Cleveland Kidnapping: "We're so happy to have Amanda and her daughter home," Berry's sister says
Amanda Berry, who escaped Monday after being held captive in a Cleveland home just miles from where she was abducted in 2003, arrived at her sister's home Wednesday to a crowd of supporters and signs that read, "Welcome Home Amanda."
PICTURES: Ohio women missing for nearly a decade found alive
Berry, who did not appear publicly, arrived in a black minivan, escorted by law enforcement authorities. The van drove down the street as supporters waved and clapped, and then pulled into the driveway and around to the back entrance.
Before Monday, her family hasn't seen the 27-year-old in more than a decade.
Riding in the van with Berry was her six-year-old daughter, who was also found in the home Monday, along with two other women who had been missing for a decade -- Gina DeJesus, about 23, and Michelle Knight, 32.
The child, who has been shielded from the media spotlight, also did not appear before the crowd.
Law enforcement authorities at first said Berry would speak to the public, but an FBI spokeswoman later said the Berry would not speak Monday.
Instead, her sister Beth Serrano spoke briefly, asking that the media respect the family's privacy until the family is ready to make a statement.
"I just want to say we're so happy to have Amanda and her daughter home," Serrano said. "We want to thank the public and the media for their support and encouragement over the last 10 years. At this time, the family would request privacy so my sister and my niece and I have time to recover."
Surrounded by a crowd of media, Serrano hugged her cousin before returning inside.
Authorities hailed Berry as a hero after she kicked out the bottom portion of a screen door of the home to escape and called 911. "Help me. I'm Amanda Berry," she told a 911 dispatcher. "I've been kidnapped and I've been missing for 10 years and I'm, I'm here, I'm free now."
Berry was abducted just before her 17th birthday as she was returning home from her job at a local Burger King.
She was still wearing her Burger King uniform, The Washington Post reported. A birthday party had been planned for her the following day.
Berry's mother, Louwana Miller, never gave up the search for her child, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported. She died in 2006 at age 44 of heart failure, without answers to her daughter's disappearance.
The owner of the home, Ariel Castro, 52, has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping along with his two brothers, 50 and 54. Charges against the three men are expected.
Complete coverage of the Cleveland kidnapping on Crimesider
