Two People Arrested After Woman Found Chained to Bed in Fargo Apartment

“It’s unbelievable. I just can’t believe no one heard it, or you know, had any suspicion of something like that going on,” resident Reed Bertsch told Valley News Live, expressing the shock felt by neighbors in a Fargo apartment complex where a woman was discovered held captive for years. The ordeal ended Tuesday when a maintenance worker heard muffled screams coming from a unit, prompting management to call 911, according to reports from the NY Post and Wect.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found the victim anchored to a bedframe by a heavy chain and a Master Lock brand padlock secured around her right ankle. The investigation revealed a scene of calculated isolation: the bedroom windows were covered in tin foil, and a security camera was positioned to point directly at her bed, Wect reported.

The victim, an American citizen, had been brought to Fargo from Mexico in 2024 by her ex-husband, 40-year-old Arturo Calzada Becerril. For the two years following her arrival, she was reportedly kept from going outside and was forced to relieve herself in a bucket next to her bed, according to court documents obtained by WCAX and Valley News Live.

The mechanics of a two-year captivity

The physical constraints placed on the woman were highly specific. Investigative reports viewed by Inforum describe how the chains were attached to the headboard using large bolts, washers, and nuts, with the metal wrapped in a foam pool noodle. The setup included chains at both the head and the foot of the bed, both secured with padlocks.

While Calzada Becerril reportedly provided food twice a day, the victim’s daily life was defined by physical abuse and surveillance. She told investigators that she had been punched, resulting in a scar on her forehead, and was found with bruising on her arms, legs, and face. The victim also alleged that Calzada Becerril and his girlfriend, 41-year-old Erendira Amoles, pinned her down to beat and sexually assault her, NY Post reported.

Amoles, who was arrested alongside Calzada Becerril, reportedly played a direct role in the victim’s confinement. According to court documents cited by Valley News Live, Amoles was typically the person responsible for handling the victim and unlocking her from the bedframe.

Allegations of immigration fraud and drug prevention

The motive behind the kidnapping remains a central focus of the ongoing criminal case. Prosecutors claim that Calzada Becerril and Amoles kept the American citizen captive specifically to obtain immigration status, as reported by Valley News Live.

Calzada Becerril provided a different justification to investigators regarding why he kept the woman locked up. He told police he did so because she was addicted to drugs and he did not want her to begin using again, Inforum reported. All three individuals involved—the victim, Calzada Becerril, and Amoles—are from the same town in Mexico, according to Calzada Becerril’s statements to authorities.

The discovery has left the local community grappling with how such an event occurred in a building with active security. Resident Erin Schauer noted to Valley News Live that security patrols occur every night from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., involving officers walking the hallways and driving around the complex. “That is really scary,” Schauer said. “You hear about that all the time on the news, but the fact that it was literally right over there.”

Legal proceedings and immediate aftermath

Following her rescue, the victim was rushed to a hospital. Because she did not speak English, authorities utilized Language Link to conduct interviews, Wect reported. Border Patrol assisted Fargo police during the initial response and investigation.

Two People Arrested After Woman Found Chained to Bed in Fargo Apartment — Photo: wect.com

Arturo Calzada Becerril and Erendira Amoles have been booked into the Cass County Jail on charges of kidnapping and assault. They were arraigned on Friday morning, according to Inforum.