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Cleveland officials hail bravery of missing women | Cleveland officials hail bravery of missing women |
(35 minutes later) | |
Officials have praised the bravery of three women who have been found alive in a Cleveland, Ohio, home after vanishing about a decade ago. | Officials have praised the bravery of three women who have been found alive in a Cleveland, Ohio, home after vanishing about a decade ago. |
Amanda Berry disappeared aged 16 in 2003, Gina DeJesus went missing aged 14 a year later, and Michelle Knight vanished in 2002 aged around 19. | Amanda Berry disappeared aged 16 in 2003, Gina DeJesus went missing aged 14 a year later, and Michelle Knight vanished in 2002 aged around 19. |
A school bus driver and his two brothers have been arrested. | A school bus driver and his two brothers have been arrested. |
Police told a news conference that they had been called to the alleged captor's home twice - in 2000 and 2004. | Police told a news conference that they had been called to the alleged captor's home twice - in 2000 and 2004. |
The three women were released from hospital on Tuesday morning. | The three women were released from hospital on Tuesday morning. |
'Weight of justice' | 'Weight of justice' |
In the news briefing, law enforcement officials said a six-year-old girl also rescued from the home was believed to be the daughter of Amanda Berry. | |
FBI Special Agent Stephen Anthony said: "The nightmare is over. These three young ladies have provided us with the ultimate definition of survival and perseverance. The healing can now begin." | |
"Yes, law enforcement professionals do cry," he added. | |
He vowed that prosecutors would "bring the full weight of justice" against their alleged captor. | He vowed that prosecutors would "bring the full weight of justice" against their alleged captor. |
Ms Berry escaped on Monday evening when a neighbour heard her screaming and kicking a door, while her alleged captor was out of the house at 2207 Seymour Ave. | Ms Berry escaped on Monday evening when a neighbour heard her screaming and kicking a door, while her alleged captor was out of the house at 2207 Seymour Ave. |
Rescuer Charles Ramsey said he had helped kick in a metal door so that Ms Berry could climb outside. | Rescuer Charles Ramsey said he had helped kick in a metal door so that Ms Berry could climb outside. |
Cleveland police chief Michael McGrath told the news conference: "Thankfully, thankfully, due to Amanda's brave actions these three women are alive today." | |
School bus driver Ariel Castro, 52, and his two brothers, Pedro, 54, and Onil, 50, have been taken into custody. | |
During the news conference, Public Safety Director Martin Flask said that in March 2000, Mr Castro had called the authorities to report a fight on his street, but no arrest was made. | |
In January 2004, police called at Mr Castro's home but no-one answered. They were alerted by children's services after a child was left at a depot on a school bus that Mr Castro had been driving. Authorities concluded there had been no criminal intent. | In January 2004, police called at Mr Castro's home but no-one answered. They were alerted by children's services after a child was left at a depot on a school bus that Mr Castro had been driving. Authorities concluded there had been no criminal intent. |
Ms Berry had last been heard from aged 16 when she called her sister on 21 April 2003 to say she would get a lift home from her job at a Burger King restaurant. | Ms Berry had last been heard from aged 16 when she called her sister on 21 April 2003 to say she would get a lift home from her job at a Burger King restaurant. |
In 2004, Ms DeJesus was believed to have been on her way home from school when she went missing. | In 2004, Ms DeJesus was believed to have been on her way home from school when she went missing. |
Their disappearances had made local headlines in Cleveland, and many assumed the girls were dead. | Their disappearances had made local headlines in Cleveland, and many assumed the girls were dead. |
The case of Michelle Knight, who was older than the other women when she disappeared, was less widely publicised. | The case of Michelle Knight, who was older than the other women when she disappeared, was less widely publicised. |
Her grandmother, Deborah Knight, was quoted by the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper on Monday as saying that the authorities concluded she had run away. | Her grandmother, Deborah Knight, was quoted by the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper on Monday as saying that the authorities concluded she had run away. |
The relatives of the victims have responded with shock and delight. Sylvia Colon, a relative of Gina DeJesus, said the family had never given up hope, holding vigils every year and keeping memorials outside the house. | |
But Ms Berry's mother, Louwana, died in March 2006, three years after her daughter went missing. | |
In an extraordinary twist, it emerged that Ariel Castro's son - also called Ariel, although he goes by his middle name Anthony - wrote an article about the disappearance of Gina DeJesus for his local newspaper in 2004. | |
He has told US media that he is stunned by Monday's developments. |