On Wednesday morning, brave kidnapping and rape survivor Michelle Knight returned to the Cleveland street where depraved monster Ariel Castro held her captive for 11 years. Church bells reportedly rang out as the house of horrors was demolished. Knight handed out and released yellow helium-filled balloons to remember the missing children who haven’t been found.
Ariel Castro's house of horror leveled in Cleveland: One of his victims brought yellow balloons in memory of other missing children.
— Chu Tseng (@ChuTseng) August 7, 2013
#MichelleKnight: "Give the missing people strength and power…. they are caterpillars waiting to turn into a butterfly." #DemolitionDay
— David Hrvatin (@DavidHrvatin) August 7, 2013
#Castro Michelle Knigth about people missing: "You are loved" The yellow balloons represent missing children pic.twitter.com/yvavEBBYiM
— YOU Magazine (@YouMagazine) August 7, 2013
#Cleveland house of horrors demolished; Michelle Knight hands out balloons on Seymour Avenue http://t.co/3dWepy4iuC pic.twitter.com/s19qio0beB
— Elisha Pappacoda (@epappacoda) August 7, 2013
Want to see strength personified? Living inspiration? Michelle Knight…enough said. @wkyc pic.twitter.com/sYfasziAMu
— Stephanie Coueignoux (@StephanieCNews) August 7, 2013
Michelle Knight handing out yellow balloons this morning in Cleveland as Ariel Castro's house is demolished PIC: pic.twitter.com/GWOCLTvkGr
— Matt Flener KMBC (@MattFlenerKMBC) August 7, 2013
Neighbors: "Finally this is happening" — Demolition underway on Seymour Ave. #DemolitionDay
— David Hrvatin (@DavidHrvatin) August 7, 2013
The first blow to the house was delivered by the aunt of Gina DeJesus, one of Castro’s other victims.
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Wow- a relative of Gina DeJesus' was inside excavator & help make first blow to Ariel Castro home. @wkyc pic.twitter.com/sClhSOk0IC
— Stephanie Coueignoux (@StephanieCNews) August 7, 2013
Local investigative reporter Scott Taylor tweeted photos and video from the emotional scene.
Hitting streets of Cleveland heading to the demolition of #ArielCastro's house. Michelle Knight will be there. pic.twitter.com/bOUsmlqmWs
— Scott Taylor ABC 7 (@ScottTaylorTV) August 7, 2013
Just arrived at #ArielCastro house set for demolition this morning. pic.twitter.com/Vo302xDhzT
— Scott Taylor ABC 7 (@ScottTaylorTV) August 7, 2013
Michelle Knight just dropped by #ArielCastro's house and read a poem. pic.twitter.com/T4ERxJkugX
— Scott Taylor ABC 7 (@ScottTaylorTV) August 7, 2013
#ArielCastro house finally coming down. pic.twitter.com/chJBQsTWHY
— Scott Taylor ABC 7 (@ScottTaylorTV) August 7, 2013
Neighbors watching #ArielCastro house coming down. pic.twitter.com/B616hLsl9l
— Scott Taylor ABC 7 (@ScottTaylorTV) August 7, 2013
#ArielCastro house coming down RIGHT NOW in Cleveland, Ohio. pic.twitter.com/q8peM2xXmG
— Scott Taylor ABC 7 (@ScottTaylorTV) August 7, 2013
Here is a video link to what I have seen so far of the destruction of #ArielCastro's home in Cleveland, Ohio. http://t.co/unX0IoqR3O
— Scott Taylor ABC 7 (@ScottTaylorTV) August 7, 2013
Ariel Castro's house being torn down. http://t.co/moP52yGYJq
— Newsradio WTAM 1100 (@wtam1100) August 7, 2013
Ariel Castro's house is gone. Should have trees and other plants on the site by tonight. pic.twitter.com/jsRSlfZ2Rf
— Newsradio WTAM 1100 (@wtam1100) August 7, 2013
Castro was required to forfeit the house as part of his plea deal. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 1,000 years.
According to reports, the revolting Castro “broke down in tears when he had to sign over the property deed, saying it was wrong to tear it down because he had so many happy memories there.”
Here’s to many years of new memories for Michelle Knight, Gina DeJesus and Amanda Berry as they reclaim their lives.
Update:
Mashable reports that the house of horrors has been blurred out on Google Street View.
Google blocked out the street view of Ariel Castro's house, as WCPN's technical producer Jack Helbig just pointed out pic.twitter.com/RD9WxA7TNm
— Nick Castele (@NickCastele) August 7, 2013
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