Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus & Michelle Knight Kidnapper Ariel Castro Home Demolished [VIDEO] Following Life Sentence
Bulldozers demolished convicted kidnapper Ariel Castro's home on Wednesday morning, the same Cleveland residence where he held three women captive for over a decade after he abducted them individually.
Watching all the action take place was one of his victims: survivor Michelle Knight. The 32-year-old was at the scene with her family carrying a bouquet of yellow balloons that she later released into the air as a symbolic moment of triumph for her and the other survivors: Amanda Berry, 27, and Gina DeJesus, 23.
Michelle Knight Testimony in Court: 'I Can Forgive But I Will Never Forget'
The demolition of the two-story home, located at 2207 Seymour Ave. is a condition of Castro's plea bargain. Click here to hear Knight speak to the crowd at the site of Castro's former home.
The bulldozing occurred less than a week after Castro, 53, was sentenced to life in prison plus 1,000 years. A judge imposed the prison sentence on Aug. 1. Knight was the only one of Castro's victims to address the court that day, telling him and those sitting in the gallery that the former school bus driver put her through a "life of hell."
"Ariel Castro, you took 11 years of my life away. I spent 11 years in hell. Now your hell's just beginning," she said. "You will face hell for eternity. From this moment on I will not let you define me. I will live on; you will die a little every day...You deserve to spend life in prison.
The women were rescued on May 6 after a neighbor saw Berry break open a door of Castro's home and escape. He helped her then call 9-1-1, and authorities that showed up then helped pull Knight and DeJesus to safety. Castro was arrested later that day.
A small crowd that gathered across the street applauded as the demolition commenced.