Everything We Know About Ariel Castro And The Cleveland Abductions

When people talk about stranger danger, they do it with good reason. Not everyone in the world is a good person, and some can completely ruin your life if you're not careful. Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and Gina DeJesus are three women who know that well following the Cleveland abductions.

Ariel Castro put each of them through years of torture and abuse locked away inside his home. From physical to mental torture and everything in between, no one had any idea about the horrors that lay behind Ariel Castro’s front door.

Ariel Castro was allegedly abusive towards his wife while they were married

Before Ariel Castro became the infamous name many know today, he had his sights set on someone else: his wife. Ariel was once married to Grimilda Figueroa, who accused him of abuse following their divorce. It's unclear when they tied the knot or how long they were together, but everything reportedly fell apart in the mid-'90s.

In 1996, Grimilda and Ariel finalized their divorce. Castro had allegedly put her through hell, including dislocating her shoulder and breaking her nose. Things were reportedly so severe that Castro once even gave her a blood clot on the brain after pushing her too hard. He apparently did all this in front of the four kids they had together.

Ariel Castro made some significant changes to his home, like soundproofing the basement

Despite the violence happening behind the scenes, no one outside of the family supposedly knew that there was anything wrong in the marriage. On the surface, the couple appeared like normal neighbors who loved one another. Behind closed doors, though, the truth of Ariel Castro was apparently there for everyone to see. It was not a pretty sight.

Things reportedly took quite a severe turn in 1992 when the family moved to 2207 Seymour Avenue. Here, Castro made some concerning changes to the home's interior, including making the basement soundproof and installing a heavy trapdoor. He also attached padlocks to the outside of rooms so that he could lock people away whenever he disappeared somewhere.

Grimilda Figueroa accused him of abducting their kids, but their daughter suggested otherwise

When Grimilda Figueroa split from Ariel Castro, she might have been happy never to see him again. However, no matter how much distance she put between them, she couldn't escape him forever. After all, they had four children together. The pair had to share childcare responsibilities after the divorce, with Castro allegedly acting out of line on numerous occasions.

According to Grimilda, Ariel "frequently" abducted their daughters and wouldn't take them back to their mother when it was her time to look after them. Castro denied this, with their child Angie Gregg also seeming to back him up. She apparently called him a "friendly, caring, doting man" and had wonderful memories of her childhood with him.

Ariel Castro forced his wife to have a miscarriage because he didn't want another child

It can be tough looking after one child, let alone four. Grimilda Figueroa was grateful for each of her kids, though, and was almost a mother of five. Unfortunately, Ariel Castro allegedly wasn't interested in becoming a father for the fifth time. That's why he supposedly took action to stop another child from coming into their lives.

Most of the 10 to 15 percent of pregnancies that end in miscarriage come about through natural means. That wasn't the case for Grimilda, though. Her baby didn't stand a chance after Ariel reportedly kicked her stomach and threw his wife down the stairs. This is what also caused her blood clot after she shattered her skull.

Grimilda Figueroa was going to testify against Ariel Castro until he threatened her

There was no coming back from the damage that Ariel Castro had done. The miscarriage occurred while he and Grimilda Figueroa were still married, and it gave her the perfect opportunity to have her husband arrested. However, if she thought this was her chance to end her nightmare once and for all, she had another thing coming.

In February 1994, when Grimilda was set to testify against her husband, she received the shock of her life. Before going into court, Ariel managed to get her by herself and allegedly threatened her and their children's lives if she spoke out against him. Figueroa presumably believed him, as she stayed silent, and Castro ended up being released.

Ariel Castro focused on fortifying his home after Grimilda Figueroa left for good

Grimilda Figueroa might have been too scared to speak out against her husband, but she was still brave enough to leave him. She and the kids went to live with her mother while Ariel Castro stayed behind in the family home. Being by himself apparently gave him the push he needed to start cutting off contact with his loved ones.

Alone in the house, Castro began going to greater lengths to fortify the property, including putting security cameras and alarms all over the place. He also set up a bunch of mirrors so he could always see what was happening in every room. Castro was seemingly preparing for the Cleveland abductions, not that he allegedly knew that yet.

Ariel Castro lashed out when his wife moved on with another man

Her marriage to Ariel Castro may have well scarred Grimilda Figueroa. However, that doesn't mean she was afraid to fall in love again. While waiting for brain surgery to deal with the damage her husband had caused, she met Fernanda Colon, a security guard. They crossed paths in 1995, and Grimilda believed he could bring her happiness.

