Michelle Knight Amanda Berry Gina DeJesus, Cleveland Kidnap Victims Bonded as Sisters
Amanda Berry, Michelle Knight and Gina DeJesus bonded as "sisters" while they were allegedly held captive by Ariel Castro in Ohio for nearly a decade.
Berry, Knight and DeJesus said that Castro held them hostage and bound by chains since their early teens and young adulthood. The women were freed on May 6. With them was a six year old identified as Berry's daughter. Castro was charged on May 8 with three counts of rape and kidnapping. Others charges may be brought against him.
PEOPLE reported on Friday that the three women became close despite their harrowing circumstances.
"They are like sisters," Matt Zone, a city councilman close to the DeJesus family, said. "They were a family."
Knight and DeJesus were described as the closest to each other. An insider said that the two women spent most of their time together while being held against their will. Castro placed them in the upper floors while Berry and her daughter Jocelyn were kept in a separate area.
"They all bonded when they could. But I do know the other two girls had the stronger bond than Amanda," a source said.
The source added that Berry was kept apart from Knight and DeJesus because of her child. Castro would take the 6 year old out and force Berry into greater isolation. Knight and DeJeus leaned on each other while Berry took comfort in her daughter. However, Berry did form a relationship with the other two women when an opportunity presented itself and that they would look out for each other.
"They all bonded when they could. But I do know the other two girls had the stronger bond than Amanda," the source said.
The bond has continued since the women were freed. DeJesus visited Knight in the hospital before she was released on May 10. Knight's's brother Freddie, described the visit as one of "two best friends." It was also reported that the DeJesus family would "adopt" Knight and welcome her into their family. Lupe Collins, a friend of the DeJesus family and who aided in the years long search, said that Knight felt that her own family only wanted money.
"Michelle doesn't want to go back to her own family because they abused her before she was kidnapped and they only want the money now," Collins said.
