The former Cleveland school bus driver, Ariel Castro, who was convicted and sentenced for the kidnapping and sexual assault of three women for over a decade in the basement of his Ohio home, was found dead in his cell, a victim of apparent suicide, at the Correction Reception Center in Orient, Ohio at 9:20 pm Tuesday night.

A spokesperson for the prison announced the death of 53-year-old Castro following the discovery. Castro had been in protective custody, away from the other prisoners, at the facility because of his high profile, and was being checked on every thirty minutes. However, he was not on suicide watch as he had been at the Cuyahoga County Jail during his trial that ended with sentencing on August 1st.

After he was found hung by one of his bedsheets in his cell, prison staff attempted to revive him with CPR, their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. Castro’s remains were transported to the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 10:52 pm.

The case that involved three woman, Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight unfolded this spring. After a decade of captivity, on May 6th, Amanda Berry managed to escape her confinement after alerting neighbors through a crack in the door of Castro’s house. Authorities were contacted and that led to the freeing of all the women and a six-year-old child.

Unlike similar cases, the Castro case unfolded quickly and sped through the courts.

Castor was arrested the very same day, and two days later charged with four counts of kidnapping and three counts of rape. By July 26th, Castro had pleaded guilty to 937 counts of rape, kidnapping, and aggravated murder in a plea bargain. By August 1st, Castro was back in court receiving his sentence for his crimes. He received life in prison plus 1,000 years. In court Castro told the judge, “I am not a monster, I’m sick.”

One week after Castro’s sentencing, the home where he held the three women and the child he fathered by Berry, was razed free of charge by demolition crews. The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor wanted the building torn down to prevent it from becoming a tourist attraction.

Now, less than four months after his horrible crimes came to light, his court and sentencing complete, Castro is dead.

Castro’s cousin, Maria Montes, although shocked at his death, says she is relieved to hear of it. She said of his death, “Whatever god feels is his punishment now, that’s what he’ll have to endure in his afterlife.”

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