Unfortunately, Ariel wasn't too happy about the prospect of her moving on. When he reportedly learned of Fernando's existence the following year, he apparently began badgering the man. He allegedly kept calling his home, accusing Colon of stealing his wife. When that wasn't enough, Castro supposedly tried to run him over when the guy walked Ariel’s kids to school.

The family home looked unassuming, although some neighbors had their suspicions

With all the changes that Ariel Castro was making to his home, you might think that someone would notice. However, from the outside, 2207 Seymour Avenue looked like an ordinary home. It was only inside that it was starting to shape into something nightmarish, perfect for the Cleveland kidnappings that would eventually define Castro's existence on this Earth.

Of course, just because the home looked ordinary, that doesn't mean some neighbors weren't a little suspicious. James King once claimed that the home "did not look right" and that it gave him an odd feeling whenever he walked past it. The shades being drawn at all times of the day was apparently one of the reasons for that.

The Cleveland kidnappings were never intentional; they were allegedly spur of the moment

Ariel Castro might be infamous for the Cleveland abductions, but that doesn't mean he'd always planned to kidnap those women. Years after he'd started committing his crimes, Ariel reportedly confessed that it hadn't been his intention; something had simply come over him while running errands. His abductions weren't thought out like the acts of some of history's most notorious criminals.

That's incredibly unfortunate for Michelle Knight, who was apparently just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Castro was on his way to the Family Dollar store when she inspired him to do something that "wasn't in my character." When he "heard her say something," everything seemingly fell into place, and Ariel decided kidnapping was the way to go.

Michelle Knight's abduction came about because she was looking for social services

Perhaps Michelle Knight could have avoided her years of torment at the hands of Ariel Castro if things were in a better place at home? She was apparently fighting for custody of her son, which is why she was in the area when Castro appeared. Michelle wanted to find the social services building, but she didn't know where it was.

With no one else apparently able to help her, Michelle turned to Ariel. The man played the part of the friendly stranger, telling her he knew exactly where she needed to be. What's more, he was allegedly happy to drive her there to save her some time. Believing Castro had good intentions, Michell got in his vehicle without a fight.

Michelle Knight recognized Ariel Castro, so she assumed he meant her no harm

Most people know not to get into a vehicle with someone they don't know because they were taught the importance of stranger danger. However, even if Michelle Knight had been advised against staying away from strangers, that didn't matter in this situation. After all, Ariel Castro was apparently someone she knew. She was friends with one of his daughters.

Michelle reportedly recognized Ariel when he offered to help, so she had no reason to assume he had an ulterior motive for offering her a lift. Even when Castro said he was going to take her to his home first, Michelle didn't think to run away. That's because he allegedly said he had a puppy she could give her son.

Ariel Castro locked Michelle Knight in his home when she entered in search of a puppy

On the way to Ariel Castro's house, there were some hints that things weren't right. This included the lack of a handle on the passenger door. There was no way for her to make a break for it, even if she did realize his ulterior motive. Michelle apparently tried not to question it, though, confident Ariel was a good guy.

When they reached the house, Michelle reportedly entered the property in search of this puppy. Unfortunately, it soon became apparent that there weren't any dogs in the house. By this point, though, she was allegedly already on the second floor. Any chance of escape was quickly snuffed out by the sound of the door shutting behind her.

Ariel Castro allegedly destroyed her photos after pleading to be reunited with her son

Just like that, the Cleveland abductions began. Ariel Castro might not have planned a kidnapping when he'd left his home, but now he had a woman locked away upstairs. All she'd wanted was to find social services so she could fight for her boy. Now, Michelle was trapped and wouldn't get to see her son again for over a decade.

Michelle Knight didn't know at the time that so many years would pass before they were reunited. However, Castro did allegedly tell her that she wasn't "gonna leave for a long time." He then reportedly proceeded to remove his clothes while Knight begged to be returned to her child. In retaliation, Ariel apparently destroyed her one photo of him.

Amanda Berry became part of the Cleveland abductions after finishing a shift at Burger King

Unfortunately, Michelle Knight was just the first of the Cleveland kidnappings. She was taken on August 23, 2002, almost exactly seven months before Ariel Castro decided to abduct his second victim. This was Amanda Berry, who he lured to his home on April 21, 2003. She'd just finished her shift at Burger King when he offered her a ride.

