Twenty years ago, Central New York was gripped as details were shared about "a dungeon master" holding women captive.

John Jamelske kidnapped and enslaved five people, including children, keeping them for years in an underground bunker behind his home in DeWitt.

Now he could be walking free. Jamelske has served early 19 years in prison and is once again up for parole.

“Most crimes like this, an abduction or sexual assault, kidnapping, some type of even homicide, people usually do in the dark, both literally and figuratively. And this was a crime that was brazenly being committed in plain sight," said Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, who was the prosecutor in the case.

Jack Schmidt, retired from the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, was one of the first to break down Jamelske’s door in October 2002. He went on to investigate the case. 

“I thought, oh my God, what did this child, because the fifth victim was, jeepers, again somewhere between 14 and 16, what in God’s name did she endure? I can still see every step we took inside the house," he said.

Records show that girl was 16. She was able to call her sister from a pay phone, leading to the capture of what people worldwide called the “dungeon master." Schmidt said with that call, Jamelske's 14-year reign of terror and lies came unraveled.

“Jane Doe No. 5 told them she had heard other voices. Her kidnapper had told her that he worked for other higher level bosses and that there were vicious dogs in the house," Schmidt said.

Fitzpatrick and Schmidt said the house was filled with junk and some organized items Jamelske hoarded. Paper products, mac and cheese and more. Both reflect on what they saw in that home two decades ago.

“The further room there was a descripted mattress that would ostensibly serve as a bed for the women," Fitzpatrick said. "There were scrawlings on that wall. Some of the victims had written their names on the wall. And I think, in an effort, in case I die, here this is my testament. I want somebody to remember my name.”

“There were rows on rows on rows of beer cans and bottles on shelves. Literally thousands," Schmidt said.

Both say he's a collector evil enough that he kept calendars on all the women on when they ate, showered and when he raped them. Jamelske was also collecting women of all ages and eethnic backgrounds.

“He was a predator looking for prey. And he decided that five victims, Native American, Latino, Asian, white and African American," Schmidt said.

The New York state Department of Corrections confirms Jamelske is trying for his second attempt at parole this month. Fitzpatrick reminds what incarceration of criminals is for. The state Parole Board is expected to make their decision on Jamelske’s petition by Dec. 24.

“People only talk about rehabilitation. They say well he’s 86, 88 [years old] he’s not going to hurt anybody, go ahead and let him out. They forget the retribution part. The five women he tortured and abused for a decade and a half have a right to retribution.”

Both men are against the possibility of Jamelske ever being paroled.

“What’s the most horrific thing if he gets out? My fear is that the five victims will relive... will worry or look over their shoulders," Schmidt said.

“You can look at it and say, OK how much is enough? And in this particular case, it’s never enough," Fitzpatrick said.