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Kidnapping Victim Arrives at Sister’s Home 2 Kidnapping Victims Make Homecomings in Cleveland
(about 1 hour later)
CLEVELAND — Amanda Berry, who was imprisoned in a house here with two other women until they managed to escape earlier this week, returned to a family home on Wednesday for the first time since her disappearance about a decade ago. CLEVELAND — Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus, who were imprisoned in a house here with another woman until they managed to escape earlier this week, each headed to a family home on Wednesday for the first time since their disappearance about a decade ago.
The years of captivity ended late Monday when Ms. Berry, who had not been seen since she left her job at a local Burger King on April, 21, 2003, when she was 17, appeared at the front door of 2207 Seymour Avenue, where the police said she and two other women were held. Accompanied by a young child as she tried to flee, she screamed: “I need help! I need help! I have been kidnapped for 10 years!” before fleeing with the help of neighbors. The years of captivity ended late Monday when Ms. Berry, who had not been seen since she left her job at a local Burger King on April, 21, 2003, when she was 17, appeared at the front door of 2207 Seymour Avenue, where the police said she and the other women were held. Accompanied by a young child as she tried to flee, she screamed: “I need help! I need help! I have been kidnapped for 10 years!” before fleeing with the help of neighbors.
On Wednesday, Ms. Berry’s sister’s home, about a 10-minute drive from the Seymour Avenue residence, was decorated with balloons, yellow ribbons and posters welcoming her back as crowds gathered across the street, as directed by the police, to await her return. Before noon, a motorcade escorted by police motorcycles, pulled up to the home, and several people hurried into the residence, with at least one person holding a child.On Wednesday, Ms. Berry’s sister’s home, about a 10-minute drive from the Seymour Avenue residence, was decorated with balloons, yellow ribbons and posters welcoming her back as crowds gathered across the street, as directed by the police, to await her return. Before noon, a motorcade escorted by police motorcycles, pulled up to the home, and several people hurried into the residence, with at least one person holding a child.
Ms. Berry, whose mother died when she was captive, was inside the house briefly before her sister, Beth Serrano stepped outside and spoke to a crush of reporters, saying Amanda and her daughter were home and wanted to “thank the public and media for their support.” Appearing to fight tears, she also requested privacy for her sister, her niece and herself as they recover and before they could make a further statement.Ms. Berry, whose mother died when she was captive, was inside the house briefly before her sister, Beth Serrano stepped outside and spoke to a crush of reporters, saying Amanda and her daughter were home and wanted to “thank the public and media for their support.” Appearing to fight tears, she also requested privacy for her sister, her niece and herself as they recover and before they could make a further statement.
Charges were expected to be filed here on Wednesday against the suspects arrested in the case: Ariel Castro, 52, the owner of the house, and his brothers, Pedro, 54, and Onil, 50. At the home of Ms. DeJesus, crowds also gathered to wait for the young woman in the early afternoon, amid a large police presence. Clusters of balloons filled the front yard.
On the same day that the women made their homecomings, charges were expected to be filed here on Wednesday against the suspects in the case: Ariel Castro, 52, the owner of the house, and his brothers, Pedro, 54, and Onil, 50, who were arrested after two neighbors freed Ms. Berry by kicking in the chained front door and helped her make an urgent call to 911. She and the child, along with Ms. DeJesus, who disappeared while walking home from a city middle school in 2004, and Michelle Knight, who vanished at age 20 in 2002, were treated at a hospital.
As the authorities continued investigating, more details trickled out about what the women endured throughout their captivity. Chief Michael McGrath of the Cleveland police, told the “Today” show on Wednesday that the women had been tied up inside the house and that investigators found ropes and chains.As the authorities continued investigating, more details trickled out about what the women endured throughout their captivity. Chief Michael McGrath of the Cleveland police, told the “Today” show on Wednesday that the women had been tied up inside the house and that investigators found ropes and chains.
Chief McGrath, asked about the reports that the women were physically bound, said: “We have confirmed that. We have confirmation that they were bound, and there were chains and ropes in the home.” But he said the investigators would have a better understanding of how often they were restrained when the interviews were completed on Wednesday. He also said they were “very rarely” allowed outside, or “released out in the backyard once in a while, I believe.”Chief McGrath, asked about the reports that the women were physically bound, said: “We have confirmed that. We have confirmation that they were bound, and there were chains and ropes in the home.” But he said the investigators would have a better understanding of how often they were restrained when the interviews were completed on Wednesday. He also said they were “very rarely” allowed outside, or “released out in the backyard once in a while, I believe.”
But it was at the Seymour Avenue neighborhood that people have been recalling their memories over the years as they tried to understand how the women could have been held there undetected so long. One neighbor had noticed occasional late-night deliveries of groceries to the boarded-up shoe box of a house where the women were kept, in a rough-edged West Side Cleveland neighborhood. A law enforcement source who is familiar with the investigation said that authorities had recovered more than 200 items from the house, including various types of bondage materials. The source insisted on anonymity because of the continuing investigation.
Another law enforcement source, who also did not want to be identified because the source was not authorized to speak about the investigation, said that the three women had been sexually abused and that at least initially, they were kept in separate rooms. A working theory, the source said, is that the women “just dealt with Ariel” and not the other brothers. The source added that authorities are working to find out if Ariel Castro, who knew Ms. DeJesus because she was a close friend of his daughter Arlene, also knew Ms. Berry and Ms. Knight.
In the Seymour Avenue neighborhood, people searched their memories over the years as they tried to understand how the women could have been held there undetected so long. One neighbor had noticed occasional late-night deliveries of groceries to the boarded-up shoe box of a house where the women were kept, in a rough-edged West Side Cleveland neighborhood.
Another neighbor remarked on a porch light that burned at night, even though many of the windows were covered.Another neighbor remarked on a porch light that burned at night, even though many of the windows were covered.
“Why would an abandoned house have a porch light on?” he recalled thinking.“Why would an abandoned house have a porch light on?” he recalled thinking.
Still another said his sister had once seen a figure in an upstairs window, pounding on the glass.Still another said his sister had once seen a figure in an upstairs window, pounding on the glass.
After two neighbors freed Ms. Berry by kicking in the chained front door and helped her make an urgent call to 911, the three Castro brothers were arrested. Ms. Berry and the child, along with Gina DeJesus, who disappeared while walking home from a city middle school in 2004, and Michelle Knight, who vanished at age 20 in 2002, were treated at a hospital and reunited with their families. Chief McGrath said he expected the “charging process” of the suspects to be completed on Wednesday. The police have until early Wednesday evening to present the case to the city prosecutor who will then determine what, if any, charges are warranted, a statement said.
An official said the F.B.I. had begun questioning the women late Tuesday and had taken photos and helped collect evidence from the house. Chief McGrath said he expected the “charging process” of the suspects to be completed on Wednesday.

Steven Yaccino reported from Cleveland, and Christine Hauser from New York. Erica Goode contributed reporting from New York.

Steven Yaccino reported from Cleveland, and Christine Hauser from New York.