The three Cleveland women who escaped to freedom Monday evening were repeatedly forced to have sex with their captors, which resulted in several pregnancies, sources said Tuesday.
Sources told Ohio station WKYC that Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight were raped in their decade-long nightmare, resulting in up to five pregnancies between them.
Brothers Ariel Castro, left, Onil Castro, center, and Pedro Castro, right, are the three suspects in the kidnapping of Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight.
The two sources added that their alleged captors, brothers Ariel Castro, Pedro Castro and Onil Castro, then beat the pregnant women.
MARK DUNCAN/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cleveland police and FBI agents pictured in July 2012 searching for evidence in the disappearance of Amanda Berry, who had been missing since 2003; Ariel Castro was quoted by a Fox affiliate as saying the searches were a waste of time and money.
Additional sources told Newsnet5.com that one of the victims had two or three miscarriages because she was malnourished while held captive at the Seymour Ave. house.
BILL PUGLIANO/GETTY IMAGES
Neighbors said that Ariel Castro mainly kept to himself, and stayed inside his home with the shades down and doors locked.
Amanda Berry, who went missing in April 2003, now has a 6-year-old daughter who was born during her 10 years in captivity.
A source told Fox8.com in Cleveland that writing was found on the wall of the basement with the name of a woman. “Rest in peace” is written below. The source said they are unsure if the writing is related to the case.
WOIO
Photo of Amanda Berry, center, with her sister, left, and the child rescued from the home with Berry, right, believed to be her 6-year-old daughter.
Berry, 27, Knight, 32, and DeJesus, 23, were found at the West Cleveland home after a neighbor heard their desperate cries.
HANDOUT/THE CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER
Gina DeJesus was just 14 years old when she was kidnapped in 2004.
The Cleveland Police Department did not immediately respond to the Daily News’ request for comment.
BILL PUGLIANO/GETTY IMAGES
The house where, on Monday, three women who had disappeared as teenagers approximately 10 years ago were found alive in West Cleveland.
However, Cleveland police said in a news release Tuesday that the next step of both the local authorities and the FBI includes sifting through 10 years’ worth of evidence, and interviewing suspects and potential eyewitnesses.
Police still need to interview the three victims, as well as the three brothers in custody. Cleveland police chief Michael McGrath hailed Berry’s actions as “heroic” and credited the young woman’s courage as the likely reason DeJesus and Knight were able to escape.
Read more: NY Daily News
What of the black man that saved them
If he wasn’t there
If he didn’t help break open the door for them to come out …they might have remaind there with no way out
Y isn’t anybody mentioning him
He is the hero
What of the black man that saved them
If he wasn’t there
If he didn’t help break open the door for them to come out …they might have remaind there with no way out
Y isn’t anybody mentioning him