Cleveland Abductions ~ The Cruel Actions of Ariel Castro Part 3.

 

I have introduced the main "players" in this sick, twisted tale of abduction and captivity. Now is the time to reveal what happened in the Cleveland House of Horrors...

When Ariel Castro first arrived with Michelle Knight, he brought her to the upper floor of the house and hogtied her; hoisting her on a pulley towards the ceiling; leaving her there for 3 days, without food. There WERE diaries kept by each of the victims throughout there stay at the house of horrors on Seymour Avenue...

The teens all describe how Castro forced himself upon them, doing absolutely appalling things to them; when he was done, he would lock them in a dark room, where they would sit or lay in fear, waiting for what would happen next, or a way to escape him. 

They went into detail about how Ariel Castro would treat them like animals, locked in separate rooms, fed like cattle, once a day, if they were lucky and maybe a shower twice a week. The threats were constant and the abuse was indescribable.

Michelle Knight confirmed to authorities that Ariel Castro had gotten her pregnant, at least 5 times, but he made sure she would lose the baby each time; whether it was through a beating or hitting her with weights or slamming her into a wall or two. He then made sure to starve her.

(One has to wonder why Castro would repeatedly end Michelle Knight's pregnancies but he made sure that Amanda Marie Berry had a healthy baby?!!)

On December 25, 2006, Ariel Castro demands that Michelle Knight help deliver Amanda's child, which was to happen in a small inflatable pool. He threatened to kill Michelle if the baby did not survive. At one point, the baby stopped breathing, but Knight was able to resuscitate her.

In an odd twist, Ariel Castro would take out Amanda Berry's daughter out including to visit his mother. The child called him "Daddy" and Ariel's mother, "Grandmother". Even his adult daughter, when she saw a picture of the girl, didn't question anything about it when Ariel Castro told her that she was a child from his girlfriend's previous relationship. 

(Am I the only one who finds this utterly insane that no one questioned where this child popped up from??? Did no one question where the girl's mother was??? Did no one question WHY she was calling him "Daddy" and his mother "Grandmother"???)

Oddly, Child Protective Services did visit the home on one occasion, but Castro wasn't home, so they visited him at another location and that was the end of that case file. Castro's son, Anthony had even spoke to him about Amanda Berry, where Anthony had said to his father that he believed Amanda Marie Berry was dead. Ariel Castro looked at his son, a little surprised, asking, "Do you really think so?"

There had been a few calls about the house, but nothing was followed up, and the police even denied that there was any record of calls in their log; but even Castro's son admitted something didn't see right, as there were certain areas of the house that were either locked or off-bounds.

THE GREAT ESCAPE

On the morning of May 6, 2013, everything was about to change for these three woman and young girl when Amanda Marie Berry was able to make contact with one of Ariel Castro's neighbors. It appeared that Castro forgot to properly lock the door, yet the outer door was bolted. Amanda feared trying anything with the door because Castro had regularly tested the women if they'd try to escape. 

However, their neighbour, Angel Cordero heard the screaming and came running; but Amanda could barely speak any English. Another neighbour arrived. His name was Charles Ramsey. Together, the men kicked through the bottom of the storm door, where Amanda Berry crawled through, carrying her 6 year old daughter. 

In all the excitement, Amanda was able to reveal that her and her daughter had been held captive in the house. Charles Ramsey brought her to another Spanish speaking neighbour, where they called the authorities, where Amanda is cited as saying, "Help me, I've been kidnapped, and I'vebeen missing for ten years. And I'm here. I'm free now!!!"

Obviously when the first officers responded to the scene, neither Michelle Knight nor Gina DeJesus were very trusting. The police had their guns drawn, but when Michelle realized who they were, she ran and jumped into the police officer's arms, just repeating the phrase, "You saved me!!!"  A short while later, Gina DeJesus emerged from her hiding spot and she exited the house with Michelle. 

All four victims were taken to the same hospital, with Gina and Amanda able to go home the next day, but Michelle remained for another four days. Michelle Knight's grandmother told press that she needed reconstructive surgery of her face from all the beatings she received and was completely deaf in one ear. Gina DeJesus confirmed that she too had been raped but believed she had never gotten pregnant.

To be continued...