Razing 'house of horrors' a small step for Castro victims: Your Say

The house in Cleveland where Ariel Castro held three women for 11 years was demolished last week. He has been sentenced to life in prison plus 1,000 years. Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

What purpose did it serve to demolish Ariel Castro's house? It should have been given to a charitable organization.

I'm not taking anything away from the victims, but that house could have served a family whose members had lost their home, jobs or were just down on their luck.

— Kevin P Hawkins

I don't think tearing down the house is symbolic enough. The whole neighborhood where this evil occurred should be flattened. Do it for the children!

— Shoe Chew

Prosecutors say Castro cried when he signed over the deed to his house. Well, he should have been in the house! Tumble down, house of horrors, tumble down! The women can have more peace knowing the house is gone.

— Alicia Morgan

On one hand, I could empathize with wanting to tear down that house so that no one has to be reminded of the horror that house represented, but it doesn't even begin to help the ones who will have that memory in their hearts and minds for the rest of their lives!

— Iron Lion

Perhaps put a memorial garden there dedicated to missing and exploited children, and a playground. Something nice to replace the monster's house.

— Stephanie Mullen Fudge

Ariel Castro got life in prison without parole. The prosecution likely accepted the plea, rather than pushing for the death penalty, to avoid putting the victims through the stress of a trial.

While killing Castro is certainly enticing, that desire is based on vengeance, not justice. Just throw the man in a dark cell and forget about him. That's what his victims want; let them move on with their lives.

— Bryan Beckner

Letters to the editor:

In Paste BN's article on the sentencing of Ariel Castro, psychiatrist Frank Ochberg claimed that the three brave Ohio kidnapping survivors somehow bonded and related to their captor. That is nonsense ("Castro victim Knight: 'I spent 11 years in hell''").

Clearly, the three courageous women did not bond with this monster. Saying that they did is a terribly cruel thing, and is insulting to these women.

For one thing, if they did "bond" with this creep, they certainly would not have told each other that they knew they would walk out alive someday (as Michelle Knight related). And Amanda Berry certainly would not have bothered escaping when she saw a chance. And, if what Ochberg said were true, the two other women would not have run to the officers when they finally arrived. I hope other people will not believe what this Ochberg said just because he is considered an "expert."

S.E. Baron; Milwaukee

That negotiated sentence for the deranged Cleveland kidnapper was a good thing because it saved court costs and time. As for "justice," prison justice will be served.

I predict Ariel Castro will not be alive in a year.

Michael Leyden; Charleston, Ill.