Police in Fargo, North Dakota, rescued an American woman bolted to a bedframe inside an apartment where her ex-husband and his partner allegedly kept her captive for two years.
Officers raided the south Fargo unit on November 3 after an on-site maintenance technician heard muffled screams filtering through the walls and alerted building managers. Responders found the woman padlocked by her right ankle to heavy iron chains anchored directly into the headboard and footboard. Large bolts, washers, and nuts locked the rig into place. Foam pool noodles shielded the metal links. The rescue ended years of isolation.
Court documents detail a grim domestic prison. Aluminium foil sealed every window shut. A surveillance camera monitored the mattress around the clock, while a plastic bucket beside the bed served as a toilet. The victim, who communicated with investigators through a digital translation app, told detectives her captors fed her twice daily, beat her repeatedly, and subjected her to prolonged sexual assaults. Police documented deep bruising across her face, arms, and legs, alongside a pronounced scar on her forehead.
Husband Arturo Calzada-Becerril, 40, brought the woman from Mexico to North Dakota before severing her contact with the outside world, according to investigative filings. When questioned by detectives, Calzada-Becerril claimed he shackled her to stop her from fleeing, asserting she struggled with drug addiction. Prosecutors rejected that narrative. Cass County prosecutors alleged the pair orchestrated the prolonged confinement to exploit the woman's United States citizenship for immigration paperwork.
Hhis girlfriend, 41-year-old Erendira Amoles, acted as the primary guard inside the residence, frequently handling the keys and unfastening the padlocks, according to the complaint. Amoles walked into the apartment accompanied by her eight-year-old daughter minutes after responding officers secured the scene.
| Case Parameter | Official Status |
|---|---|
| Accused | Arturo Calzada-Becerril (40), Erendira Amoles (41) |
| Primary Charges | Kidnapping, Domestic Violence, Assault |
| Bail Amount | $500,000 cash each |
| Prosecuting Agency | Cass County State's Attorney's Office |
Calzada-Becerril and Amoles made their initial court appearance on Friday, November 6. A state judge ordered both defendants held on $500,000 cash bail each. Prosecutors confirmed that both face potential federal deportation orders if convicted, while the Cass County State's Attorney's Office and Fargo Police continue reviewing physical evidence for additional criminal indictments.