News
Ariel Castro’s House Demolished
By: Associated Press
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The Cleveland house where three women were held captive and raped over a decade has been demolished.
The house was torn down as part of a plea deal that spared Ariel Castro a possible death sentence. He was sentenced last week to life in prison plus 1,000 years.
One of the women imprisoned there, Michelle Knight, showed up early Wednesday before the demolition began. She made a brief statement and released balloons into the air.
Spectators cheered and clapped as the demolition began. It took about an hour and 20 minutes to tear down the house.
Prosecutors say Castro cried when he signed over the deed and mentioned his "many happy memories" there with the women. The women escaped May 6 when one of them broke part of a door and yelled for help.
Cuyahoga County prosecutor Tim McGinty told the spectators: "This was one evil guy."