Much like Michelle, Amanda apparently recognized Ariel thanks to being friends with one of Castro's kids. This is what reportedly convinced her to get in his van and also agree to go to his home. He said that he'd take Amanda to see his daughter rather than drive her home, to which she innocently agreed.

Amanda Berry was tricked into entering Ariel Castro's home

For Ariel Castro to succeed with his plans to continue his Cleveland abductions, he needed to get Amanda Berry into his home. Luckily for him, it allegedly didn't take much. He simply suggested that she wait inside while his daughter finished showering, and then they could spend time together. Amanda had no idea what she was about to walk into.

Once inside, Ariel began showing Amanda around. Despite the changes he'd implemented over the years, Berry didn't seem to realize anything was amiss at first. She even reportedly saw Michelle Knight and didn't acknowledge that she was in any danger. By the time she did, it was too late. Amanda was chained up and had no way of escaping.

Gina DeJesus was another friend of Castro's daughter involved in the Cleveland abductions

The Cleveland kidnappings didn't end with Michelle Knight and Amanda Berry. Almost a year after abducting his second victim, Ariel Castro decided to add a third to his horrific collection of imprisoned women. He opted for someone younger than Michelle and Amanda, who were 21 and 16 respectively when they were taken. Gina DeJesus was only 14.

Once again, she was friends with one of Ariel's kids, who Gina was apparently walking with shortly before the kidnapping. When they parted ways, Castro allegedly showed up and asked DeJesus if she'd seen his daughter. She reportedly said she had and agreed to help him find her, oblivious to the danger of getting into the man's van.

Gina DeJesus reportedly attempted to escape but was unsuccessful

Gina DeJesus might have only been 14 when she became a victim of the Cleveland abductions, but she was also a smart cookie. When Ariel Castro lured her into his home, she realized that something was wrong. The interior didn't look right, especially down in the basement, where Castro had reportedly worked hard to make the place impenetrable and soundproof.

Upon realizing her predicament, Gina allegedly slipped out of her restraints at the first opportunity and made a break for it. It was a valiant effort, but one that didn't work out in her favor. Castro reportedly overpowered her quite quickly and "sat on my back." Although DeJesus supposedly "bruised him bad" by lashing out, her efforts were in vain.

Ariel Castro's son wrote about the Cleveland kidnappings, oblivious to his father's guilt

By the time Ariel Castro had claimed his third kidnapping victim, the Cleveland abductions had been happening for over a year and a half. Despite this, though, there apparently wasn't much coverage about Michelle Knight's disappearance. It was a similar situation with Amanda Berry, with connections reportedly not being made between the two women going missing.

It was apparently a different situation with Gina DeJesus, though. Her parents were adamant about doing everything they possibly could to find her, which reportedly included Ariel Castro's son Anthony writing about her disappearance. The journalist had no idea that his own father was responsible for the Cleveland kidnappings that had devastated so many people's lives.

Different assumptions were made regarding the disappearances of the Cleveland abductions victims

Although the number of missing person files has been dropping over the last few decades, over 500,000 people still vanish every year. It was over 800,000 during the Cleveland kidnappings, so police had to prioritize some cases over others. This resulted in Michelle Knight being largely overlooked because she was an adult who'd lost custody of her child.

Both Michelle and Amanda Berry were assumed to have run away for different reasons. However, the opinion changed regarding Amanda when someone allegedly called her mom, saying they had her and she'd be "coming home in a couple of days." It was a similar situation with Gina DeJesus, as supposed witnesses came forward claiming they saw her being picked up.

Amanda Berry's mom believed her daughter had passed away after a psychic told her so

When someone goes missing, the general public can be influential in making a breakthrough. Unfortunately, they can also cause a lot of issues for the police. That's because they get people calling in saying they have information that they've actually just made up. It wasn't strangers who led Amanda Berry's case down the wrong path, though - it was a psychic.

On an episode of Oprah's talk show, self-proclaimed psychic Sylvia Browne reportedly told Amanda's mother, Louwana Miller, that her daughter had passed away "in water." This was apparently all the confirmation Louwana needed to start getting rid of some of Amanda's stuff, although she never really stopped looking for Berry until she passed away in 2006.

