Ohio kidnapping accused may face death penalty

Ariel Castro, 52, is shown in this Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office booking photo. Credit: uyahoga County Sheriff's Office/Handout via Reuters

The man accused of kidnapping and holding three teenage girls captive in Ohio could face the death penalty if he is found guilty of new charges that prosecutors plan to bring against him.

The charges include the murder of unborn children.

Ariel Castro, 52, who is charged with four counts of kidnapping and three of rape made his first court appearance earlier today in front of TV cameras.

ITV News Correspondent Robert Moore reports:

The judge imposed a $2 million bail bond on each count made against Castro - which totals $8 million.

Cleveland Municipal Court heard claims Castro held Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight in separate rooms, allowing them to leave the house just twice over the 10 year period.

Afterwards his mother, Lillian Rodriguez, told reporters her son was "sick" and asked forgiveness from the women held captive for all those years.

Initially, Castro's two brothers, Pedro, 54, and Onil, 50, were also arrested as suspects, but investigators determined they had no knowledge of the abductions or that the women were being held captive.