Michele was so stupid in beginning

All 3 of the girls knew Castro in passing; he wasn't a stranger. Michelle was friends with one of his daughters and he told her that she was at his place if she wanted to stop by and say hi. It's not like she just hopped in the car with some random creeper...he seemed like a nice, normal guy and was the father of her friend. Why wouldn't she trust him?

I watched this movie because my daughter wanted to see it so I missed the lead in . Didn't know if she knew him or not, but the minute he mentioned the puppies, red flags went off and I too was yelling, "no don't do it, get outta,there !!"

Michelle had never met Ariel Castro, but she knew his daughter, Emily. She had heard his voice when Emily put her cell phone on speaker. When she met him in the Family Dollar store, she was in a panic because she knew there was no way she could make it to Children and Family Services on time on foot. She accepted the ride not because she was "dumb" or "stupid." She was desperate to get her son back.