Abby Hernandez, a teenage girl who was kidnapped and reappeared at her family home after nine months, wearing the same clothes she had when she went missing, shared that cooperating with her captor was instrumental in saving her life.
At the age of 14, Abby was abducted while walking home from school in North Conway, New Hampshire, leaving authorities puzzled about her whereabouts. The intense search for Abby in 2013 became one of the largest in the state’s history as the community grappled with the mystery surrounding the Kennett High School freshman’s fate, unaware that a local man was responsible for her disappearance.
Nathaniel Kibby had taken Abby and held her captive just 30 miles north of Conway, locking her in a storage container where she endured prolonged sexual abuse and torture. Abby, recounting her ordeal to ABC, shared her immediate instinct to establish a connection with her captor, stating, “I remember thinking to myself ‘Okay, I got to work with this guy.’ I said (to him) ‘I don’t judge you for this. If you let me go, I won’t tell anybody about this’.”
By building trust with her captor, Abby was eventually allowed certain freedoms, including the opportunity to engage in activities like producing counterfeit money at his residence. This strategic approach played a crucial role in gaining her captor’s confidence, as she complied with his demands.
Clinical psychologist Rebecca Bailey commended Abby’s extraordinary tactics, highlighting her ability to strategize and problem-solve even in a state of terror. Abby’s method of engaging with her captor led to a pivotal moment when she discovered his identity through a book he had given her.
Feeling pressured by an impending police investigation related to counterfeiting, Kibby decided to release Abby months later. After making her promise not to disclose his identity, he drove her back to North Conway, where she was initially taken, and set her free. Abby, overwhelmed with relief, reflected on her newfound freedom, expressing gratitude for her release.
Abby’s bravery in providing authorities with Kibby’s information led to his guilty plea on multiple felony charges, resulting in a lengthy prison sentence. The former FBI profiler, Brad Garrett, commended Abby’s resilience in handling her abduction, emphasizing the importance of establishing a connection with the perpetrator.
Despite the traumatic experience, Abby has emerged with a renewed zest for life, cherishing simple joys like sunlight and fresh air. She encourages others to hold onto hope even in the darkest moments, emphasizing the resilience that hope brings in challenging times.
