Ariel Castro’s brothers have been cleared and released by police. They now claim that they didn’t know their brother was holding and raping three women in his Cleveland home for more than 10 years.

Pedro and Onil Castro have denied any involvement with their brother’s abduction and rape of Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight. In an exclusive interview with CNN, the brothers have stated that if they had known, they would have reported Ariel to authorities.

The Castro brothers claim that they are good men, and never would have thought to kidnap and torture three young women. However, they fear that their Cleveland community will doubt their innocence. Pedro Castro expressed his concerns during the interview:

“It’s going to haunt me down because people going to think, yeah, Pedro got something to do with this … If I knew, I would have reported it, brother or no brother.”

Ariel Castro’s daughter Arlene is facing similar backlash surrounding her father’s arrest. Arlene and Gina DeJesus were friends, compounding her guilt about the abduction.

Arlene states that she only knew her dear friend was missing, she had no idea it was her father who had taken her. At the time, Arlene was living with her mother as she and Ariel had a strained relationship.

As reported by CNN, Arlene was devastated when her father was arrested for the crime. She expressed her regret and sorrow, stating “I would like to say that I’m absolutely so, so sorry … I’m so sorry for everything.”

Castro’s brothers were initially arrested as suspects in the kidnapping and imprisonment of the three girls. Police later released them, citing no evidence of their involvement.

As reported by 10 News, Joseph Rider was friends with all three Castro brothers. The four men attended Lincoln West High School, in Cleveland.

Rider stated that he knew all three brothers well and never would have suspected their involvement in such a heinous crime.

Although Castro’s brothers were cleared of involvement, it may take time for the Cleveland community to accept their innocence. The crime shocked the community and the nation. Particularly those who knew, and lived closest to, Ariel Castro.