Ariel Castro assisted in the search for Gina DeJesus, despite being her kidnapper

The disappearance of Gina DeJesus reportedly attracted the most publicity out of the three missing women. Given her younger age, it makes sense that there would be more emphasis placed on trying to find her, which is why she was apparently featured on 'America's Most Wanted.' Her family allegedly had plenty of support after her disappearance, including from Ariel Castro.

The man was responsible for the Cleveland abductions, but that didn't stop him from supposedly attending vigils and helping Gina's loved ones to grieve. He even allegedly participated in a search party to try and track DeJesus down. He played the part of the helpful neighbor, all the while keeping Gina and the others locked inside his home.

Ariel Castro taunted Gina DeJesus by giving her a flier her mother had given him

For Ariel Castro, there was seemingly no better way to taunt his victims than pretending that he was trying to find them and then telling them all about it later. It was an excellent way for him to break them down and make them believe that there was nothing that he couldn't get away with now they were trapped.

One of the ways that Castro allegedly got to Gina DeJesus was by giving her a flier that her mom had handed out to try and find her. Locked up with Castro, Gina wasn't actually that far away from her family home. Unfortunately, she may as well have been on the other side of the world, thanks to Ariel.

Ariel Castro had a routine for the Cleveland abductions that included three days without food

The Cleveland kidnappings might not have been planned, but that doesn't mean Ariel Castro didn't establish a routine for whenever he lured a victim to his home. This apparently began with Castro getting the woman upstairs, where he would then bind her hands and feet together. After this, she'd allegedly be suspended by her neck, feet, and hands.

It's hard to imagine what horrors ran through their minds as the women hung there. Unfortunately, they had plenty of time to think about it because they were reportedly left there for days. Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and Gina DeJesus were all allegedly denied food and drink for 72 hours, leaving them incredibly weak and desperate.

Michelle Knight was allegedly forced to be complicit in imprisoning Gina DeJesus

Put into the position that these three women were in, there was always the possibility that they'd develop Stockholm syndrome. After all, they relied on Ariel Castro to stay alive for years, so it's possible they might have developed an attachment to him. Thankfully, that didn't happen. However, that doesn't mean they weren't forced to be his accomplices at times.

For instance, when Gina DeJesus was abducted, Michelle Knight was forced to make holes in the wall and attach chains to keep the 14-year-old securely imprisoned. Ariel reportedly lied to Michelle about Gina being his daughter, a move that may well have terrified Knight. If he could do this to his own child, he surely couldn't have any humanity left.

Ariel Castro tried to reconnect with his family following the Cleveland abductions

After the Cleveland kidnappings, Ariel Castro effectively had his own warped version of a family locked away in his home. That apparently wasn't enough for him, though. He allegedly felt inspired after abducting Gina DeJesus and wanted to reconnect with his own loved ones. They'd drifted apart since the divorce, but Ariel was determined to try and fix that.

Castro had a lot of making up to do if he wanted to mend things with his family. He reportedly figured he could achieve that by giving his kids money and possessions out of the blue. He'd also supposedly show up at their home or at school without announcing it to anyone beforehand. This didn't sit well with everyone.

Some of Ariel Castro's daughters reportedly accused Fernando Colon of inappropriate behavior

It wasn't just his kids that Ariel Castro allegedly wanted to win over. He also supposedly wanted to reunite with Grimilda Figueroa. She was apparently happy with Fernando Colon, though, which meant Ariel needed to get him out of the picture. He reportedly used some of his kids to achieve that by having them lie about Fernando assaulting them.

Colon understandably said he was innocent of the crimes, with Grimilda and her son both defending him. What's more, there wasn't actually evidence that he'd done anything with the children. Nevertheless, he was reportedly deemed guilty of four counts of inappropriate behavior, which resulted in several months of probation. Fernando's efforts to overturn his conviction have reportedly been unsuccessful.

Ariel Castro was reportedly very restrictive regarding food, shower, and bathroom privileges

Things never got any better in the house of horrors after those traumatic first three days. Although the victims of the Cleveland kidnappings all received food before they passed away, Ariel Castro would continue to limit what they could eat. They'd apparently only receive one meal a day, another tactic to keep them weak and reliant on their captor.

This is just the tip of the iceberg regarding the awful conditions the women reportedly lived in. Apparently, the trio was also only allowed to shower twice a week maximum and had to go to the bathroom in a plastic toilet in their rooms. This was allegedly "emptied infrequently," meaning they had to sleep surrounded by an awful smell.

