A young girl who was taken and later reappeared at her home after nine months, still in the same outfit she was wearing when she vanished, has shared that cooperating with her abductor was key to her survival.
Abby Hernandez was only 14 when she was grabbed while walking home from school in North Conway, New Hampshire, leaving authorities baffled about her whereabouts.
The search for Abby in 2013 evolved into one of the largest operations in the state’s history as the community grappled with the mystery surrounding the fate of the Kennett High School freshman. Unbeknownst to many, a local man was solely responsible for her disappearance.
Nathaniel Kibby had taken Abby and held her captive just 30 miles north of Conway in a storage container where she endured severe sexual abuse and torment.
During an interview with ABC, Abby recounted how she immediately started strategizing after being taken: “I recall telling myself, ‘I need to cooperate with this man.’ I told him, ‘I don’t blame you for this. If you release me, I won’t disclose anything about this,'” as reported by the Mirror US.
“I recall that I never concluded my prayers with ‘amen’,” Abby admitted. “I didn’t want to stop praying because I didn’t want to be alone. I just truly desired to survive.”
Abby managed to build a rapport with her abductor as part of her strategy. “I informed him: ‘You don’t seem like a bad person. Everyone makes mistakes. If you set me free, I won’t reveal this to anyone.'”
This approach paid off, and he started to trust her more, eventually allowing her to counterfeit money in his residence. Abby stated, “In gaining his trust, I simply complied with his wishes.”
Clinical psychologist Rebecca Bailey commended Abby’s extraordinary tactics, noting her ability to think critically and overcome her state of terror.
Abby’s decision became crucial when her captor began giving her books to read, leading her to discover 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 a police visit due to a counterfeiting inquiry, Kibby released Abby months later. Lauren Munday, who claimed to have met Kibby online, mentioned receiving counterfeit money from him, leading to a confrontation.
Kibby made Abby promise not to disclose his identity, then drove her back to North Conway where she had been taken nine months earlier. She walked the final mile to her mother’s home in the same clothes she wore when she disappeared.
“I remember looking up and laughing, feeling so joyful,” Abby recounted. “Wow, this really happened. I’m free. I never imagined it would happen to me, but I’m free.”
Abby provided the police with Kibby’s details, leading to his admission of guilt on multiple charges, including kidnapping and sexual assault. He is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence outside of New Hampshire.
Former FBI profiler and ABC News consultant Brad Garrett praised Abby’s handling of the situation, emphasizing the importance of connecting with the perpetrator.
Despite the trauma she endured, Abby has developed a newfound appreciation for life. “Whenever I step outside now, I make a conscious effort to cherish the sunlight and fresh air. It feels different in my lungs… I never take it for granted.”
“Never lose hope… even when it seems like everything is lost, hope is something no one can take from you. Hold on to that. It will keep you moving forward.”