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Amanda Berry, Michelle Knight & Gina Dejesu Found - Page 5

Ariel Castro Pleads Not Guilty to Kidnapping, Raping Women and Forcing Abortions

Cleveland kidnapping suspect Ariel Castro today pleaded not guilty to a 977-count indictment that includes charges related to kidnapping women and holding them in the basement of his home, where he raped them and assaulted them to the point of causing abortions.

"Castro was charged anew last week in an indictment that covers the entire 10-year period prosecutors say Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight were imprisoned and repeatedly raped in Castro's Seymour Avenue home," according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper. Ref. Source 1

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Does Castro honestly believe he can escape a 977-count indictment for all that he did? I bet he will go for that insanity plea.

Amanda Berry, Michelle Knight & Gina Dejesu Found History & Civil Business Politics

Ariel Castro agrees to a plea deal, sparing victims from having to testify at a trial in the Cleveland kidnappings case.

Castro abducted Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Georgina "Gina" DeJesus separately over a two-year period starting in 2002, according to authorities.

The women and Berry's 6-year-old daughter were freed in May after one of the women shouted for help while Castro was away from his 1,400-square-foot home. DNA tests have confirmed that Castro is the rescued child's father. Ref. CNN

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Life imprisonment for Castro in plea deal

A former Cleveland school bus driver, Ariel Castro, today pleaded guilty to hundreds of charges of kidnapping and raping three women he held captive and will serve life in prison, the culmination of one of the most sensational criminal cases in the United States in recent years. Ref. Source 9

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Amanda made her first public appearance after her ordeal. She attended a concert featuring the rapper Nelly a day after her abductor pleaded guilty to kidnap and rape charges. Source 3

Amanda Berry, Michelle Knight & Gina Dejesu Found

Confessed kidnapper Arial Castro will make a statement at his sentencing hearing at 9 a.m. ET. One of his captives, Michelle Knight, may give an impact statement.

The other two victims, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus, will not be present at the hearing, an attorney for the women says. Ref. CNN

Amanda Berry Michelle Knight & Gina Dejesu Found - Page 5

Cleveland kidnapping victim Michelle Knight told police she was pregnant multiple times while being held captive and that Ariel Castro would starve her, feed her rotten food, punch her and kick her down stairs, which resulted in the termination of her pregnancies, an officer testified at Castro's sentencing hearing today.

Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus told police they were tied up with extension cords, duct tape, plastic ties and chains after their abduction, Detective Andrew Harasimchuk testified.

The victims also said they had helmets placed on their heads before being sexually assaulted.

The sentencing phase began today for Castro, who confessed to imprisoning and raping the three women in his Cleveland home. He attempted to apologize in court today and the judge told him he would be able to speak later. Ref. CNN

Amanda Berry Michelle Knight & Gina Dejesu Found Politics Business Civil & History - Page 5

A letter believed to have been written by Ariel Castro that investigators retrieved from his Cleveland home was displayed at his sentencing hearing today. The letter reads, in part, "Bottom line is, I am a sexual predator."

Castro pleaded guilty last week to 937 counts, including murder and kidnapping, in a deal that dropped a possible death penalty in exchange for life in prison plus 1,000 years.

Images from inside Castro's home were shown in court. One bedroom had stuffed animals, toys, an easel and a beside toilet. The windows were boarded up, the door locked from the outside and it had a hole cut in it for ventilation.

Other photos showed the basement and a chain where Castro restrained his victims. Ref. CNN