A woman in Fargo, North Dakota, was rescued after allegedly being chained to a bed for two years, beaten and sexually assaulted by her ex-husband and his girlfriend, police said. The woman was found after a maintenance worker heard her cries for help at an apartment complex on November 3.Officers responding to the building found her restrained by a heavy chain and padlock around her right ankle, with the chain secured to the bedframe, according to court documents cited by the New York Post.A maintenance technician had reported hearing muffled screams from the apartment, prompting the building management to call 911.The victim was taken to hospital after being freed. Police interviewed her with the help of a translator, as she communicated through a translation app, according to the reports.Her ex-husband, 40-year-old Arturo Calzada-Becerril, and his girlfriend, 41-year-old Erendira Amoles, have been charged in connection with the case.
Woman allegedly brought from Mexico and held captive
According to court documents cited by Valley News Live, the woman told investigators that Calzada-Becerril brought her to Fargo from Mexico in 2024 and kept her confined in the apartment, where she was not allowed to leave.The bedroom reportedly had a security camera pointed towards the bed, while its windows were covered with aluminium foil. The woman said she was given food twice a day and forced to use a bucket beside the bed as a toilet.Investigators found bruising on her arms, legs and face. She also told police that Calzada-Becerril and Amoles had beaten and sexually assaulted her. She said she had been punched, leaving a scar on her forehead.An investigative report cited by Inforum described the restraints as chains secured to the bed’s headboard and footboard with large bolts, washers and nuts. The chains were covered with foam pool noodles and secured with Master Lock padlocks.Court documents state that Calzada-Becerril told police he kept the woman restrained so that “she did not run away”, claiming she was addicted to drugs and that he did not want her to start using again.Prosecutors alleged that the pair held the woman captive to obtain immigration status. The victim is an American citizen, according to Valley News Live.
Two accused face kidnapping charges
Calzada-Becerril and Amoles made their first court appearance on Friday, November 6. Both have been charged with kidnapping, along with additional counts including domestic violence and assault, Valley News Live reported.A judge set bail at $500,000 each. Prosecutors said both defendants could face deportation. Additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues.According to court documents, Amoles was usually responsible for handling the victim and unlocking her from the bedframe. She returned to the apartment with her eight-year-old daughter shortly after authorities discovered the woman.
Neighbours shocked by discovery
Residents of the apartment complex said they were stunned to learn that a woman had allegedly been held captive in the building for two years without their knowledge.Erin Schauer, a resident, told Valley News Live that security personnel regularly patrolled the complex.“We have security coming through from like 6 to 11 p.m. every single night. They stop in the hallways, they walk through every single building, they drive around,” she said.“That is really scary. You hear about that all the time on the news, but the fact that it was literally right over there,” she added.Another resident, Reed Bertsch, said he could not understand how nobody had suspected what was happening.“It’s unbelievable. I just can’t believe no one heard it, or you know, had any suspicion of something like that going on,” he said.A longtime tenant also told Valley News Live that she had noticed the foil covering the apartment windows for years but had not known why it was there.Fargo police are working with the Cass County State’s Attorney’s Office as the case proceeds, according to Valley News Live.