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| Ohio women were held with ropes and chains, police say | Ohio women were held with ropes and chains, police say |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Cleveland's police chief has said the three women held captive in an Ohio house for about a decade were restrained with ropes and chains. | Cleveland's police chief has said the three women held captive in an Ohio house for about a decade were restrained with ropes and chains. |
| Michael McGrath told US broadcaster NBC that investigators believe the victims were allowed out in the backyard occasionally. | Michael McGrath told US broadcaster NBC that investigators believe the victims were allowed out in the backyard occasionally. |
| He said Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight were in good condition "considering the circumstances". | He said Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight were in good condition "considering the circumstances". |
| Chief McGrath said a charging decision would come later on Wednesday. | Chief McGrath said a charging decision would come later on Wednesday. |
| Former school bus driver Ariel Castro, 52, who owns the house where the women were found, has been arrested along with his two brothers, Pedro, 54, and Onil, 50. | Former school bus driver Ariel Castro, 52, who owns the house where the women were found, has been arrested along with his two brothers, Pedro, 54, and Onil, 50. |
| 'Multiple-pregnancy reports' | 'Multiple-pregnancy reports' |
| Ariel Castro is accused of kidnapping and sexually abusing the three women; his brothers are accused of complicity in the same offences, according to arrest documents. | Ariel Castro is accused of kidnapping and sexually abusing the three women; his brothers are accused of complicity in the same offences, according to arrest documents. |
| Ms Berry, 27, arrived at her sister's home shortly before midday on Wednesday, along with her six-year-old daughter Jocelyn, apparently conceived and born in captivity. | |
| The sister, Beth Serrano, read a statement asking for her family's privacy to be respected. | |
| Meanwhile, Cleveland public safety director Martin Flask said in a statement that no human remains had been found at the home, after "a thorough search". Police have said they are also investigating other properties. | Meanwhile, Cleveland public safety director Martin Flask said in a statement that no human remains had been found at the home, after "a thorough search". Police have said they are also investigating other properties. |
| Standing near the scene, Chief McGrath told NBC's Today Show: "Currently, today, we are interviewing the suspects that were arrested here the night before last. They are talking." | Standing near the scene, Chief McGrath told NBC's Today Show: "Currently, today, we are interviewing the suspects that were arrested here the night before last. They are talking." |
| He said the women had been allowed out of the house "very rarely". | He said the women had been allowed out of the house "very rarely". |
| "They were released out in the backyard once in a while I believe," he said. | "They were released out in the backyard once in a while I believe," he said. |
| Chief McGrath disputed claims by neighbours that police did not fully investigate reports of suspicious activity at 2207 Seymour Avenue, which is in a working-class, mostly Puerto Rican district. | Chief McGrath disputed claims by neighbours that police did not fully investigate reports of suspicious activity at 2207 Seymour Avenue, which is in a working-class, mostly Puerto Rican district. |
| He said he was "absolutely" sure police did not miss any opportunities to find the women over the years. | He said he was "absolutely" sure police did not miss any opportunities to find the women over the years. |
| Chief McGrath said he could not confirm reports that the captives had had multiple pregnancies. | Chief McGrath said he could not confirm reports that the captives had had multiple pregnancies. |
| Ms Berry, who disappeared in 2003 aged 16, escaped with the help of a neighbour who heard her screaming and kicking a door while her alleged captor was out of the house. | Ms Berry, who disappeared in 2003 aged 16, escaped with the help of a neighbour who heard her screaming and kicking a door while her alleged captor was out of the house. |
| When police arrived they also found Ms DeJesus, 23, and Ms Knight, 32, in the house. Ms DeJesus had gone missing aged 14 in 2004, while Ms Knight had disappeared in 2002, aged 20. | When police arrived they also found Ms DeJesus, 23, and Ms Knight, 32, in the house. Ms DeJesus had gone missing aged 14 in 2004, while Ms Knight had disappeared in 2002, aged 20. |
| Ariel Castro reportedly fled the neighbourhood, and was arrested at a nearby McDonald's restaurant, according to local media. It is unclear when his brothers were detained. | Ariel Castro reportedly fled the neighbourhood, and was arrested at a nearby McDonald's restaurant, according to local media. It is unclear when his brothers were detained. |
| Neighbours have told journalists they had made calls to police about the house in the past. | Neighbours have told journalists they had made calls to police about the house in the past. |
| Elsie Cintron told the BBC her daughter had seen a naked woman crawling in the backyard several years ago and called police, "but they didn't take it seriously". | Elsie Cintron told the BBC her daughter had seen a naked woman crawling in the backyard several years ago and called police, "but they didn't take it seriously". |
| Another resident, Israel Lugo, said that in November 2011 he called police after hearing pounding on doors of the house and after his sister saw a girl at the house holding a baby and crying for help. | Another resident, Israel Lugo, said that in November 2011 he called police after hearing pounding on doors of the house and after his sister saw a girl at the house holding a baby and crying for help. |
| He said officers had knocked several times on the front door, but left when no-one answered. | He said officers had knocked several times on the front door, but left when no-one answered. |
| Mr Lugo also said that Ariel Castro had taken six-year-old Jocelyn to play in a nearby park last week, and had identified her to him as "his girlfriend's daughter". | Mr Lugo also said that Ariel Castro had taken six-year-old Jocelyn to play in a nearby park last week, and had identified her to him as "his girlfriend's daughter". |
| Puerto Rico-born Ariel Castro was reportedly a family friend of the DeJesuses, helping hand out fliers during the search for her and attending a candlelight vigil last year. | Puerto Rico-born Ariel Castro was reportedly a family friend of the DeJesuses, helping hand out fliers during the search for her and attending a candlelight vigil last year. |
| Cleveland Mayor Frank Johnson said on Tuesday the authorities had visited Ariel Castro's home in January 2004 after he was reported to have left a child on a school bus as he stopped for lunch. | Cleveland Mayor Frank Johnson said on Tuesday the authorities had visited Ariel Castro's home in January 2004 after he was reported to have left a child on a school bus as he stopped for lunch. |
| But no-one answered the door and an inquiry found no criminal intent, officials said. | But no-one answered the door and an inquiry found no criminal intent, officials said. |
| Backlash against 'psychic' | Backlash against 'psychic' |
| Mr Castro - who played bass guitar in Latin music bands in the area - was reportedly sacked as a school bus driver in November last year for "lack of judgment". | Mr Castro - who played bass guitar in Latin music bands in the area - was reportedly sacked as a school bus driver in November last year for "lack of judgment". |
| His son, Anthony Castro, told London's Daily Mail newspaper that his father would not let him inside on his last visit to Seymour Avenue. | His son, Anthony Castro, told London's Daily Mail newspaper that his father would not let him inside on his last visit to Seymour Avenue. |
| "The house was always locked," he said. "There were places we could never go. There were locks on the basement. Locks on the attic. Locks on the garage." | "The house was always locked," he said. "There were places we could never go. There were locks on the basement. Locks on the attic. Locks on the garage." |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |