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Cleveland kidnapper Ariel Castro found hanging in prison

Patrick Howley Political Reporter
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The Cleveland man who kidnapped and tortured three women for more than a decade has died.

Ariel Castro was found dead in his prison cell at Orient, Ohio’s Correction Reception Center. The cause of death appears to be hanging, according to a statement by an Ohio Department of Corrections official.

“Inmate Ariel Castro was found hanging in his cell this [Tuesday] evening at 9:20 pm at the Correctional Reception Center in Orient. He was housed in protective custody which means he was in a cell by himself and rounds are required every 30 minutes at staggered intervals. Upon finding inmate Castro, prison medical staff began performing life saving measures,” said JoEllen Smith of the Ohio Department of Corrections.

“Shortly after he was transported to OSUMC where he was pronounced dead at 10:52 pm. A thorough review of this incident is underway and more information can be provided as it becomes available pending the status of the investigation,” Smith said.

Castro, a 52-year-old former bus driver, was convicted this summer of more than 900 charges related to his kidnapping and repeated sexual assault of three women who were kept locked in the basement of his Cleveland home for more than ten years. He was slated to spend the rest of his life in prison.

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