Three women who had been missing for a
decade — two of whom disappeared as teenagers — were found alive in a house in Cleveland, police in the US state of Ohio said Monday.
decade — two of whom disappeared as teenagers — were found alive in a house in Cleveland, police in the US state of Ohio said Monday.
The dramatic
discovery drew hundreds of cheering people to the usually quiet, residential
street to celebrate that girls long feared dead were very much alive.
discovery drew hundreds of cheering people to the usually quiet, residential
street to celebrate that girls long feared dead were very much alive.
The details of
the trauma they may have suffered in captivity were not yet known, but it
appeared that at least one of the girls had borne a child during her captivity.
the trauma they may have suffered in captivity were not yet known, but it
appeared that at least one of the girls had borne a child during her captivity.
“I heard
screaming… And I see this girl going nuts trying to get outside of the house,” Charles Ramsey told the local ABC affiliate.
screaming… And I see this girl going nuts trying to get outside of the house,” Charles Ramsey told the local ABC affiliate.
“I go on the
porch, and she said ‘Help me get out. I’ve been here a long time.’”
porch, and she said ‘Help me get out. I’ve been here a long time.’”
Ramsey said he
tried to get her out through the door but could not pull it open, so he kicked
out the bottom and she crawled through “carrying a little girl.”
tried to get her out through the door but could not pull it open, so he kicked
out the bottom and she crawled through “carrying a little girl.”
Berry went into
a neighbouring home and called police, begging them to come as soon as they
could “before he gets back.”
a neighbouring home and called police, begging them to come as soon as they
could “before he gets back.”
“I’m Amanda Berry. I’ve been
kidnapped. I’ve been missing for 10 years. I’m free. I’m here now,” Berry said,
according to the recording of her frantic call to 911.
kidnapped. I’ve been missing for 10 years. I’m free. I’m here now,” Berry said,
according to the recording of her frantic call to 911.
She told the
dispatcher that the man who had held her captive was called Ariel Castro. When police
arrived she told them there were two other captives in the home.
dispatcher that the man who had held her captive was called Ariel Castro. When police
arrived she told them there were two other captives in the home.
“All three
women, Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michele Knight, seem to be
in good health,” Cleveland police said in a statement.
women, Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michele Knight, seem to be
in good health,” Cleveland police said in a statement.
Berry was last seen
at approximately 7:40 p.m. on April 21, 2003, after leaving work at a fast food
restaurant that was just a few blocks from her home. She was 16 when she
disappeared, according to the FBI.
at approximately 7:40 p.m. on April 21, 2003, after leaving work at a fast food
restaurant that was just a few blocks from her home. She was 16 when she
disappeared, according to the FBI.
Her mother, Louwanna Miller, passed
away in March of 2006, WKYC news reported.
away in March of 2006, WKYC news reported.
DeJesus was 14
when she disappeared while walking home from school on April 2, 2004.
when she disappeared while walking home from school on April 2, 2004.
She was last
seen at a pay telephone booth, sometime between 2:45 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. that
day, according to the FBI.
seen at a pay telephone booth, sometime between 2:45 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. that
day, according to the FBI.
Knight, who was
21 at the time of her disappearance, was last seen at a cousin’s house on
August 23, 2002, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
21 at the time of her disappearance, was last seen at a cousin’s house on
August 23, 2002, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Kayla Rogers, 23, attended
school with DeJesus and joined the crowd gathered near the house on Seymore
Avenue where her friend had been held captive.
school with DeJesus and joined the crowd gathered near the house on Seymore
Avenue where her friend had been held captive.
“They don’t find
people who go missing, you know,” Rogers, 23, told the Plain Dealer.
people who go missing, you know,” Rogers, 23, told the Plain Dealer.
“I’m at a loss
for words.”
for words.”
Rogers said she
only attended one vigil over the years, because it was too painful.
only attended one vigil over the years, because it was too painful.
Neighbour
Charlie Czorb said he was stunned by how long the women had lived at the house
undetected.
Charlie Czorb said he was stunned by how long the women had lived at the house
undetected.
“This is our own
backyard,” Czorb told the paper. “These girls were locked up in our own
backyard.”
backyard,” Czorb told the paper. “These girls were locked up in our own
backyard.”
Berry’s cousin, Tasheena Mitchell, 26,
said she didn’t believe her brother at first when he called to tell her that
her best friend had been found alive.
said she didn’t believe her brother at first when he called to tell her that
her best friend had been found alive.
She’d had her
hopes dashed by false reports before. But this time, it was true. So she rushed
to the hospital in hopes of confirming it with her own eyes.
hopes dashed by false reports before. But this time, it was true. So she rushed
to the hospital in hopes of confirming it with her own eyes.
“She was my best
friend,” Mitchell told the Plain Dealer.
friend,” Mitchell told the Plain Dealer.
A friend
interrupted her, “She’s alive. She is your best friend.”
interrupted her, “She’s alive. She is your best friend.”
“You’re right,”
Mitchell continued. “She is my best friend. I’m so nervous. I’m so excited.
They won’t let me inside. But I will stay here all night if I have to.”
Mitchell continued. “She is my best friend. I’m so nervous. I’m so excited.
They won’t let me inside. But I will stay here all night if I have to.”
An emergency
room doctor who treated the three women said they were in fair condition and
were being evaluated.
room doctor who treated the three women said they were in fair condition and
were being evaluated.
