The Broken Families on Both Sides of the Cleveland Kidnappings

DASHIELL BENNETT 11:19 AM ET
As new details emerge about the history of both the perpetrators and the victims of the Cleveland kidnapping tale, two parallel portraits have emerged of trouble families intersecting in a tragedy.

As police continue to piece together what happened to Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michele Knight since their kidnapping, the Cleveland Police chief revealed today that authorities have confirmation that there were chains and ropes in the home of Ariel Castro, and that all three women were repeatedly bound, beaten, and raped during their captivity. There have also been distressing warning signs that appear to have been missed at the Castro house, leading many to wonder if the women should have been found much sooner or if local police really did their best to help.

Charges are expected to be filed against Ariel Castro and his brothers later today, and his family has come forward, but not to defend the man who appears to be most responsible for the kidnappings. His estranged son, Anthony, has provided many unsettling details about his father's past, including his history of abuse against his own family. The younger Castro says he is shocked by his father's alleged crimes, but now sees that were things he himself missed, like how when visiting his father's house there were doors that were always locked and rooms no one was ever allowed to go into. He even shared photos with the Daily Mail that show there were padlocks on basement doors.

Anthony Castro says he and his three sisters rarely interacted with their father, and the last time he visited, he was not allowed inside the house at all. Neighbors and other friends also confirm that Castro rarely let people near the house or the backyard. His one-time bandmates said he would never stay overnight on road trips or even let them unload equipment into his house.

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http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/05/cleveland-kidnapping-families/65001/