OT- 3 women, missing for ten years, found alive in Cleveland home

Submitted by Benoit Balls on

This story is just so incredible I wanted to share it with everyone.  3 Cleveland area women (Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight) had each been missing for ten years.  Yesterday, Amanda Berry decided to make a break for it, and good fortune found her in the form of a neighbor Charles Ramsey.  He heard her screaming, called 911, and helped her break out of the locked door of her kidnappers home.

All 3 women were safe, and I believe one of them had a baby while in captivity. 

links: http://www.cleveland.com/  (It's pretty much taking over the entire website right now, so the coverage is pretty comprehensive)

The entire thing leaves me dumbfounded.  Glad these women are safe. Would love to call this a "happy ending" but I suspect this ordeal will haunt these women forever. I hope they are able to live lives unaffected by this tragedy.  

Also, here is the link to and interview with Charles Ramsey, who was the man who called 911 and helped Amanda Berry escape. It is quite an entertaining interview.  The man is a hero.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axCn04iXkBg&list=UUAAmkc2sRESFoEtiKRTaTRA&index=5

Allin4Blue

May 7th, 2013 at 9:56 AM ^

Amazing stroy indeed.    I am astonished as to how someone could keep those girls in hiding for so long.  

The interview was priceless, "We ate ribs together, and listened to Salsa Music, you see where I'm coming from!!!" "I knew something was wrong when a pretty little white girl ran into a black man's arms!" 

This video will be the next "I ain't got time for that" video.

Victor Hale II

May 7th, 2013 at 10:02 AM ^

I just got done reading about that.  That is a truly amazing story.  Like the cop said, normally these victims aren't found alive. 

 

I can only wonder what it'll be like for that 6 year old daughter to grow up and fully grasp her own story. 

 

Those sick bastards ought to be executed immediately.  JMHO

dRich

May 7th, 2013 at 10:03 AM ^

Good to here they have been found.

Even crazier... The kidnappers uncle is my grandpas dads bestfriend Caesar "Ses Castro. Basically he's my grandpas uncle. I met the kidnapper two times At Sesi's little party store. He never came across as odd or strange. He is a very sick person

dRich

May 7th, 2013 at 10:31 AM ^

I would have been between 9-13 years old when I met him. Being a quarter Puerto Rican and a quarter Mexican I'd say we are some of the most culturally proud people.

I met him in Sesi's party store in clevland where in the summer a lot of Hispanic people gather for a cook out in weekends and play music in the back of the store and sing. It's always a great time there when I visit, but the only thing I remember about the guy is him sitting at the bar in the back of the store drinking beer and just listening to the music. It's weird to think of I guess because you never think you will ever know someone that would be capable of such horrific acts.

Commie_High96

May 7th, 2013 at 11:32 AM ^

I don't technically disagree with you, but perhaps this is not the issue to use, since didn't someone have his wife in a bunch of pieces in a trash bag in his garage in Livonia a year or so ago?   Maybe we just move along?

mGrowOld

May 7th, 2013 at 10:43 AM ^

Not far from where I live either.  I was travelling back to Ohio from New Hampshire yesterday when the story broke and I couldnt believe what I was seeing. I remember vividly the searches, the candlelight vigils and sadly, Amanda's mom passing away of a broken heart before her daughter was found.

It sure makes you wonder how a person could do something like this to other people for 10 years while keeping all outside appearances "normal".  I cant imagine being able to sleep at night much less function in society.  And now they say his brothers were involved somehow? It boggles the mind.

kdhoffma

May 7th, 2013 at 10:35 AM ^

I sure hope the 911 dispatcher is out of a job this morning.  Listening to the frantic 911 call from Amanda Berry, and the dispatcher is doing everything she can do to get off the phone.  Would it really have been that hard to stay on the line with her until police got there?  This is the last thing the dispatcher said before getting off: "OK. I told you they were on their way. Talk to them when they get there, OK?"

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/05/listen_to_amanda_berrys_franti.html#incart_maj-story-1

UofM-StL

May 7th, 2013 at 10:50 AM ^

But reading more of the stories which make references to lots of false reports in the past that would get the families' hopes up, I imagine frantic calls to 911 claiming to be one of these 3 girls might not have been that uncommon of an event. You can't expect a person to instantly realize that this one is the real thing when there have been a bunch of false positives in the past.

The dispatcher comes off as a little bit of a douche, but as long as they (he? she? I can't really tell from the voice) did their job and made sure the police got there as quickly as possible I don't think they should lose their job.

kdhoffma

May 7th, 2013 at 11:03 AM ^

Understand, but did they get police out there asap?  When Amanda asked, the dispatcher replied "as soon as we get a car open."

And why wouldn't the dispatcher stay on the line with the frantic woman until the police arrived?  If it's a prank, you've kept her there until the police arrived to arrest her for a false report... if it's legit, you've helped calm down a frantic woman in fear of her life.  The only thing I can think is they are so short staffed, the dispatchers have been trained to get off immediately unless it is a medical situation... clearly though, the terror in this girls voice should have caused the dispatcher to break those rules.

