Preliminary DNA tests have confirmed that Ariel Castro, a kidnap and rape suspect in Ohio is the father of a six-year-old girl rescued from his home along with her mother and two other women, SKY News reported. Attorney General Mike DeWine's office confirmed Ariel Castro's paternity in a news release on Friday.
Mr DeWine said a sample of Castro's DNA was taken on Thursday and forensic scientists worked through the night on the case.
The girl is the daughter of Amanda Berry, who authorities say was held for about a decade in Castro's house in Cleveland along with Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight.
Castro is charged with four counts of kidnapping and three counts of rape, and is being held on $8m bond.Mr DeWine said Castro's DNA profile was also compared to other profiles, but did not match any other Ohio cases. He said national results are pending through the FBI, news reports confirmed.
Prosecutors have said they may file murder charges against the 52-year-old, who is accused of terminating multiple pregnancies of his captives by force. The charges could carry the death penalty.
A police report obtained by The Plain Dealer newspaper in Cleveland said Ms Berry gave birth to her daughter in an inflatable swimming pool. The report said Castro forced Ms Knight to deliver the baby and threatened to kill her if the infant did not survive, SKY News reported.
Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus were released from hospital earlier in the week and returned home to be reunited with their families.
Meanwhile, the FBI said Friday it did not recover any human remains in its search of the house. Agency spokeswoman Vicki Anderson said agents took more than 200 items from the home, but declined to discuss what was found.
According to Scott Taylor, an investigative reporter for Cleveland's 19 Action News, Castro "writes about wanting to kill himself and 'give all the money I saved to my victims," in an eerie note found at his property.
