SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

Ohio kidnapping victim forgives captor

Michelle Knight, one of three women held in an Ohio house for a decade, has said on television that she has forgiven her captor.

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Skip to article content

One of the three women held captive for nearly a decade in a US house before escaping last year says she forgives the man who kidnapped and tortured her all those years.

Michelle Knight, interviewed on Monday on NBC's Today show, said Ariel Castro deserves forgiveness because she'd want to be forgiven if she did wrong, and "that's the way of life".

She added, "He is a human being and every human being needs to be loved," even if he did wrong.

Tuesday is the anniversary of the escape from the Cleveland, Ohio house by Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus. Knight, 33, said she doesn't see much of the other two women, saying "we're all now living in our own way".

Knight - who has a book coming out on Tuesday - said she's a singer who just recorded a song, and she's also training to be a boxer.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

The 53-year-old Castro pleaded guilty in August to hundreds of charges and committed suicide in prison.

Knight said in the interview that she was surprised when Castro killed himself, wondering "why would he hurt his children like that?"

DeJesus was 14, Berry was 16 and Knight was 20 when they disappeared separately between 2002 and 2004. They were rescued from Castro's run-down house May 6, 2013, after Berry broke through a screen door.

Berry and DeJesus are collaborating with two Washington Post reporters on a book due out next year. Charles Ramsey, the man credited with helping the women escape from the house, also has written a book.


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world