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Three US women missing for years in fair condition | Three US women missing for years in fair condition |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Three young women who vanished about a decade ago in the US state of Ohio have been found and are in hospital in a fair condition, officials have said. | Three young women who vanished about a decade ago in the US state of Ohio have been found and are in hospital in a fair condition, officials have said. |
Amanda Berry disappeared aged 16 in 2003, while Gina DeJesus went missing at the age of 14 a year later. | Amanda Berry disappeared aged 16 in 2003, while Gina DeJesus went missing at the age of 14 a year later. |
They and Michele Knight, 32, who vanished in 2002 at the age of 20, were found in a house in the city of Cleveland, police confirmed. | They and Michele Knight, 32, who vanished in 2002 at the age of 20, were found in a house in the city of Cleveland, police confirmed. |
Three men have been arrested in connection with the case. | |
Cleveland police said the suspects were all in their fifties. | |
Officers at the scene told reporters that the three men were brothers, and that one of them had lived in the house where the girls were found. | |
Meanwhile a doctor confirmed the three women were being kept in hospital for observation. | |
"This isn't the ending we usually hear to these stories," said Dr Gerald Maloney in a brief news conference outside Metro Health hospital in Cleveland. "We're very happy." | "This isn't the ending we usually hear to these stories," said Dr Gerald Maloney in a brief news conference outside Metro Health hospital in Cleveland. "We're very happy." |
Speaking amid cheers from spectators, he added the women were able to speak to hospital staff but he declined to give further details. | Speaking amid cheers from spectators, he added the women were able to speak to hospital staff but he declined to give further details. |
The BBC's Jane Little says it was assumed the girls were dead, and the mother of one victim said she believed her daughter had been sold into slavery. | The BBC's Jane Little says it was assumed the girls were dead, and the mother of one victim said she believed her daughter had been sold into slavery. |
At least one of the women is reported to have a baby. | At least one of the women is reported to have a baby. |
'Here a long time' | 'Here a long time' |
In a frantic call to police released to the news media, Ms Berry identified her captor as Ariel Castro. She said she had escaped after he had left the house. | In a frantic call to police released to the news media, Ms Berry identified her captor as Ariel Castro. She said she had escaped after he had left the house. |
Local news stations say Mr Castro is one of the man in police custody. | |
"I am thankful that Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight have been found alive," Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson said. | "I am thankful that Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight have been found alive," Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson said. |
"We have many unanswered questions regarding this case and the investigation will be ongoing." | "We have many unanswered questions regarding this case and the investigation will be ongoing." |
A neighbour said he had seen a woman screaming for help at the front door of the house. | A neighbour said he had seen a woman screaming for help at the front door of the house. |
Charles Ramsey said he suggested the woman open the door and exit, but she told him it was locked. | Charles Ramsey said he suggested the woman open the door and exit, but she told him it was locked. |
"We had to kick open the bottom," he said. "Lucky on that door it was aluminum. It was cheap. She climbed out with her daughter." | "We had to kick open the bottom," he said. "Lucky on that door it was aluminum. It was cheap. She climbed out with her daughter." |
Mr Ramsey then sheltered the woman, who said there were others in the house. | Mr Ramsey then sheltered the woman, who said there were others in the house. |
Ms Berry was last heard from when she called her sister on 21 April 2003 to say she would get a lift home from work at a Burger King restaurant. | Ms Berry was last heard from when she called her sister on 21 April 2003 to say she would get a lift home from work at a Burger King restaurant. |
In 2004, Ms DeJesus was said to be on her way home from school when she went missing. | In 2004, Ms DeJesus was said to be on her way home from school when she went missing. |
Their cases were re-opened last year when a prison inmate tipped off authorities that Ms Berry may have been buried in Cleveland. He received a four-and-a-half-year sentence in prison for the false information. | Their cases were re-opened last year when a prison inmate tipped off authorities that Ms Berry may have been buried in Cleveland. He received a four-and-a-half-year sentence in prison for the false information. |
Amanda Berry's mother, Louwana, died in March 2006, three years after her daughter's disappearance. | Amanda Berry's mother, Louwana, died in March 2006, three years after her daughter's disappearance. |