The victims of the Cleveland abductions reportedly wrote diaries during their imprisonment

Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and Gina DeJesus all spent years locked away in Ariel Castro's house of horrors. That's an exceptionally long time, especially when you don't have much to do. One way that they apparently kept themselves occupied was by writing. They'd reportedly keep diaries and write to their loved ones, hoping someone might read their words one day.

The women didn't hold back when recounting the nightmares they lived through during their time with Castro. They reportedly wrote about being assaulted, locked away in darkness, being chained up, and more. They also apparently wrote about Ariel's horrific emotional abuse and how he treated them like animals. Despite this, though, they supposedly never lost hope of finding freedom.

Michelle Knight faced at least five miscarriages thanks to Ariel Castro's assaults

Unfortunately, part of the assault that the victims of the Cleveland kidnappings had to deal with was incredibly intimate. This sometimes resulted in the women falling pregnant, which Michelle Knight reportedly did a handful of times. According to Michelle herself, she was set to become a mother at least five times, but each pregnancy resulted in a miscarriage.

To make matters worse, it wasn't Knight's body that was causing the miscarriage. Instead, she alleges that Ariel Castro was responsible for ending every pregnancy. He reportedly slammed her into walls, denied her food, and even attacked her with dumbbells, all because he supposedly didn't want to become a father again. His assaults apparently left her partially deaf.

Ariel Castro reportedly ended the life of a dog he gave to Michelle Knight

There had been no puppy in Ariel Castro's house of horrors when he began the Cleveland abductions. However, it seems that a dog was allegedly introduced to the home at some point and given to Michelle Knight. The company of a pet was likely a blessing, given everything she went through in that house. However, it didn't last long.

Plenty of dog breeds make excellent guard dogs, and it seems Michelle's pet may have fit the bill. At some point, the animal reportedly tried to bite Ariel to protect Knight from him. In doing this, it sealed its fate because Castro allegedly responded by breaking its neck. Just like that, Michelle was on her own again.

Michelle Knight was allegedly more rebellious, so she faced more punishments

In some kidnapping cases, the first victim gets treated better than the rest. In others, it's the complete opposite. With the Cleveland abductions, it appears that Ariel Castro opted for the latter. Although the man treated all of the women horrifically, it was Michelle Knight who apparently bore the brunt of his malicious behavior the most.

Michelle was apparently the most rebellious of the trio, potentially because she was the oldest one there. This drive to fight back allegedly infuriated Castro, who would respond by beating her or denying her things like food and water for days. He endeavored to break her spirit, but she reportedly held onto the hope that she'd escape one day.

The women were repeatedly offered chances to escape, but it was always just a trick

Physical torture allegedly wasn't enough for Ariel Castro. He reportedly didn't just want to batter their bodies and make them too weak to fight back. He also apparently wished to mess with their heads so he could torture them on the inside as well as the outside. One way Castro allegedly did this was by tempting the women with freedom.

According to the victims of the Cleveland kidnappings, Ariel would sometimes leave a door open or unlocked, tempting them with the possibility of escape. Trying to make a break for it would always be a mistake, though. Their route out of the house would reportedly be blocked by hidden doors or Castro himself, who then punished the runaways.

Ariel Castro would reportedly celebrate the anniversaries of each woman's abduction

Keeping track of the time must have been hard in the house of horrors. After all, the women were locked away for thousands of days. So unless they had a calendar or reminders from Ariel, they probably forgot what day of the year it was. Apparently, they did at least have the latter because Castro liked to celebrate certain anniversaries.

He would allegedly always make a special occasion out of each woman's abduction day. Rather than commemorate their birthdays, Ariel would celebrate every year they were with him as a reminder of how long they'd been locked away. For Amanda Berry, it did sort of act as a birthday celebration because she was reportedly kidnapped the day before her 17th.

The women avoided sharing their feelings with Ariel Castro because he allegedly enjoyed their suffering

Sometimes, humanizing yourself with a kidnapper is one of the best tips for surviving an abduction. Unfortunately, not everyone is the same. While someone might learn to sympathize with a victim and feel inclined to release them, others will never feel sorry for them. As the victims of the Cleveland abductions discovered, Ariel Castro was that sort of man.

