Details emerge of 3 U.S. women found in captivity

One of the women was freed with her 6 year old child who was born in captivity.

U.S. law enforcement officials have given further details on the shocking discovery of three kidnapped women- one of whom disappeared 10 years ago- in Ohio.

The women, freed on Monday night, were held captive in a home in an Ohio suburb. Cleveland. Police Chief, Michael McGrath, said he thinks Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight were tied up at a house on Seymour Avenue in Cleveland owned by Ariel Castro, 52, and held there since they were in their teens.

A 6-year-old also was found in the home and Cleveland police Deputy Chief, Ed Tomba said Tuesday that the girl is believed to be Ms. Berry’s daughter.

The women appeared to be in good health and were taken to a hospital to be evaluated and reunited with relatives. They were released from Metro Health Medical Center Tuesday.

FBI Special Agent, Stephen Anthony said, “The nightmare is over. These three young ladies have provided us with the ultimate definition of survival and perseverance. The healing can now begin.”

He vowed prosecutors will “bring the full weight of justice” against those responsible.

Mr. Castro, a school bus driver and his two brothers, Pedro, 54, and Onil, 50, have been taken into custody.

Ms Berry, who was kidnapped a day before her 17th birthday in 2003, escaped when a neighbour heard her screaming and kicking a door, while her alleged captor was out of the house. The rescuer, Charles Ramsey said he had helped kick in a metal door so that Ms Berry could climb outside.

Ms. Berry, using Mr. Ramsey’s phone, then placed a 911 call to police in which she said, “I’ve been kidnapped and I’ve been missing for 10 years. And I’m here. I’m free now.”

Police have praised the bravery of the three women.

The other women are Gina DeJesus who went missing aged 14 in 2004 and Michelle Knight who vanished in 2002 aged around 19.

Police told a news conference that they had been called twice to the alleged captor’s home – in 2000 and 2004.

Neighbours said they did not realize anybody was living at the house at 2207 Seymour Ave.

In January 2004, police called at Mr. Castro’s home but no-one answered. They were alerted by children’s services after a child was left at a depot on a school bus that Mr. Castro had been driving. Authorities concluded there had been no criminal intent.

Ms Berry had last been heard from aged 16 when she called her sister on 21 April 2003 to say she would get a lift home from her job at a Burger King restaurant.