According to spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Corrections, JoEllen Smith, 53-year-old, Ariel Castro, was found hanging in his cell at the Correctional Reception Centre in Orient Ohio, at approximately 9:20 p.m. on Tuesday.

Castro had been sentenced to life in prison plus 1,000 years after pleading guilty to 937 counts. The many charges against him included rape and kidnapping.

Wish I thought Ariel Castro hanged himself bc he felt bad about what he did- rather than just avoiding the next x number of years in prison.

— Michelle (@Eaglefly124) September 4, 2013

Castro kidnapped three girls, Gina DeJesus, Amanda Berry and Michelle Knight between the years of 2002 and 2004 and held them captive for 10 years. On May 6, one of the women found a way to escape and managed to yell for the neighbors help. They were 14, 16 and 20 years old at the time of the kidnappings. Castro was arrested later that night.

Smith issued a statement saying, “Inmate Ariel Castro was found hanging in his cell this evening at 9:20 p.m. at the Correctional Reception Center in Orient (Ohio). He was housed in protective custody, which means he was in a cell by himself and rounds are required every 30 minutes at staggered intervals. Upon finding inmate Castro, prison medical staff began performing life saving measures. Shortly after he was transported to OSUMC (Ohio State University Medical Center), where he was pronounced dead at 10:52 p.m. A thorough review of this incident is under way, and more information can be provided as it becomes available pending the status of the investigation.”

Ariel Castro found hanging in cell this evening at 9:20 pm at the Correctional Reception Center in Orient, Ohio. pic.twitter.com/Dh9IJgoMel

— Scott Taylor (@ScottTaylor19) September 4, 2013