In an Ohio courtroom on Friday, Ariel Castro, the man responsible for one of the most notorious kidnapping cases in recent history, skirted the death penalty in a plea agreement that will keep him from having to stand trial for his offenses.
53-year-old Castro, who held three women captive in his home for over a decade, pled guilty to 937 counts that included rape and kidnapping. In return, if his plea is accepted, he will receive life in prison plus an additional 1,000 years. He will never be eligible for parole and will never leave prison before he dies.
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Although the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court must decide whether to accept Castro’s plea, it is likely that they will to spare the three women involved, Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and her daughter, and Gina DeJesus, from having to testify in court against Castro.
Knight was the first of the three to disappear in August of 2002, she would spend ten and a half years imprisoned by Castro. She was 21 at the time of her disappearance.
Eight months later, Amanda Berry would be snatched from the street at age 16. She disappeared in April of 2003. She would give birth to Castro’s child while imprisoned by him. That child is now six years old.
One year later, in April of 2004, Gina DeJesus would be taken from the street and held captive by Castro. She was 14 at the time of her abduction.
All three women were snatched from Lorain Avenue in Cleveland.
I was Berry who facilitated their escape on May 6, 2013. Berry managed to scream for help through a crack in the door. With the aid of Angel Cordero and Charles Ramsey, the three women and the child would gain their freedom from Castro.
Castro told the judge during his plea agreement hearing that he had “sexual problems” and said “My addiction to pornography and my sexual problem has really taken a toll on my mind.”
As part of the plea agreement, Castro must give up his home and his savings. The house is scheduled to be demolished soon.