Is Cleveland abduction, Netflix's new addition to crime drama, a true story?

Nowadays, there is a boom of OTT channels, and every channel wants to grab the audience for the business and popularity of the track, whether it is Netflix, Amazon, or Hotstar. Filmmakers and channel programming heads are only interested in something sensational. They feel the audience is intelligent now, and they switch to any other entertainment app readily available on mobile. In such a situation, suspense and crime are the two essential subjects for TV channels and OTT platforms.

Crime drama series have grabbed the attention of viewers worldwide and also left many horrified and angry by the end. The latest true-crime drama series that is taking social media by storm is 2015 made film Cleveland Abduction which can be viewed on Netflix in many countries across the world. The story is based on Ariel Castro's abduction of three women Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Georgina 'Gina' DeJesus in the early 2000s and their subsequent torture and abuse.

After watching dark scenes from the most horrific and heartbreaking of circumstances in the series on the popular American subscription streaming service many viewers were left traumatised, as per reports. Arial Castro was convicted in 937 criminal cases for kidnapping, rape, attempt to murder and other heinous crimes. He was sentenced to life in prison without any parole and was given an additional thousand years. He held his victims captive in Clevland's Tremont neighborhood.


Crime dramas based on true stories continue to rule the streaming chart as we have seen the recent inclusions like Tinder Swindler and Worst Roommate Ever on Netflix. It proves that there is no sign of a decline in the popularity of this genre.

Now there is another addition - Cleveland Abduction, the 2015 American crime drama which has just been available on Netflix. Undoubtedly, this addition has taken social media by storm as it has stirred a renewed interest in crime dramas based on true stories.

The incident happened in the Tremont neighbourhood of Cleveland, Ohio, where Ariel Castro abducted three young women and imprisoned them in his basement between 2002 and 2004.

What is the true story of Cleveland Abduction?

Ariel Castro, a resident of 2207 Seymour Avenue, abducted his victims – three women by offering them a ride, luring them inside, and then restraining them in his basement. Castro was 52 during the time of his arrest.

The first victim Michelle Knight was abducted on 23 August 2002, whereas the second victim Amanda Marie Berry went missing on 21 April 2003, just the day before her 17th birthday. Castro's third victim was Georgina Lynn DeJesus, aged 14, who disappeared on 2 April 2004.

Castro was physically, emotionally, and sexually abused all these women as he confined them in locked bedrooms. Knight told the police that she gave birth to a daughter in 2006.

In 2013, Berry managed to inform Castro's neighbours, which led her to escape and inform the police. Then, Castro was arrested and charged of sentenced to life imprisonment. Within one month, Castro committed suicide in the prison cell.

Where can you watch Cleveland Abduction?

The crime drama was recently added to Netflix, where you can watch it without any additional cost (if you have already subscribed).

However, it is not available to watch on Netflix UK at present. You need to check the availability of the drama series on Netfix in your respective regions.