The women apparently learned to keep their feelings to themselves and tried not to appeal to Castro's good side because it didn't work. They reportedly believed he enjoyed their pain and suffering, so begging for release and trying to relate to him was never worth the effort. This was another way they adjusted to life in his house of horrors.

Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight were allegedly assaulted in the yard

The last victim of the Cleveland kidnappings was taken almost a decade before Ariel Castro's crimes were uncovered. That's a long time to keep three women in a house without anyone noticing. Apparently, some people did notice something was off, but they allegedly never told the police about it. That's despite reportedly seeing women in chains in the yard.

Ariel allegedly got into the habit of taking Michelle Knight and Gina DeJesus outside and assaulting them before locking them back up again. After the police learned about the house of horrors, a few neighbors supposedly confessed to seeing something like this happening. However, they never acted on what they saw, allowing the torture of these three women to continue.

Amanda Berry fell pregnant and was allowed to keep her baby

Although all three women suffered significantly at Ariel Castro's hands, Amanda Berry was reportedly treated a bit better than the rest. Castro apparently referred to her as his wife, something that may have influenced him to make a big decision when Berry fell pregnant. It seems he changed his mind about not becoming a father again once this happened.

Whereas Michelle Knight had been assaulted and repeatedly forced to miscarry, Amanda was apparently given more food and was safe from Castro's beatings. She was kept healthy enough to give birth, with Ariel initially planning to abandon the baby at a church. However, he eventually changed his mind and decided to keep the newborn with him and Berry instead.

Amanda Berry gave birth in the house of horrors, with Michelle Knight forced to help

Amanda Berry was pregnant with Ariel Castro's baby and was treated better as a result. However, that didn't mean her captor was about to let her go, even when she went into labor. Berry was allegedly expected to give birth in the house of horrors using the tools at their disposal. What's more, Michelle Knight was expected to help her.

Given that Michelle had a child herself, she had more experience than anyone else with giving birth. Unfortunately, that reportedly put a lot of pressure on her shoulders, particularly when Amanda's baby stopped breathing. Ariel apparently gave her an ultimatum at that moment: save the child or lose her life. She managed the former using CPR.

Being the mother of Ariel Castro's child didn't make life any easier for Amanda Berry

Once that baby arrived, their survival was no longer dependent on the positive treatment of Amanda Berry. Although Ariel Castro had a soft spot for her, she was still his prisoner, and he allegedly planned to keep treating her as such. That meant Amanda had little freedom to raise their daughter, who she apparently named Jocelyn.

Berry did reportedly get some perks, such as occasionally being let out of her chains. However, the benefits were allegedly few and far between. The victims of the Cleveland abductions were reportedly forced to sew clothes for Jocelyn, with the baby also given old toys that Ariel's other children had used. It was hardly a glamorous childhood.

Amanda Berry did what she could to give Jocelyn a normal life in the circumstances

When someone becomes a mom or dad for the first time, they typically face some of the most common parenting challenges. Something they don't usually have to deal with is the horror that Amanda Berry went through after she gave birth. Imprisoned in a room that was locked from the outside, she was a mother living in a waking nightmare.

Despite how horrific Amanda's situation was, though, she reportedly did all she could to make Jocelyn's childhood somewhat normal. She would pretend to do things like walking her daughter to school just to keep up the pretense of normality. Amanda also taught Jocelyn how to walk and talk, and told her all about the outside world that she longed for.

Ariel Castro allegedly told people different stories about who Jocelyn was

For years, Ariel Castro had fought off the desire to become a father again. However, once Jocelyn came along, he seemed to relish in the joy of having another kid to call his own. Although the girl's mother was locked away in the house of horrors, Jocelyn was sometimes allowed to go out with her father.

Unsurprisingly, Castro suddenly having a child with him was an unusual sight, which is why he fabricated stories about Jocelyn's identity. He allegedly told some people she was his granddaughter, while he reportedly told his own kids that an ex had gotten pregnant with his child. Castro was playing a dangerous game by switching up his stories like this.

The police didn't seem to make a connection between Ariel Castro and the Cleveland abductions

For years, Ariel Castro managed to avoid being linked to the Cleveland kidnappings. That's despite fitting the description of the man people say had last been seen with Gina DeJesus. It's also despite his connection to all of the women, and they say that around 80% of kidnappings are committed by those related to the victim.

