Netflix’s Cleveland Kidnapping – the real-life story behind the scary crime drama

Cleveland Abduction has been released by the streaming platform and follows the story of Ariel Castro kidnapping three young women in Ohio and holding them captive in his basement- before their dramatic escape.

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Cleveland Abduction: Lifetime Crime Movie Trailer

The horror crime drama Cleveland Abduction has just premiered on Netflix, causing a stir with viewers.

The film, filmed in 2015 prior to its release on the streaming platform, is based on the true story of Ariel Castro kidnapping three young women in Ohio over a two-year period and locking them up in his basement. ta.

Viewers have commented on how “disturbing” the film is because it follows the story of Michelle Knight, the first of three victims of Ariel’s custody at her home in Cleveland on August 23, 2002. .

As renewed interest in the shocking case grows, Mirror Online examines the true story that inspired director Alex Kalymnios’ film.

Michelle

Ariel, 53, played by Raymond Cruz, kidnaps Michelle (Taryn Manning) as she leaves her cousin’s house, offering her a ride in his car, which she accepts because he’s your father. her school.

At the time, Michelle was a 21-year-old single mother who had lost custody of her son and she was on her way to court for a custody case when Ariel lured her to his house before being detained. keep her in his basement.

She was imprisoned for almost 11 years before her sudden escape.

Amanda

Ariel went on to kidnap Amanda Berry on April 21, 2003, a day before her 17th birthday.

When she got to his house, she caught a glimpse of Michelle before she was chained.

Speaking to ABC, Amanda said: “He took me down to the basement and he put a bandage on my wrist and he put it on my ankle and he put a belt around my ankle over the bandage. .

“He put his helmet on my head, and he said, ‘Shut up and don’t pick your nose. And I’ll take you home.” I don’t think I’m going home.”

Gina

Ariel married Georgina “Gina” DeJesus on April 2, 2004, at the age of 14. Gina is a close friend of his daughter, Arlene Castro, whom he used to take advantage of.

One day, while Gina was walking home, he approached her in his car and asked if she had seen Arlene. She agrees to help find her and get into his car.

He drove her home and took her down to the basement, before attempting to chain her up like the others.

Speaking to ABC, Gina said: “He didn’t make it tight enough, so I threw it over, and then I tried to run, but he was sitting on my back.

“And then I started kicking him. I kicked him, and I bruised him.”

Captive

The women were kept in locked bedrooms, forced to use plastic toilets “infrequently”, given one meal a day and would be raped by Castro.

The films follow Ariel’s three victims as they form a close bond, especially when Amanda (played by Samantha Droke) becomes pregnant with Ariel’s child.

Michelle helped give birth to her daughter in 2006, and even performed CPR under Castro’s threat to kill her if Amanda’s baby didn’t survive.

Amanda gives birth

Despite enduring more than a decade of brutality and captivity, Michelle found strength through her faith in God and her determination to reunite with her son, so much so that she refused to be separated from Ariel.

After giving birth to daughter Jocelyn, Ariel allows Amanda more freedom in the house, but she is still worried he will pamper her daughter like other women.

She explained: “She loved him, and he loved her. I was very worried, like would he touch her?

Dramatic prison break

In 2013, Jocelyn, 6, told Amanda that Ariel had left the house and her bedroom door was unlocked.

A neighbor then saw Amanda and her daughter trying to escape and helped kick the door down.

Amanda then called the police and they rescued Michelle and Gina.

Amanda said: “Just because there’s someone on the street doesn’t mean he won’t hurt me. I’m terrified. I still don’t know why he left that day with the door unlocked. I wouldn’t. never know”.

Gina added: “When I say [the first responders] my name, they look like they’ve seen a ghost or something. It’s like their faces have completely collapsed. “

Imprisoned

In 2013, Ariel was found guilty of four counts of kidnapping and 937 rapes. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 1,000 years for his atrocities.

Just a month after serving his sentence, Castro died by committing suicide in his cell by hanging himself with a bed sheet.

Despite efforts to revive him, he was declared dead shortly after.

District Attorney Timothy J McGinty said in a statement: “These degenerate sex abusers are cowards, this man cannot take, for even a month, a fraction of what he is. I’ve been dumping for over a decade.”

Cleveland Abduction is currently not available to watch on Netflix UK.

It is yet to be confirmed if it will come to the platform, although it is already available on it in some regions.