Ariel Castro (Cleveland maniac): biography, victims of the criminal, the court and the verdict

In 2013, the quiet town of Cleveland (Ohio, USA) shuddered at the terrible news. It turned out that one of the local residents for more than ten years kept in captivity in the basement of his own house three young women. The offender was unremarkable Ariel Castro, at the time of detention he was 52 years old.

A Brief Biography of the Cleveland Isperus

The arrest of Castro struck all his acquaintances and neighbors. Ariel never aroused suspicion among others, he - like the personification of a portrait of an average American. By the age of fifty this man had survived several divorces. His last wife divorced him in 1996, as later admitted, because of regular beatings. Ariel has adult children. On several occasions he drew the attention of the police with minor offenses, but got rid of oral warnings. Last years Castro worked as the driver of the school bus. According to the neighbors and friends, the man was seriously fond of Christianity and showed concern for the environment.

Ariel Castro led a double life. The second side was just awful. In different years he abducted three young girls (including two minors). After that, he converted his house into a real prison, where he kept them for many years. The captives were regularly subjected to various harassment, sexual violence, and Castro also beat and starved them.

First victim - Michelle Knight

This terrible story began on August 2, 2002. Twenty-one-year-old Michelle Knight left the house of her close relative and disappeared. On that day, a court was held to deprive the woman of the parental rights to her son. The absence of Michel at this meeting did not greatly surprise anyone. Close women and the police came to the conclusion that she simply escaped, frightened of responsibility. In fact, Knight kidnapped Ariel Castro and brought him to his home prison. In total, Michel spent more than 10 years in prison. At the time of liberation, the woman turned 32 years old.

During her time in captivity, Knight was regularly subjected to physical and sexual violence, systematic beatings. It was possible to establish that over the years the woman managed to become pregnant 5 times. All her children were killed by Ariel Castro, who brutally beat pregnant Michelle to provoke miscarriages. After being released from detention, the woman was taken to the hospital. During the years of captivity, the injured suffered serious harm. Doctors noted severe exhaustion and partial loss of hearing. Michelle needed an operation on his face to restore him after his injuries.

Amanda Mary Berry - the second victim of the Cleveland maniac

On April 21, 2003, Amanda Maria Berry disappeared without a trace. It happened on the eve of the girl's birthday, on April 22, 2003 she turned 17 years old. And in this case, the police did not give the person lost due attention. A version was put forward that Amanda herself ran away from home. However, a week later, the search began after a mysterious call. On the phone of the mother of the missing girl, a stranger called and advised not to worry. The call was made from Amanda's mobile.

The girl was searched for three years, her relatives even turned to television. All this time, Amanda was forcibly kept in his own home by Ariel Castro. The maniac beat and raped the girl. When she became pregnant, the offender behaved unexpectedly. He not only improved his attitude towards the captive, but also allowed her to give birth. The role of the midwife was performed by the first slave, Michel. Ariel immediately warned Knight that if the child was killed or something happened to his mother, he would kill herself. Despite the disgusting conditions, on December 25, 2006, Amanda gave birth to a healthy girl, who was named Joslin. A child considers Castro to be his father, a genetic examination confirmed their relationship.

Georgina "Gina" Lynn Dijizus - the third slave of Ariel

Stealing two girls and remaining unpunished, Ariel Castro felt omnipotent. His third victim was a fourteen-year-old schoolgirl. Georgina "Gina" Lynn Dijizus was friends with Castro's daughter, at the time of the kidnapping she was only 14 years old. Ariel tricked the schoolgirl into his house on April 2, 2004. Georgina's search was very active. The police cooperated with the FBI, conducted interviews with witnesses, and even compiled a picture of the alleged criminal. But, despite all the efforts, the girl was discovered quite by accident only after 9 years.

Unexpected Rescue

On May 6, 2013, Ariel Castro's neighbors heard suspicious sounds coming from his house. Quickly conferring, the men from the neighboring houses cracked the door and experienced a real shock. Amanda Berry with six-year-old daughter came to them and told that the owner of the house forcibly keeps her, the child and two more women in her home. One of the men took a frightened woman with her young daughter to her house, where they summoned the police together. Arriving staff released two remaining prisoners inside Castro's home. In the house, more than 200 proofs of the fault of his owner in the crimes committed were found. All rooms were closed for castles, captives most of the time the criminal kept in the cellar on the chains. The police went in search of Ariel Castro himself, and soon he was detained at the McDonald's restaurant during lunch.

The trial of the Cleveland maniac

Very soon a hearing took place in the case, the main accused in which was Ariel Castro. Cleveland is a relatively small city, and all its residents were very much outraged and shocked by the story that happened. According to local laws, the killing of an unborn child is one of the most serious crimes punishable by the death penalty. Castro also killed at least five of his own children, provoking miscarriages from his captive, Michelle Knight. However, the criminal himself agreed to cooperate with the investigation only if the death penalty was replaced by imprisonment.

Remarkably, the victims also expressed the opinion that death is too mild punishment for their offender. In court, the Cleveland maniac showed remorse and asked forgiveness from his captives. However, Castro stressed that, probably, he was not fully aware of the acts committed. He said that for many years he was fond of watching porn films and could well "mix up the reality with the movie for adults."

The verdict for the Cleveland slaveholder

In considering this scandalous case, the court took into account all committed crimes. Castro was convicted of abduction, murder, rape and harm to the health of each of the victims. The offender was sentenced to life imprisonment and another 1,000 years of imprisonment without the right to parole. What is noteworthy, the house of Ariel Castro was also the residence of his two brothers. The popular version is that they are also involved in the crimes committed. However, it was not possible to prove this fact, and Ariel's brothers acted in the judicial process solely as witnesses. The house, which served as a prison for three women for many years, was decided to be demolished immediately after the announcement of the verdict. Ariel Castro hanged himself in prison shortly after the end of the trial and sentencing.

Life after captivity

During the years of prolonged imprisonment, A. Castro inflicted severe damage to the physical and mental health of his slaves. Women underwent a course of rehabilitation and gradually began to return to normal life. From all over the country hundreds of indifferent Americans sent material aid and wrote comforting letters to the victims of this monstrous crime. Residents of other states also responded. They found relatives, and very soon the victims returned to their families. It is unlikely that these women will be able to forget everything that Ariel Castro did to them. Victims of such crimes almost never completely forgive their offenders. But today, thanks to the support of others around Michel, Amanda and Georgina have every chance to return to normal life.