Kidnap victim's daughter 'happy, healthy': police

The six-year-old daughter of kidnap victim Amanda Berry is believed to be happy and well adjusted, despite spending the first part of her life in captivity.

Read more @ http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/2013/05/09/17/04/kidnap-victims-daughter-happy-healthy-police 

US kidnapping accused 'lived two lives'

Ariel Castro, the Cleveland man accused of keeping three young women captive for a decade, is a Jekyll-and-Hyde figure, known as an outgoing musician and friendly neighbour who also allegedly abused his ex-wife and children.

Read more @ http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/2013/05/09/14/41/us-kidnapping-accused-lived-two-lives 

Castro nearly arrested in 2008, video shows

This is the moment Ariel Castro nearly fell into the hands of the police five years ago.

Police dashcam video has emerged of the accused Cleveland kidnapper and rapist coming close to being arrested for a a series of driving violations while riding his motorcycle in June 2008, USA Today reports.

The video shows an officer approach Castro to quiz him about why his bike’s numberplate is not visible.

Further interrogation by the officer reveals Castro is not wearing a helmet and does not have a licence to ride the motorbike.

Told he could be arrested and asked, "is that what you want?", the man accused of keeping three women concealed in a "sexual torture chamber" for a decade is quick to shoot back, "No".

The 52-year-old former bus driver was this morning charged with four counts of kidnapping and three counts of rape by Cleveland police after three women were found imprisoned in his home.

Read more and watch the video @ http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/05/09/13/29/castro-nearly-arrested-in-2008-video-shows

Life inside Cleveland 'house of horrors' revealed

Kidnapping victim Amanda Berry gave birth to her daughter Jocelyn in a small inflatable pool inside Ariel Castro's Cleveland home so the mess would be "easier to clean up".

Her fellow captive Michele Knight was forced to deliver the baby, having been told by Castro that if the child died, so would she, Ohio TV news station WKYC claims.

The heartbreaking story is just one of a series of chilling details to emerge of life inside the "house of horrors" 52-year-old Ariel Castro allegedly created for Berry, Knight and Gina DeJesus.

Investigators who stormed the Seymore Avenue residence on Monday described finding the home in "disarray".

Audio of the police radio traffic has revealed the shock of the first officer to arrive at the home.

"This might be for real," he is heard saying.

Read more @ http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/2013/05/09/10/22/life-inside-cleveland-house-of-horrors-revealed



"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us."  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~