Michelle Knight, Missing Cleveland Woman and Ohio Kidnapping Victim, Released From Hospital
Michelle Knight, the missing Cleveland woman and Ohio kidnapping victim, was released from the hospital on May 10.
Knight was allegedly kidnapped by Ariel Castro in 2002 and was kept captive for more than a decade. She was imprisoned along with Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Berry's daughter. They were rescued on May 6. Knight suffered facial damage and hearing loss because of the beatings she told police Castro inflicted upon her.
Phyllis Marino, a spokesperson for MetroHealth Medical Center, released a statement about Knight. She confirmed that the 32-year old left the hospital and wanted to extend her appreciation to the community.
"Michelle Knight is in good spirits and would like the community to know that she is extremely grateful for the outpouring of flowers and gift," Marino said.
Marino also said that Knight was grateful for the fund that has been established to help her. The statement also asked for privacy.
"She is especially thankful for the Cleveland Courage Fund. She asks that everyone please continue to respect her privacy at this time," Marino said.
Knight disappeared in August 2002. At first, police initially believed she may have left because she lost custody of her child. However, Knight told officials that she was repeatedly raped and beaten by Castro. She became pregnant at least five times during her captivity. Knight told police that Castro induced miscarriages by starving and beating her. Prosecutors are considering applying the death penalty to Castro because his actions led to the deaths of the children.
"Capital punishment must be reserved for those crimes that are truly the worst examples of human conduct," Timothy McGinty, Cuyahoga County prosecutor, said. "The reality is we still have brutal criminals in our midst who have no respect for the rule of law or human life."
Knight was also forced to deliver the child of Berry under threat from Castro. Castro is now being held on $8 million dollar bail. Knight's mother, Barbara, hoped that she would be able to reunite with her daughter after many years of separation. Barbara said she never gave up hope.
"I just wish that my daughter would reach out and let me know that she's there... She's probably angry at the world because she thought she would never be found but thank God that somebody did," she said.
