The Chilling Details of Elisabeth Fritzl Being Held Captive for 24 Years

She Should Have Called Out

It was April 21, 2003 – the day before Amanda Berry’s 17th birthday. She had thought of calling out of work that day, since the next day was her birthday, but decided against it. After her shift, she was walking home when a man and a girl in a van made eye contact with her. She smiled at them since the girl looked familiar. Moments later the man approached her in his van, asking if she needed a ride. The man was Ariel Castro. Although the girl was no longer in his van, Berry agreed to let him give her a ride home since she knew his daughter from school. Castro offered to take her to see his daughter, to which she agreed and they headed to his house.