Cleveland, OH – Authorities have filed kidnapping and rape charges against a Cleveland man arrested after three women missing for about a decade were found alive at his home.
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Homeowner Ariel Castro was charged Wednesday. Brothers Pedro and Onil Castro are held but face no charges right now.
The men are in custody and can’t be reached for comment. Their brother-in-law has said the family is “totally shocked” after hearing about the women at the home.
The three women disappeared separately between 2002 and 2004 and were found Monday after one of them screamed for help to escape and contacted police.
Police say ropes and chains were among evidence collected inside the house. A city councilman says the women were subjected to prolonged sexual and psychological abuse and suffered miscarriages.
John Walsh of the Center for Missing and Exploited Children stated that the Cleveland Police Department, essentially could have solved this case years ago, had they not assumed that the girls were runaways; also, Walsh stated that he always felt that these cases were connected, but the Cleveland Police took another view. Also, Walsh stated that the cops would have arrested Castro at his apartment (and rescued the girls), in 2005, after Castro beat his wife to a pulp, during a divorce proceeding. Yet, the Cleveland Police will never admit that they erred in solving this case!
Another example of bad police work. Look at the Boston bombers, who were on FBI lists that no one bothered to look into. And the older brother may have been involved in the murder of 3 Jewish men in Boston area on 9-11 a few years ago. Anyone care?
It is always impressive to see people who have neither law enforcement experience nor knowledge of the facts in a new, ongoing investigation make conclusions about the quality of police work. The same holds true for television personalities who also have no information other than what little has been made public. Police do not routinely issue search warrants for homes when there is a domestic violence accusation (I used to be a DV prosecutor). Hindsight is always easy.