A young girl who was abducted and later reappeared at her family residence after nine months, still dressed in the same attire she was taken in, has disclosed that cooperating with her abductor was crucial for her survival.
Abby Hernandez was a mere 14 years old when she was seized while returning home from school in North Conway, New Hampshire, leaving law enforcement puzzled about her disappearance.
The quest for Abby in 2013 escalated into one of the most extensive searches in the state’s history as the local community grappled with the unknown fate of the Kennett High School freshman. Unbeknownst to many, a local man was solely responsible for her vanishing act.
The chilling reality was that Nathaniel Kibby had kidnapped Abby and confined her just 30 miles north of Conway, locking her up in a storage container where she endured continuous sexual abuse and torment.
In an interview with ABC, Abby disclosed that she immediately activated her survival instincts upon being taken: “I recall telling myself ‘Okay, I have to cooperate with this guy.’ I told him, ‘I don’t blame you for this. If you release me, I won’t disclose anything about this situation.'”
“I remember never finishing my prayers,” Abby admitted. “I didn’t want to conclude my prayers because I didn’t want to be abandoned by God. I truly desired to stay alive.”
Through a strategic approach, Abby succeeded in building a rapport with her captor. “I informed him: ‘You don’t appear to be a bad person. Everyone makes mistakes. If you let me go, I won’t reveal this to anyone.'”
This tactic proved effective, leading to a gradual increase in trust from her abductor, who even permitted her to help produce counterfeit currency at his residence. Abby recounted, “Part of how I gained his trust, I suppose, was… I complied with whatever he desired.”
Clinical psychologist Rebecca Bailey commended Abby’s extraordinary approach, stating, “It’s remarkable that she was strategizing. It’s truly exceptional and demonstrates her capability to transcend her state of terror and problem-solve.”
Abby’s pivotal decision came when her captor started providing her with reading materials, and one day, she stumbled upon his name written in a cookbook he had given her. “I asked, ‘Who’s Nate Kibby?’ And he hesitated before asking ‘How do you know my name?'”
Eventually, fearing an imminent police visit related to a counterfeiting inquiry, Kibby set Abby free months later. Lauren Munday, who claimed to have encountered Kibby online, mentioned that he handed her three counterfeit $50 bills to assist with a hotel payment, but one of the bills turned out to be fake.
Munday informed 20/20, “So, I told him, ‘Whatever illegal activity you’re conducting in your basement, you better clean it up immediately, as they are coming for you.'”
Kibby made Abby promise to keep his identity confidential, then drove her back to North Conway and released her at the spot she was taken from nine months earlier. Clad in the same clothes she wore during her disappearance, she walked the remaining mile to her mother’s residence.
“I recall looking up and laughing, feeling immensely joyful,” Abby expressed. “Oh my God, this actually happened. I’m a liberated individual. I never imagined it would happen to me, but I’m free.”
Abby provided the authorities with Kibby’s identity and location, leading to his guilty plea on seven felony charges, including kidnapping and sexual assault. He is presently serving a 45 to 90-year sentence outside of New Hampshire.
“If I were to compile a guide on how victims should handle abductions… the initial chapter would revolve around Abby,” remarked former FBI profiler and ABC News consultant Brad Garrett. “It always involves forming a connection with the perpetrator.”
Despite the life-altering experience, Abby has developed a newfound appreciation for life: “Whenever I step outdoors now, I consciously savor the sunlight and fresh air. It feels different in my lungs… I make a conscious effort to never take that for granted.
“Just don’t lose hope… even when you feel like you’ve lost everything, hope is something that nobody can take away from you. Just hold onto it. It will keep you moving forward.”