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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 house in Cleveland, Ohio, after vanishing about a decade ago. Police have praised the bravery of three women found alive on Monday evening in a house in Cleveland, Ohio, after they vanished 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 twice to the alleged captor's home - in 2000 and 2004.
The three women, who had been taken to hospital for a check-up and to meet their relatives, were released on Tuesday morning. The three women were taken to hospital for a check-up and to be reunited with their relatives before being discharged on Tuesday morning.
'Weight of justice' 'Tied up'
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.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."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."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 prosecutors would "bring the full weight of justice" against those responsible.
Cleveland police chief Michael McGrath told the news conference: "Thankfully, thankfully, due to Amanda's brave actions these three women are alive today."
He added the women are believed to have been tied up and held at the house since they were teenagers or in their early 20s.
Officials said they may also want to investigate other properties.
They did not make any comment on the case of a fourth missing girl, Ashley Summers, who disappeared in the same area in July 2007 when she was 14 years old.
According to the Charley Project website, her case was investigated as possibly linked to the disappearance of Ms Berry and Ms DeJesus.
'Home seemed vacant'
Ms Berry, now 27, 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.
In a frantic call to police on Monday, Ms Berry said: "I'm Amanda Berry. I've been on the news for the last 10 years."
In a recording of the call released to news media, Ms Berry can be heard begging the authorities to come to the house before her alleged captor returned.
Meanwhile, neighbour Ana Tejeda said she was sitting outside her house with friends when they heard someone kicking the door and screaming.
Ms Tejeda refused to believe the young woman at first. "You're not Amanda Berry. Amanda Berry is dead," she said, according to the Associated Press.
But other neighbours say they did not realise anybody was living at the house.
Juan Perez, speaking to NBC's Today show, said: "I thought the home was vacant. I thought he probably had another property and he would just come and check and see if everything is OK.
"I didn't even know anybody lived there."
School bus driver Ariel Castro, 52, and his two brothers, Pedro, 54, and Onil, 50, have been taken into custody.School bus driver Ariel Castro, 52, and his two brothers, Pedro, 54, and Onil, 50, have been taken into custody.
Cleveland police chief Michael McGrath said the women were believed to have been tied up at the house. Officials said they may also want to investigate other properties.
Ms Berry, now 27, escaped on Monday evening when a neighbour heard her screaming and kicking a door, while her alleged captor was out of the house.
Rescuer Charles Ramsey said he had helped kick in a metal door so that Ms Berry could climb outside.
In a recording of Monday's 911 call released to news media, she says: "I've been kidnapped, and I've been missing for 10 years. And I'm here. I'm free now."
'Home seemed vacant'
Ms Berry tells the emergency dispatcher she has been on the news for the past 10 years, and begs for help to arrive before her alleged captor returns.
Police chief McGrath told Tuesday's news conference: "Thankfully, due to Amanda's brave actions these three women are alive today."
Neighbour Anna Tejeda said she had refused to believe the young woman at first. "You're not Amanda Berry. Amanda Berry is dead," she said, according to the Associated Press news agency.
Other neighbours said they did not realise anybody was living at the house at 2207 Seymour Ave.
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.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 - who is now 23 years old - was believed to have been on her way home from school when she went missing.In 2004, Ms DeJesus - who is now 23 years old - 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 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 and is now 32, 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 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. 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.
But Ms Berry's mother, Louwana, died in March 2006 after spending months in hospital with pancreatitis and other medical issues, three years after her daughter went missing. But Ms Berry's mother, Louwana, died in March 2006, three years after her daughter went missing. A local politician said the mother had died of a "broken heart".
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.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. Police have not commented on the case of a fourth missing girl, Ashley Summers, who disappeared in the same area in July 2007 when 14 years old.