MGOTyrone

May 7th, 2013 at 9:21 PM ^

As a law enforcement dispatcher I can assure you that staffing is ALWAYS an issue. I can't speak for the Cleveland area (I live and work in FL) but my agency receives roughly 2 emergency calls per minute 24/7. All of those call are being answered by 5 call takers assuming nobody calls in sick. Factor in accredidation that mandates all calls are answered, entered, and dispatched within a certain time frame and call takers just aren't afforded the luxury of staying landline.

 

There is a lot more to it than that, of course, but unless you've actually done the job and experience the conditions that dispatch personel work under you can't really cast judgement on the person doing the job.

Magnus

May 7th, 2013 at 9:26 PM ^

Not to sound cold-hearted, but whether the dispatcher stayed on the line or not, the woman wasn't going to be "safe" until the police arrived two minutes later.  It's true that she might have helped to calm the woman down, but in the grand scheme of things, no one was really harmed by the dispatcher getting off the phone.

MGOTyrone

May 7th, 2013 at 9:35 PM ^

I completely argree. It's easy for people to take 1 call out of probably 100+ that that particular call taker handled that night and critique it. Could the call taker have been more compassionate? Yes. Could they have stayed landline? Maybe depending on call volume. Did the call taker get the necessary information and get law enforcement on scene? Yes and that is what matters in the end.

Magnus

May 7th, 2013 at 11:45 AM ^

That interview was hilarious and awesome.  And, oh by the way, how great for the three women and their families.

Thanks for sharing.

MGoAero

May 7th, 2013 at 11:52 AM ^

The 9-1-1 call might be even more entertaining, if that's how we're treating this as a society (not a criticism, thank goodness it turned out as well as it did so that people feel comfortable laughing at some aspect of it).  Link to the call partway down on this page:

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/05/video_charles_ramsey_on_how_he.html#incart_river_default#incart_maj-story-1

gwkrlghl

May 7th, 2013 at 11:49 AM ^

But doesn't it seem like 90% of these ridiculous crimes occur in either Ohio or Florida? It's always one or the other. I wear maize and blue tinted glasses, but even considering that, it seems like Ohio always has an insane number of 'where the f do these people come from?' crimes

Danwillhor

May 7th, 2013 at 4:08 PM ^

It's because Ohio is full of fuckin' Chud Babies and Florida is officially "The 2nd Chance State". SO FEW in Florida were born there, lol! If they were there is a 10000% chance their parents were not. If your life is fucked, move to Florida. It's like once you cross that State Line all past sins and warrants are erased. lmao. I'm just literally laughing because what you say is true! So true that SNL and other comedians/comedy shows rip both States to pieces AMAP (especially Florida). Just something about those places. Lived in Ohio for half my life before returning to Michigan. Ohio is Chud Baby Central! Everyone (and I mean everyone) is fuckin related. The town I lived in had a population of 1000 and everyone had one of 3 last names but me. haha. I shit you not.

Danwillhor

May 8th, 2013 at 12:56 AM ^

I think it/they are from an old B movie where these creatures are born in the sewers from the wasted jizz of a town's male population and sewer scum. LMAO. Not laughing out of kidding but just the notion. I think that's really where it comes from/what they are. I think I remember seeing it as a kid on late night HBO/Showtime in the 90's and even then it was 10+ years old. Came on right after a movie where a creature would bang/rape all the chicks in a town to create monster babies. It's only weakness? A dog whistle and weed. I kid you not, haha. A DOG WHISTLE AND GETTING IT TO EAT WEED OR SMELL IT'S SMOKE was it's weakness. Unfortunately, there is no defense for a Chud Baby, IIRC. Kind of movies that are so bad they're amazing to watch.

Danwillhor

May 7th, 2013 at 8:09 PM ^

No. Well, I've seen that show and noticed the level of stupidity in Ohio and Florida (especially COPS! haha) but I had first hand experience in Ohio and I'm not kidding when the town I lived in was 75% blood related. Fuggin insane! Chud babies = osu fan behavior and general state behavior. Florida is just......just a mess. Truly the 2nd Chance State. People move there to get away from something and then remain their shit self and commit hilariously stupid acts or remain themselves, spawn with other fugitives and raise their kids poorly so they join in the idiocracy that is Florida. It's amazing as I know many there and most are classic "running from something" cases. My Grandparents are the only people in Florida that I know with which that does noe apply. haha

Michigasling

May 7th, 2013 at 2:22 PM ^

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/05/video_aunt_of_gina_dejesus_mak.html

The main gist of the interview being a request for the media to give the families time and distance.  She does say that the three girls ("...women," she corrects herself) all have positive attitudes, and are stronger than she could ever be.  She give a pretty good impression of strength and wisdom herself.

DirkMcGurk

May 7th, 2013 at 7:59 PM ^

Therapy is really needed for so many. Again I get not liking OSU, but this bashing of Ohio is beyond pathetic. I have lived here my whole life and have spent time in Michigan. Ohio > Michigan as a state all day. Our 3 biggest cities are on the up swing and getting better by the year. Michigan's cities are dropping like flies. Frankly if not for the University of Michigan the USA would probably just trade you to Canada for some Canadian Bacon.