Amanda Berry, missing since 4/21/2003 Cleveland, OH(Found Safe!)

[MuffyBee]

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/crime/article/Ohio-man-faces-329-charges-in-missing-women-case-4587743.php
Ohio man faces 329 charges in missing women case
June 7, 2013

OLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A man accused of holding three women captive in his run-down home in Cleveland for a decade and fathering a child with one of them has been indicted on 329 charges including murder, kidnapping and rape, prosecutors said.

A Cuyahoga County grand jury returned the indictment Friday against Ariel Castro, a former school bus driver fired last fall.

Castro, 52, is accused of kidnapping Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight and holding them captive along with a 6-year-old girl he fathered with Berry.

The grand jury charged Castro with two counts of aggravated murder related to one act, saying he purposely caused the unlawful termination of one of the women's pregnancies. Castro also was indicted on 139 counts of rape, 177 counts of kidnapping, seven counts of gross sexual imposition, three counts of felonious assault and one count of possession of criminal tools.

Castro's attorneys have said he would plead not guilty to any indictment. Castro, during his brief arraignment last month, tried to hide his face, tucking his chin inside his shirt collar, and did not speak.

Castro is being held on $8 million bail. He has been taken off suicide prevention watch, jail officials said this week.
 
Cuyahoga County prosecutor Tim McGinty said the indictment covers only the period from August 2002, when the first of the women disappeared, to February 2007.

Castro will be arraigned on the charges next week, and a trial judge will then be assigned.

The investigation continues, McGinty said. And when the indictment process is completed, the county prosecutor's capital review committee will weigh whether the case is appropriate for seeking the death penalty.

Days after the women were rescued from Castro's home, McGinty had said at a news conference that capital punishment "must be reserved for those crimes that are truly the worst examples of human conduct."

"The law of Ohio calls for the death penalty for those most depraved criminals, who commit aggravated murder during the course of a kidnapping," he added.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/08/us-usa-missing-ohio-idUSBRE95619F20130608
Cleveland man to plead 'not guilty' to kidnap, rape, murder: lawyer
June 8, 2013
(Reuters) - The Ohio man accused of kidnapping three women and holding them captive in his Cleveland home for a decade will plead "not guilty" to several hundred charges that also include rape and aggravated murder, his attorney said on Saturday.

Former school bus driver Ariel Castro was indicted on Friday on 329 criminal counts in connection with the imprisonment of Gina DeJesus, 23, Michelle Knight, 32, and Amanda Berry, 27. The women were freed from Castro's house on May 6.

He is charged with aggravated murder in the assault and impregnation of Knight between November 2006 and February 2007 and forcing her to miscarry, according to the indictment.

Castro, 52, is being held in jail on an $8 million bond and is to be arraigned on the charges next week.

"The indictment is being reviewed and a ‘not guilty' plea will be entered at the scheduled arraignment," attorney Jaye M. Schlachet told Reuters.

The indictment issued by a Cuyahoga County grand jury includes 139 counts of rape and 177 counts of kidnapping. It includes some details on how the women were restrained during their ordeal, including that Castro at one point taped the legs and mouth of one of the victims and chained her to a pole in the basement, with a motorcycle helmet on her head.

The indictment covers only the period from August 2002, when Knight disappeared, until February 2007, and more charges are expected.
The aggravated murder charge stems from Knight's fourth pregnancy. According to a police report, Castro caused Knight to suffer at least five miscarriages by starving her and beating her in the abdomen.

Prosecutors said a committee will consider seeking the death penalty as a possible sentence after a complete indictment is finalized.

Schlachet said the death penalty is not warranted in Castro's case and should not be used to pressure his client into a taking plea bargain in lieu of a trial.

Ohio is one of 38 states to have a fetal homicide law, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Legal experts said the murder case will be complicated by a lack of physical evidence of the miscarriage and medical records.

"It would be unprecedented to pursue the death penalty for an alleged death of a fetus, without the death of the mother," Schlachet said. "We remain hopeful that the prosecutor's office and the public understand and agree that a death penalty should never be used as leverage to attempt to obtain a plea bargain."
More...

[MuffyBee]

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/crime/article/Court-date-Wednesday-in-Cleveland-kidnapping-case-4591563.php
Court date Wednesday in Cleveland kidnapping case
June 10, 2013

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland man charged with holding three women captive in his home for a decade and raping them has another court date.

Court officials have scheduled a Wednesday arraignment for 52-year-old Ariel Castro on more than 300 charges including murder, kidnapping and rape.

An indictment returned Friday charges Castro with aggravated murder in a miscarriage that allegedly resulted from a captive woman being starved and punched in the stomach.

Castro also was indicted on 139 counts of rape, 177 counts of kidnapping, seven counts of gross sexual imposition, three counts of felonious assault and one count of possession of criminal tools.

Castro's attorneys say he will plead not guilty.
 

