Some people are wondering if the movie Cleveland Abduction is based upon a true story. The Lifetime movie tells the story of three women who were kidnapped and held captive for over ten years. While many aspects of the movie are fictionalized, it is thought that some parts of the story may be based on a real-life abduction case that took place in Cleveland, Ohio. So, is Cleveland Abduction based upon a true story?
If you’re unfamiliar with Lifetime’s ‘Cleveland Abduction,’ directed by Alex Kalymnios, is a crime drama television film that tells the moving story of Michelle Knight, a girl kidnapped by Ariel Castro and held captive in his home. He also kidnaps two more girls, who become friends with Michelle as they struggle to survive their years in captivity.
Is Cleveland Abduction Based Upon A True Story?
‘Cleveland Abduction’ is, in fact, based on true events. It is based on the true story of the Ariel Castro kidnappings, in which three women (Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight) were kidnapped inside a residence. It’s essentially a television film based on Michelle Knight’s 2015 memoir, ‘Finding Me: A Decade of Darkness, a Life Reclaimed,’ with a teleplay written by Stephen Tolkin.
Michelle is the major character in the film, and their journey is recounted through her eyes. The Ariel Castro abductions occurred between 2002 and 2004 when Ariel Castro imprisoned these ladies in his home on Seymour Avenue in Cleveland’s Tremont district. During their incarceration, the man tormented and raped them on numerous occasions.
Also Read: Where Is Anna Delvey Now? The True Story of Netflix’s Inventing Anna
How Did Amanda Escape?
Amanda later escaped with her daughter Jocelyn, who was born while Amanda was confined, on May 6, 2013. Amanda called the cops and had the other two girls rescued after escaping Castro’s grasp with the help of neighbors Angel Cordero and Charles Ramsey. Michelle has since changed her name to Lillian Rose Lee. She’s gotten new tattoos. And she separated herself from the other victims who publicly shared their tales with her.
What Happened To Michelle?
Michelle goes on to write an autobiography on March 10, 2015, detailing all of the atrocities perpetrated against the girls. Michelle vanished during a period in her life when she was separated from her family and battling for custody of her small son. The police deleted her name from the list of missing people, believing she had fled away. But she didn’t let it get the best of her.
The terrible and spine-chilling facts of the experience of the three strong women are featured in Cleveland Abduction, which is based on Michelle’s memoir. As a result, Cleveland Abduction is a virtually exact portrayal of Michelle, Gina, and Amanda’s genuine tragedy. And it tries to offer hope to the numerous children and young people who go missing every year. Now, let’s take a look at the perpetrator’s heinous profile.
Cleveland Abduction Trailer:
What Happened To Ariel Castro?
After a guilty plea to 973 counts of kidnapping and torture for victimizing the three women, Ariel Castro was sentenced to life in prison plus 1000 years in prison without the possibility of parole — But he committed suicide in his prison cell just one month into his sentence.
The first kidnapping occurred in 2003, when Castro, an elementary school bus driver, approached Michelle in his car. And Castro asked her if she needed a ride home. She was indeed a friend of his daughter Arlene, who lived with her mother in a separate neighborhood at the time. But, ostensibly, his daughter was upstairs, so he invited her home.
Amanda Berry was Castro’s second kidnap victim after Gina DeJesus, a 14-year-old girl, went abducted in April 2004. She was acquainted with his daughter and was kidnapped in a similar manner on her way home on April 2, 2004, when she was 14 years old. The three ladies were forced to live in filthy conditions. They were shackled to their beds. Their rooms were closed. They were scarcely fed, and they were provided buckets to use as toilets.
What Happened To Michelle Knight’s Son?
Michelle Knight has still not been reunited with her son Joey, who she is said to have lost contact with. Michelle’s son was adopted by another family while she was held captive. And her own family made few attempts to locate her. Michelle claimed in 2014 that she accepted her son’s adoptive family’s decision not to reveal his birth mother’s identity to the adolescent. She told the Today show that she had photos of her son that his adoptive parents had sent with her, and she was proud of everything he had accomplished.
Also Read: Is Pachinko Based On A True Story? Are The Events Real?
