Ohio victim: Kidnapper Ariel Castro took ‘coward’s way out’ in prison death ruled suicide

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FILE - In this Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013, file photo, Michelle Knight sits in the courtroom during the sentencing phase for Ariel Castro in Cleveland. During a taped interview that aired on the "Dr. Phil" show Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013, Knight, the first of three women who were kidnapped and held for a decade in a Cleveland home, described kidnapper Ariel Castro as cowardly when he died in prison in what was ruled a suicide. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)

CLEVELAND – One of three women held for a decade in a Cleveland home says kidnapper Ariel Castro took the “coward’s way out” when he died in prison in what was ruled as a suicide.

Michelle Knight spoke of being beaten, chained and sexually and emotionally abused in a taped interview that aired Wednesday on the “Dr Phil” show.

Knight was kidnapped in 2002, when she was 20. She says Castro repeatedly told her that he could abuse her and nobody would care.

Knight cried at times during the interview and spoke about having five miscarriages in captivity. She says Castro punched and kicked her in the stomach.

Knight and the two other women escaped in May.

Castro was convicted. He was found hanging in prison about a month into his sentence.

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