Relatives of Ohio man in hostage case say he terrorized own family

CLEVELAND – The man accused of holding three women captive for a decade in his Cleveland home terrorized and beat the mother of his children and locked her indoors, her relatives say.

Several relatives of Grimilda Figueroa have painted a nightmarish portrait of Ariel Castro’s family life as authorities made public horrifying details of the abuse endured by the imprisoned women.

On Thursday, a judge ordered 52-year-old Castro held on $8 million bail on rape and kidnapping charges.

Prosecutors are considering seeking the death penalty as police charge that Castro impregnated one of his captives at least five times and made her miscarry by starving her and punching her in the belly.

The women were rescued Monday after one of them broke out of his run-down house and called 911 while he was away.