Apparently, the police did visit his house once before the Cleveland abductions were solved. However, it was allegedly for an unrelated incident, and the cops didn't discover what Castro was up to. The notion that investigators could come so close to discovering the truth and miss out on it may have left Castro's victims feeling incredibly dejected.

In May 2013, Amanda Berry learned that Ariel Castro had left and not locked the door

Thankfully, although the police missed out on an opportunity to save those women then, there was hope for their future. In May 2013, the salvation they'd long been waiting for finally came when Ariel Castro made the biggest mistake of his life. It seems he left the door unlocked, and this time it wasn't a trick.

Apparently, after Castro left to buy some fast food, Jocelyn ran downstairs and saw he was missing. She then told her mother that "Daddy's car is gone," offering hope that freedom might soon be in reach. Could escape really be possible, though, when Ariel had been so successful at keeping them locked up without any issues for all these years?

Amanda Berry screamed for help in the hope that a neighbor would hear her

In this situation, it would have been easy for Amanda Berry to question if she could really trust what she was hearing. Perhaps it was another of Ariel Castro's tricks, and trying to escape would result in further punishment? She had to risk his wrath, though, because she didn't want to live in his house of horrors forever.

So, Amanda went to the front door, reportedly pushed her arm through it, and screamed for help. The door apparently had an alarm with a padlocked storm door in front of it, so she needed someone's help if she was going to make a successful escape. Would the neighbors come to her aid after turning a blind eye before, though?

The first person who came to Amanda Berry's aid hardly spoke English

Fortunately, getting someone's attention apparently wasn't too difficult. Amanda Berry managed to scream loud enough that a neighbor immediately came over to see what was happening. The only downside was that this person reportedly didn't speak much English. No matter what Amanda asked of him, he couldn't understand what it was she was trying to say.

It's probably not hard to imagine the fear that this might have sent racing through Berry. Here was potentially her one opportunity to escape, and the man who'd come to help didn't even know she needed rescuing. He had no clue that Ariel Castro had three women and a child locked inside his house of horrors.

Charles Ramsey helped Amanda Berry crawl to freedom, where she then rang the police

With the first neighbor unable to help, Amanda Berry reportedly continued screaming for help, and that's when someone truly came to her rescue. Charles Ramsey rushed over, and he understood perfectly what the woman was saying. He managed to kick a hole through the storm door and create a hole big enough that Amanda could crawl through to freedom.

She and Jocelyn made it out together, and part of her probably wanted to just run as far away from the house of horrors as possible. She couldn't leave Michelle Knight and Gina DeJesus inside on their own, though. So, Amanda phoned the police and told them that Ariel Castro was responsible for the Cleveland kidnappings.

Michelle Knight reportedly thought Amanda Berry was being punished when she escaped

While all this was happening, Michelle Knight and Gina DeJesus had no idea that they were moments away from being freed. Michelle had been imprisoned for 11 years, so the belief that she'd one day escape might have been hard to hold onto. That’s potentially why Michelle allegedly assumed that the noises she heard were a sign of something bad.

Apparently, Knight initially thought that the screaming and banging was simply Amanda Berry being punished for trying to escape. It was only when the police showed up that she realized her nightmare ordeal was over. She reportedly fell into the officer's arms, so overjoyed that she could finally return to the outside world after more than a decade.

Ariel Castro and his brothers were arrested for the Cleveland kidnappings

For years, Ariel Castro had evaded being associated with the Cleveland abductions. Once his victims were rescued by the cops, though, there was nowhere for him to hide. They were found in his home, and all three women had no trouble identifying him as the perpetrator. So, within hours of Amanda Berry's escape, he was in police custody.

It wasn't just Castro who was initially arrested for the Cleveland kidnappings. His brothers were also picked up by the police. However, they were reportedly released soon after because they apparently had nothing to do with the abductions. Only Ariel was considered a culprit and about to face no less than ten years behind bars if found guilty.

Ariel Castro was accused of nearly 1,000 crimes in his court case

After all the years Ariel Castro had kept his victims locked away, his court case was set to be a dramatic one. The prosecution apparently had no shortage of crimes to accuse him of, with the total nearly hitting four figures. He was reportedly tried on 977 different counts, 512 of which were tied to kidnapping and 446 to assault.

The remaining charges were made up of seven counts of gross assault and imposition, three counts of endangering a child, one count of possessing criminal tools, and six counts of assaulting a minor. Castro was also tried for two counts of taking someone's life due to the miscarriages he'd reportedly forced upon Michelle Knight. It was a long list.

