuse, child neglect etc are perhaps more appropriate charges.
What went on behind closed doors in this Seymour Avenue home? The media describes beatings, chained confinement, starvation and death threats. If true, Castro is either a beast or he is mentally ill. In either case, he is not likely to ever be on the street again. Castro also allegedly impregnated Knight five times and then allegedly starved her until she miscarried. Castro also allegedly forced Knight to deliver Berry's baby in a plastic kiddie pool. Castro allegedly threatened Knight if the newborn died. (Seems a bit inconsistent that Castro wanted Berry's offspring but not Knight's.)
Did Castro act alone? Castro's brothers were originally detained by police but have not been charged with any crime associated with the victims. Victor Perez, chief deputy prosecutor for Cleveland, said there is no evidence that either brother were involved in any crimes against the women. Consequently, so far all accounts seem to indicate that Castro acted alone when he lured the victims into his car on separate occasions ten years ago. Castro apparently secretly kept the girls in his west Cleveland home. At one time or another, all three females were chained up in the basement. In later years, all three were allowed to live on the second floor without restraints. Nevertheless, the women exited Castro's home just twice since their kidnapping.
So how are they doing now? Knight, 32, remains in a Cleveland hospital. Berry, 27, and DeJesus, 23, are home reunited with friends and family.
What do we know of Ariel Castro? Grimilda Figueroa is the mother of four of his children. In 2005, Figueroa obtained a protective order against Castro after he allegedly broke her nose, ribs, and dislocated her shoulder. Since 1997, Figueroa had sole custody of Castro's children. The protective order barred Castro from coming near Figueroa or the children. A judge dissolved the protective order on November 21, 2005.
While Castro is to be presumed innocent, it is unlikely he will avoid life in prison or a mental institute. While he appears to be a beast, he is likely a sick mentally ill bully who needs a permanent vacation from society.
Update September 4, 2013: Ariel Castro apparently hung himself last night while in jail.
Update July 30, 2014: A year ago Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus escaped the torture of Ariel Castro when Berry and her then 6-year old daughter escaped to a neighbor's home . While one might expect such torture in a foreign land, this nightmare occurred in Cleveland, Ohio. Michelle was treated different than her fellow captives. She was physically and mentally tormented by Castro from August 2002, when Castro lured Knight, then 21, into his home with the promise of a puppy, to May 6, 2013.
Michelle Knight Pictured here.
Michelle was starved, chained, raped and physically brutalized and humiliated by Castro. Over the course of her captivity, Michelle grew stronger and more defiant. She even delivered Amanda Berry's baby during captivity. Michelle has been open and very public about the ordeal. Knight even wrote a book, "Finding Me." On the other hand, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus have avoided the public.
We may never know how Castro's mind raced since he killed himself in custody last September.
Castro has been described as many things, even a nice guy who would share ribs with neighbors on his porch. Castro at one time even drove a school
bus. He was a salsa musicians who even played in public.
How did Castro hide his dark side from so many people? Castro abducted Knight first after she accepted a ride from a Family
Dollar store. Nine months later Berry fell subject to his prey as she walked home from her job at Burger King. Berry was just 17 when her captivity began.
Castro apparently treated Berry better than Knight, providing Berry with better food, blankets, and privileges. According to Knight's interview with Anderson Cooper, "He had a fascination with her, more than me," Knight recalled. "She was the wife-type person. I was the punching bag."
In April 2004, Castro added DeJesus to his makeshift prison. DeJesus was only 14 at the time of her kidnapping. Knight was often chained to DeJesus and as a result, the two apparently became dependent upon each other for emotional support. In the end, a common hope became reality and the trio became free.
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13 comments:
One sick puppy.
I would not consider this guy Mentally Ill in the legal sense. He function in the world, worked…knew right from wrong in other aspects of social life. He is a sociopath, a predator, and probably has been from birth. I’ll bet they find things like bed wetting as a child, cruelty to animals, peeping in windows as a teen, maybe even pyromania. All the traits the experts say these serial violent personalities have. He may not have all of them but most likely two or three.
Not all people with these traits turn into serial rapists or killers, but all violent serial offenders have at least two or three of them. (According to the experts)
Then you have the Stanford Experiment where students were split into two groups, half prisoners and half guards. The experiment had to be stopped because the student guards were abusing the student prisoners so badly a few had to be hospitalized. Completely normal students with no violence in their past became inhumane when given total control over other human beings…???
scum bucket is how I would describe him.
Ariel Castro apparently hung himself last night. He died in a jail that was nicer than the prison that he held and tortured three women in. Nevertheless, may he find peace in death which he could not find on earth.
Suicide is a cowards way out of facing up to what you have done!
You see it all around you. Good people's lives ruined by a few bad apples.
rotten apple
Ariel Castro may be the most intriguing deviant mind of the decade. While the victims grow stronger, the interest in this beast has not waned. What drove him to such heinous torture?
Perhaps equally challenging of a question is how did he not get caught sooner?
Inhumanity breeds inhumanity. Are prisoners in state and federal institutions just as much victims as Castro's captives?
Three women... three separate stories all waiting to be explored. In the mean time, intrigue in the decedent's bizarre mind remains.
Thanks for reader continued interest. Here is the update published on the page...
Update July 30, 2014: A year ago Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus escaped the torture of Ariel Castro when Berry and her then 6-year old daughter escaped to a neighbor's home . While one might expect such torture in a foreign land, this nightmare occurred in Cleveland, Ohio. Michelle was treated different than her fellow captives. She was physically and mentally tormented by Castro from August 2002, when Castro lured Knight, then 21, into his home with the promise of a puppy, to May 6, 2013.
Michelle Knight Pictured here.
Michelle was starved, chained, raped and physically brutalized and humiliated by Castro. Over the course of her captivity, Michelle grew stronger and more defiant. She even delivered Amanda Berry's baby during captivity. Michelle has been open and very public about the ordeal. Knight even wrote a book, "Finding Me." On the other hand, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus have avoided the public.
We may never know how Castro's mind raced since he killed himself in custody last September.
Castro has been described as many things, even a nice guy who would share ribs with neighbors on his porch. Castro at one time even drove a school bus. He was a salsa musicians who even played in public.
How did Castro hide his dark side from so many people? Castro abducted Knight first after she accepted a ride from a Family Dollar store. Nine months later Berry fell subject to his prey as she walked home from her job at Burger King. Berry was just 17 when her captivity began.
Castro apparently treated Berry better than Knight, providing Berry with better food, blankets, and privileges. According to Knight's interview with Anderson Cooper, "He had a fascination with her, more than me," Knight recalled. "She was the wife-type person. I was the punching bag."
In April 2004, Castro added DeJesus to his makeshift prison. DeJesus was only 14 at the time of her kidnapping. Knight was often chained to DeJesus and as a result, the two apparently became dependent upon each other for emotional support. In the end, a common hope became reality and the trio became free.
Castro is a coward. We will never know what the heck he was thinking because he took the easy way out and ended his own life. Story over, buried with him into the fires of the next world. Hope the victims all recover and live a good life.
One of the most interesting cases of the century.
I would love to read the psych notes on this psycho!
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