The Cleveland man accused of imprisoning three women in his home for almost a decade has been indicted on 329 charges including, aggravated murder, rape and kidnapping, according to the Associated Press.
Ariel Castro, 52, held the three women captive in his run down home until May 6. Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight as well as Berry's 6 year-old child who was fathered by Castro were able to escape with some help from a neighbor who heard Berry screaming.
Cuyahoga County prosecutor Tim McGinty told the Associated Press that the indictment doesn't cover the entirety of the time the women were imprisoned; it only covers from the date the first of the women disappeared, August 2002 until February 2007.
The aggravated murder charge comes from Castro forcing one of the women to terminate a pregnancy. In addition Castro is being charged with 139 counts of rape, 177 counts of kidnapping and one count of possession of criminal tools in addition to some other charges, according to the Associated Press.
The indictment reveals that Castro often restrained the women using chains and electrical cords. The women would sometimes be chained to a water heater or locked inside a van, according to the Associated Press.
Castro will be pleaded not guilty to any indictment, according to his attorneys. Castro is being held on $8 million bail and has told prison officials that he will not accept any interview requests from the media, reports the Associated Press.
Castro's two brothers were arrested along with Castro but were eventually released and will not be charged with anything.
McGinty told the Associated Press that the investigation is still ongoing. Currently the state is trying to decide whether or not the crimes merit the death penalty. Days after the girls were rescued McGinty said that capital punishment "must be reserved for those crimes that are truly the worst examples of human conduct," the Associated Press reports.
"The law of Ohio calls for the death penalty for those most depraved criminals, who commit aggravated murder during the course of kidnapping," McGinty said.
In a statement the three attorneys representing the women said that they have faith in the legal process.
"We have a great legal system plus confidence and faith in the prosecutor's office and its decisions," the statement said.
