Katie Beers on Kidnapper's Death: 'Helps Me To Close this Chapter'

John Esposito, the Bay Shore man who kidnapped 10-year-old Katie Beers in 1992, holding her in an underground bunker for 17 days, died on Wednesday, while awaiting a parole hearing.

His death came less than 24 hours after Ariel Castro, the Cleveland man who abducted three women and held them for 10 years before they escaped, committed suicide in his cell. He was just one month into a life sentence.

Esposito was serving a sentence of 15 years to life. The 64-year-old was found dead in his cell at Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, N.Y.

Beers, who spent the rest of her childhood in Springs after her rescue — she was already suffering neglect, as well as sexual abuse at another predator's hands, said she has been preparing herself for this day. "I always knew that there would be one of two outcomes — John is either released on parole, or he dies in prison. I never wanted him released on parole," she said.

In January, after 20 years, Beers broke her silence with the release of a book, "Buried Memories: Katie Beers' Story"

Esposito's death left Beers feeling indifferent. "I'm not saddened at all about it. Because I have let go of my childhood trauma's as part of my recovery, and I no longer associate my 'adult' self with my 'child' self — I really have no hard feelings toward John's death," she said.

According to CBS reporter Carolyn Gusoff, who wrote the book with Beers, his death does not appear to be suspicious.

Beers was not due to speak at Esposito's parole hearing on Wednesday. When he was up for parole the first time, in 2007, she spoke out against him. "When John was sentenced 20 years ago, it was based on him lying to the DA saying that he had never harmed me," she said. "When I went to the parole hearing in 2007, I told the parole board about the abuse that I had sustained at the hands of John — emotional, physical, sexual abuse and rape. Since his prison term was 15 to life, I never thought that he'd be released from prison," she said.

After news broke that Castro had taken in his own life in Ohio, Beers took to her Facebook and Twitter pages. "One more monster is gone! I hope this news gives Amanda, Gina and Michele some piece of mind, and aids in their (hopefully speedy) recovery! Sleep well girls, sleep well!! You're all always on my mind & I'm here if you'd ever like to reach out to me!," she wrote.

Beers received a call with the news about her own abductor from the parole board on Wednesday at about 3:30 p.m.

Late Wednesday night, Beers took to social media, again. "Within 24 hours, we have lost 2 monsters," she wrote.

A married mother-of-two living in central Pennsylvania, she also wrote, "I'm saddened for his remaining family— they lost John a long time ago, but now they've lost him forever."

Asked if the deaths of Castro and Esposito would help give their victims' closure, Beers said she didn't want to speculate about how the Cleveland survivors felt. She said their reactions would each be different and dependent on where they are in recovery.

"For me, I think Esposito's death will help me to close this chapter and move on to bigger and better things — I don't have to worry about the possibility of him being released on parole. I can now completely concentrate on my motivational/inspirational speaking career discussing recovering from trauma," she said.

Mary Bromley, an East Hampton-based psychotherapist who began treating Beers almost immediately after she was found and has remained close with her, said she felt Esposito's death was synchronistic in terms of the Cleveland case.

"I really believe his death was a form of 'giving up,' " Bromley said of Esposito. "He may have followed the Ariel Castro suicide. I believe it was his last gift to Katie."