According to Ariel Castro, everything he'd done over the last 11 years was consensual

Despite the mountain of accusations against him, Ariel Castro wasn't about to go down without a fight. Everything was seemingly stacked up against him, but he was still adamant in his innocence. He testified at his trial that he hadn't done anything wrong and that all three victims had chosen to live with him in the house of horrors.

According to Castro, everything that happened in his home was consensual, meaning he never assaulted any of the women. He also said that the three of them were treated to comforts, and the crimes were taken out of proportion. Unfortunately for Castro, many of the people keeping up to date with the trial didn't believe a word that he said.

Ariel Castro eventually pleaded guilty to 937 charges after agreeing to a plea deal

For Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and Gina DeJesus, it can't have been easy to hear their captor protesting his innocence. Even though the case against him was strong, the possibility that he might walk away scot-free was probably terrifying. Thankfully, he eventually changed his tune and reportedly opted to plead guilty to 937 of the charges against him.

Ariel Castro apparently opted to confess to his crimes after reaching a plea deal. This came with several requirements, including the revelation that he could never appeal the decision. He also had to forfeit his assets and never be allowed to profit from what he'd done, such as publishing a book about what he'd put his victims through.

Michelle Knight changed her name, got married, and wrote a book after being rescued

Once the court case was over, Ariel Castro received numerous life sentences and jail time amounting to over 1,000 years in prison. With him behind bars, his victims could start to rebuild the lives that he'd deprived them of for so long. Unfortunately, it's not easy adjusting to life after being kidnapped, even with the guilty party arrested.

For Michelle Knight, part of the recovery process was writing about her time in the house of horrors. She also changed her name to Lily Rose Lee and tied the knot two years to the day after being rescued. She's also reportedly attempted to make strides in reconnecting with her son, whose life she'd missed so much of.

Amanda Berry has balanced motherhood with helping others

Compared to the others, Amanda Berry lives with the greatest reminder of what she experienced at the hands of Ariel Castro. After all, the man gave her a daughter. Fortunately, while some moms struggle to love a child who's the product of assault, Amanda's bond with her daughter is something she continues to hold dear to this day.

Berry has balanced her parental responsibilities with writing her own book, also about what she went through in the house of horrors. She's also taken to working with her local news channel, covering cases of missing children. Her involvement with the Cleveland abductions has inspired her to try and save others from the pain she experienced.

Gina DeJesus set up the Cleveland Family Center for Missing Children and Adults after her rescue

As the youngest victim of the Cleveland kidnappings, Gina DeJesus potentially missed out on the most when Ariel Castro abducted her. She emerged from his home a young woman in her early 20s, worlds away from who she was when she first got into her captor's van. Thankfully, that trauma hasn't stopped her from living a rich and fulfilling life.

Much like Amanda Berry, she's also been striving to help those who go missing. She actually founded the Cleveland Family Center for Missing Children and Adults. It aims to help find those who disappear like the three of them did while also supporting the victims' families. The center is reportedly an AMBER Alert ambassador for the Northeast Ohio area too.

Ariel Castro reportedly ended his life just weeks after being sentenced for his crimes

After the courts deemed Ariel Castro guilty, he was set to face the rest of his life behind bars. Taking a plea deal might have seemed a strange decision for him to make, given that he'd initially contested the 900 plus charges against him. However, it's possible that he opted to admit his guilt because he had a plan.

Less than six weeks after being sentenced, the man reportedly took his own life. He allegedly used bedsheets to do the deed in a move that apparently left his victims with a "mixture of emotions." There was no sorrow for Castro’s passing, but they may have felt angry that he took the easy way out instead of facing his punishment.

The Cleveland abductions reportedly brought Gina DeJesus and Amanda Berry closer together

The bond between Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and Gina DeJesus is something that they'll never have with anyone else. However, that doesn't mean they all value it. A bond like this can act as a reminder of what the victims experienced. In some cases, people prefer to cut off contact with those they were imprisoned with.

That's seemingly how Michelle feels, as she doesn't really keep in touch with the others anymore. It's different for Amanda and Gina, though, who have apparently been close friends since escaping their captivity. They've been one another's rock because no one else - aside from Michelle - knows the trauma they experienced. Theirs is reportedly a friendship for life.