[cw618]

Ariel Castro's lawyers describe their first meeting with their defendant
2:33 PM, May 15, 2013
Ariel Castro's lawyer talked to WKYC's Tom Meyer
Extended interview with Ariel Castro's Lawyer - Part 1
http://www.wkyc.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=2382207192001
Extended interview with Ariel Castro's Lawyer - Part II
http://www.wkyc.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=2382257887001
Extended interview with Ariel Castro's lawyer - Part III
http://www.wkyc.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=2382227304001
Extended interview with Ariel Castro's lawyer - Part IV
http://www.wkyc.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=2382298218001
http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/299609/45/VIDEO--Ariel-Castros-lawyers-extended-interviews

[cw618]

Cleveland: Ariel Castro pleads not guilty to 329 counts
9:45 AM, Jun 12, 2013
vid
http://www.wkyc.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=2473507263001
http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/302882/33/Cleveland-Ariel-Castro-pleads-not-guilty-to-329-counts


Ariel Castro indicted on aggravated murder, rape, kidnapping charges
 By James F. McCarty, The Plain Dealer
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on June 07, 2013 at 4:30 PM, updated June 10, 2013 at 7:27 AM
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/06/ariel_castro_indicted_on_charg.html

[MuffyBee]

http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Defense-hints-at-no-trial-in-Ohio-kidnap-rape-case-4595328.php
Defense hints at plea in Ohio kidnapping-rape case
June 12, 2013
CLEVELAND (AP) — A man accused of holding three women captive in his home for about a decade pleaded not guilty Wednesday, and the defense hinted that it would like to avoid trial with a plea agreement if the death penalty was ruled out.

Attorney Craig Weintraub addressed the death penalty issue after his client, 52-year-old Ariel Castro, pleaded not guilty to hundreds of charges including rape and kidnapping.

Castro, dressed in an orange jail outfit with his hands and ankles shackled and a full dark beard grown in jail, kept his chin tucked on his chest through the brief court appearance. He didn't speak or glance at his two attorneys standing by his side.

Weintraub said the defense was working to avoid an "unnecessary trial" involving the death penalty. Current charges Castro faces involving an alleged forced miscarriage don't include death penalty specifications, but the prosecutor says that's under review.

"Mr. Castro currently faces hundreds of years in prison with the current charges," Weintraub said after the arraignment. "It is our hope that we can continue to work toward a resolution to avoid having an unnecessary trial about aggravated murder and the death penalty."

Joe Frolik, spokesman for Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty, said the defense remarks were under review.

The 329-count indictment returned Friday covered only the period from August 2002, when the first of the women disappeared, to February 2007. More charges could be filed.

A statement issued on behalf of the women said days like the arraignment "are not easy" and added: "We are hopeful for a just and prompt resolution. We have great faith in the prosecutor's office and the court."
More...

[MuffyBee]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/19/us-usa-missing-ohio-idUSBRE95I0DZ20130619
Man accused of kidnapping Cleveland women to face more charges
June 19, 2013

(Reuters) - Authorities plan to present evidence next week to a grand jury as they seek to bring more charges against the former Cleveland bus driver accused of holding three women captive in his home, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy McGinty said Wednesday.

Ariel Castro, 52, has pleaded not guilty to more than 300 charges against him, including rape and kidnapping, for holding the women and prosecutors are seeking to indict him on more charges related to later periods, McGinty said.
More...

[MuffyBee]

Horrible, horrible man.  Lock him up forever.  JMHO

[cw618]

i didnt know there was a movie/doc made already, on lifetime tonite

 Cleveland House of Horror: Beyond the Headlines

Wed 6/19
10:00PM-11:01PM
Lifetime
 
11:01PM-12:02AM
Lifetime
 
Thu 6/20
2:02AM-3:03AM
Lifetime
   
3:03AM-4:02AM
Lifetime
 
Fri 6/21
10:00PM-11:01PM
Lifetime
 
Sat 6/22
2:02AM-3:03AM
Lifetime
 
11:01PM-12:02AM
Lifetime
 
Sun 6/23
3:03AM-4:02AM
Lifetime
http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tv/cleveland-house-of-horror-beyond-the-headlines/EP01754327?aid=zap2it

[Sister]

Horrible, horrible man.  Lock him up forever.  JMHO

agreed.

Prayers for these women . . .

[MuffyBee]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/03/cleveland-kidnapping-suspect-hearing/2485337/
Cleveland kidnapping suspect competent to stand trial
July 3, 2013

Ariel Castro, charged with holding three Cleveland women captive for more than a decade, is mentally competent to stand trial, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Court-appointed psychiatrists, who evaluated Castro for two hours, found Castro competent and capable of assisting his attorneys with his defense, Cuyahoga County Judge Michael Russo said Wednesday. Castro answered "yes" when the judge asked him whether he understood the purpose of the evaluation and the court proceedings.

The judge denied Castro's request to see the elementary-school-aged child he fathered with one of the captive women.

