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Castro's House Ready To Go Under The Excavator's Claw

Ariel Castro (inset) and 2207 Seymour Avenue, where he kept three women captive for years (photo by Brian Bull)
Ariel Castro (inset) and 2207 Seymour Avenue, where he kept three women captive for years (photo by Brian Bull)

Over the course of eleven years, Castro imprisoned Amanda Berry, Michelle Knight, and Gina DeJesus in his house on Seymour Avenue, subjecting them to repeated rape and other abuse. He rigged alarms and set up barriers, forming a makeshift dungeon that went undiscovered until Berry escaped May 6th.

After Castros’ sentencing hearing last week, Cuyahoga County Assistant Prosecutor Blaise Thomas told reporters how distressed Castro was to surrender the house to the Cuyahoga Land Bank as part of a plea deal.

“When we had him sign the deed to the property after the plea, he broke down in tears and told our representative that it was wrong that the property be torn down, and that he was so sorry to lose that property," said Thomas. "Because of the many ‘happy memories’ that he had there with Gina, Michelle, and Amanda. That’s how he views the world. That’s how distorted and twisted he is.”

Castro is serving life in prison plus 1,000 years after pleading guilty to hundreds of charges stemming from the women’s captivity.

Originally, $22,000 that Castro forfeited as part of his plea deal was to go towards the demolition of the house. But the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office says contractors have come forward who’ll tear down the building and haul it away…for free.

So now the cash will fund whatever is done to the lot once Castro’s’ home is demolished. As of Monday, its power was shut off and friends and relatives have taken what they want from the residence.

2207 Seymour Avenue is now ready to disappear.