Ariel Castro May Have Died from Auto-Erotic Asphyxiation

It’s been over a month since Ariel Castro (the Cleveland man found guilty in August of the kidnapping, sexual assault and imprisonment of three women over a 10-year period) was found hanging dead in his jail cell in what appeared to be a suicide. Now, just when we were figuring out how to feel about it, new information has emerged, suggesting that Castro’s true cause of death could actually be auto-erotic asphyxiation.

According to a report from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Castro was found hanging by a sheet with his pants and underwear pulled down to his ankles. These facts, coupled with Castro’s supposed addiction to pornography and a psychological evaluation that concluded he was not at risk for suicide has led the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction to suspect his death was accidental.

From CBS News:

Castro did not leave a suicide note and “multiple levels of assessment” did not find tendency toward suicide, the report said. A comprehensive mental health evaluation found “no evidence of serious mental illness or indications for suicide precautions were present,” according to the report.

The day he died, he expressed interest in the possibility he would serve his time segregated from the general prison population.

As a result of those facts, no motivation for suicide was found, the state concluded.

In addition to this shudder-worthy revelation, the report also revealed that Castro’s guards failed to complete at least 8 of the required checks on Castro’s death on the day he died.

Terrible news all around.

Ariel Castro may have died from auto-erotic asphyxiation, not suicide, state says [CBS News]