"I won't be allowing that, not during the pendency of this case," Russo said. "I just don't think that would be appropriate."

The judge said Castro's adult children could visit him in jail if they wished. Castro is being held on $8 million bail.
 

Video at Link

[Sister]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/03/cleveland-kidnapping-suspect-hearing/2485337/
Cleveland kidnapping suspect competent to stand trial
July 3, 2013

Ariel Castro, charged with holding three Cleveland women captive for more than a decade, is mentally competent to stand trial, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Court-appointed psychiatrists, who evaluated Castro for two hours, found Castro competent and capable of assisting his attorneys with his defense, Cuyahoga County Judge Michael Russo said Wednesday. Castro answered "yes" when the judge asked him whether he understood the purpose of the evaluation and the court proceedings.

The judge denied Castro's request to see the elementary-school-aged child he fathered with one of the captive women.

"I won't be allowing that, not during the pendency of this case," Russo said. "I just don't think that would be appropriate."

The judge said Castro's adult children could visit him in jail if they wished. Castro is being held on $8 million bail.
 

Video at Link

BBM
how arrogant!

[cw618]

i ran across this vid the other day,it has a lot of info

Published on May 26, 2013
Cleveland kidnapping: BBC crime documentary 2013 - What really happened?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZrnFEyi17E

[BabsKats]

i ran across this vid the other day,it has a lot of info

Published on May 26, 2013
Cleveland kidnapping: BBC crime documentary 2013 - What really happened?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZrnFEyi17E

Thankyou CW, that was a really fantastic, informative video

[Sister]

i ran across this vid the other day,it has a lot of info

Published on May 26, 2013
Cleveland kidnapping: BBC crime documentary 2013 - What really happened?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZrnFEyi17E

Thankyou CW, that was a really fantastic, informative video

 
yes, thanks CW

[texasmom]

I saw this on GMA this morning, awesome!  God bless them! 

 

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/amanda-berry-gina-dejesus-michelle-knight-youtube-video-19614251

Ohio Kidnap Victim: 'I'm Strong Enough to Walk Through Hell'

Three women held captive in a house in Cleveland express thanks for support in YouTube video.

07/09/2013

[Sister]

I saw this on GMA this morning, awesome!  God bless them! 

 

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/amanda-berry-gina-dejesus-michelle-knight-youtube-video-19614251

Ohio Kidnap Victim: 'I'm Strong Enough to Walk Through Hell'

Three women held captive in a house in Cleveland express thanks for support in YouTube video.

07/09/2013

[cw618]

Cleveland kidnapping suspect, Ariel Castro indicted on 977 counts, including agg. murder
WSMV-TV
updated 7/12/2013 9:47:41 PM ET

 

A Cuyahoga County Grand Jury has issued a 977-count indictment against suspected kidnapper Ariel Castro.
 
The indictment covers the entire time period from August 2002, when the first of the three women disappeared, until May of this year. The original indictment covered only the first four and a half years of the women's captivity.

On Thursday, a County Prosecutor Committee met to discuss whether Ariel Castro should get the death penalty. That still remains an option
more
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/52462909/

977-count indictment the pg counter says 576pgs
http://prosecutor.cuyahogacounty.us/pdf/2013_07_12/Indictment-575419-13-CR.pdf

A Cuyahoga County Grand Jury has issued a 977-count indictment against suspected
kidnapper Ariel Castro.
http://www.19actionnews.com/video?clipId=9088518&autostart=true

[MuffyBee]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/07/17/2nd-arraignment-set-on-expanded-charges-against-cleveland-man-in-alleged/
2nd arraignment set on expanded charges against Cleveland man in alleged kidnapping of 3 women
July 17, 2013

CLEVELAND –  The man charged with kidnapping three women over a decade and raping them in his Cleveland home faces arraignment on an expanded, 977-count indictment.

The newest charges returned Friday by a grand jury against Ariel Castro expanded on a 329-count indictment filed earlier and which reflected only part of the alleged crimes' timeframe.
 
The new indictment also charges him with 512 counts of kidnapping, 446 counts of rape, seven counts of gross sexual imposition, six counts of felonious assault, three counts of child endangerment and one count of possessing criminal tools.

Castro will be arraigned on Wednesday.

[Nut44x4]

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/17/19525433-massive-576-page-indictment-of-alleged-cleveland-kidnapper-reflects-horror-and-seriousness-of-case?lite

 


The charges enumerated in the document include two counts of aggravated murder, 512 counts of kidnapping, 446 counts of rape, seven counts of gross sexual imposition, a half-dozen counts of felonious assault, three counts of child endangerment, and one count of possessing criminal tools.

The state has not yet said it will seek the death penalty for the aggravated murder charges, but could do so in a superseding indictment. Prosecutors have not tallied the number of years Castro could face if convicted on the nearly 1000 charges against him, but his attorney Craig Weintraub has said he could face “hundreds of years in prison,” according to the Associated Press.