Cleveland kidnapper found hanged in jail cell

Ohio prisons spokeswoman JoEllen Smith says the 53-year-old was found hanging in his cell around 9.20pm local time Tuesday at the Correctional Reception Centre in Orient. Prison medical staff performed CPR before Castro was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The three women disappeared separately between 2002 and 2004, when they were 14, 16 and 20 years old. They escaped on May 6, when one of the women broke part of a door and yelled to neighbours for help. Castro was arrested that evening.

He was sentenced on August 1 to life in prison plus 1,000 years after his guilty plea to 937 counts including kidnapping and rape.

Castro, of Cleveland, Ohio, was in protective custody because of the notoriety of his case, meaning he was checked every 30 minutes, but was not on suicide watch which entails constant observation.

In an interview last month after Castro’s conviction, his lawyer Jaye Schlachet and colleague Craig Weintraub said their client clearly fitted the profile of sociopathic disorder and that they hoped researchers would study him for clues that could be used to stop other predators.

The women had escaped after one of the three, Amanda Berry, told police in an emergency 
call: “Help me. I’ve been kidnapped, and I’ve been missing for 10 years and I’m, I’m here, I’m free now.”

He had fathered a child with Ms Berry while she was in captivity; that girl was six when freed. A judge rejected Castro’s request to have visiting rights with his daughter.

Elation over their rescue turned to shock as details emerged about their captivity. Investigators say they were bound with chains, repeatedly raped and deprived of food and toilet facilities.

In a rambling statement during sentencing, Castro claimed he was suffering from a pornography addiction. “I’m not a monster. I’m sick,” he said.