MEDINA, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Gov. John Kasich has presented his annual courage awards to three women who survived their decade-long imprisonment in a Cleveland house.
Kasich said the women’s story is one of inner strength and a courage that brought them through and sustained them during the ordeal.
Kasich presented the award Monday during his State of the State speech to Amanda Berry, Gina de Jesus and Michelle Knight.
The three were rescued in May after being kidnapped from the streets of Cleveland between 2002 and 2004 at the ages of 14, 16 and 20.
Convicted kidnapper Ariel Castro hanged himself in prison in September at the beginning of a life sentence plus 1,000 years after he pleaded guilty to hundreds of charges the previous month.
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