The infamous Castro house, home to Ariel Castro and brothers, has been torn down. The Cleveland house of horrors was home to a countless number of rapes and other horrific crimes against three kidnapped young women for over 11 years. Both Cleveland and the kidnapping victims rejoiced over the end of this evil tragedy.
The house where Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight we're all being held as sex slaves was demolished early Wednesday. Madman Ariel Castro cried as he signed over the deed, as part of his plea deal last week.
Castro plead guilty to over 900 charges including, kidnapping, rape, murder and assault. The 54-year-old was sentenced last week to life in prison, with an additional millennium just for good measure.
A crowd of over 100 onlookers cheered the demolition. Some of the victims and their families were present. Peggy Arida, Gina DeJesus' aunt, accompanied the crane operator for the first strike that tore into the infamous "pink room" where Berry and her daughter, fathered by Castro, were held. The scene left behind a horrible image when a sticker reading "Daddy's Girl" was revealed amongst the rubble.
The rescue of the four girls brings hope to parents and loved ones of missing children all over. Knight, who was 21-years-old when she was abducted 11 years ago, left yellow balloons at the scene, as a reminder to all the children still lost.
Castro’s sentencing and the home’s demolition are the first of many steps intended to help the victims and the community move past this ugly tragedy.
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor, Joseph Frolik, praised the counties decision to remove the home, saying:
"We didn't want some kind of gruesome, macabre shrine, if you will, that would get gawkers and curiosity seekers."
Rumor has it is that the community also plans to demolish the two vacant neighboring homes and turn the grounds into something positive for the town.
