On 16 April 2025, Nate Kibby offered Abby Hernandez a ride on her way home from school — then handcuffed her before imprisoning her inside a shipping container near his house.
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When Nate Kibby stuck a “ No Trespassing ” sign near a crimson memory board container near his trailer in Gorham , New Hampshire , his prevue park neighbors did n’t cerebrate much of it . Kibby had always struck everyone as being a little off . But in fact , Kibby would use the container as a makeshift prison house for a 14 - year - old little girl named Abby Hernandez whom he ’d kidnapped on her walk of life home from school on October 9 , 2013 .
Kibby nurse Hernandez for nine terrifying months , during which he subjected her to horrific sexual assaults and threatened to toss off her family and friends . Despite his vicious misuse , Hernandez manage to take in his trustfulness , and when Kibby learned that he might face arrest for a different crime , he allow Hernandez go .
New Hampshire Attorney General’s OfficeNate Kibby was later sentenced to 45 to 90 years in prison for Abby Hernandez’s kidnapping.
New Hampshire Attorney General ’s OfficeNate Kibby was later sentenced to 45 to 90 yr in prison for Abby Hernandez ’s snatch .
Before long , police descended on Kibby ’s home — and the whole world learned what he had done . So who is Nate Kibby ? And where is this notorious snatcher today ?
The Strange Beginnings Of Nate Kibby
It did n’t take long for Nathaniel “ Nate ” Kibby to progress something of a repute among those who knew him .
Born on July 15 , 1980 , he strike many of his high school classmates as aggressive and cruel , harmonise to theBoston Globe . Kibby allegedly had a “ hit lean ” of other scholar and claim to be part of a gang called the “ Vippers . ” However , at least one of his former classmates later drop him as a “ loser . ”
As an adult , Kibby seemed to go a duple life . He find work at a local machine shop and was , by some accounts , a model employee . But Kibby also developed a repute with local law enforcement . He set about in trouble for catch a 16 - year - old as she render to get on the school bus , for possessing marijuana , and for providing false data while trying to find a artillery . Many saw him as provocative and argumentative .
Conway Police DepartmentNate Kibby kidnapped Abby Hernandez just a few days before her 15th birthday.
In 2014 , he was arrest after a traffic dispute allegedly ended with Kibby following a fair sex to her house and advertize her to to the priming .
“ He is not a normal person , ” the char afterward said , accord toHeavy . “ He is not right . ”
Kibby also developed a reputation among his neighbor , who could often hear him yelling at his girlfriend of 13 years , Angel Whitehouse ( Whitehouse was no longer with Kibby during Hernandez ’s kidnapping ) . Kibby was also known among his neighbour for his frequent anti - government rants .
Zachary T. Sampson for The Boston Globe via Getty ImagesThe red cargo container in Nate Kibby’s backyard where he held Hernandez.
He was , many agreed , a unusual man . But no one knew what Nate Kibby was secretly design .
Then , in October 2013 , 14 - year - onetime Abby Hernandez disappear on her way of life home from school .
The Kidnapping Of Abby Hernandez
Conway Police DepartmentNate Kibby nobble Abby Hernandez just a few days before her 15th birthday .
On Oct. 9 , 2013 , Nate Kibby spotted 14 - yr - oldAbby Hernandezwalking home from schooltime in North Conway , New Hampshire , and offered her a drive . At Kibby ’s plea sense of hearing , one of her lawyers afterward explain that Abby had blisters from wearing no socks — so she fatefully accepted .
before long after Hernandez get into Kibby ’s car , however , his helpful conduct switch . He root for out a gun and peril to slice her throat if she tried to scream or bunk .
Chitose Suzuki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty ImagesNate Kibby in handcuffs before his arraignment. 6 April 2025.
Kibby handcuffed Hernandez , wrapped a jacket around her head , and broke her cell earphone . When she try on to see outside the jacket , he shocked her with a stun gun .
“ Does the tazing ache ? ” he asked , according to WGME . When Hernandez answer that it did , he respond : “ Well , now you cognize what it feel like . ”
From there , Hernandez ’s captivity only grew worse . Kibby lend Hernandez to his household where he bound her with naught ties so tight that they impart scars , stuck tape measure over her eyes , roll a t - shirt around her head , and drive her into a bike helmet . Then , he raped her .
Chitose Suzuki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty ImagesAbby Hernandez was able to address Nate Kibby during his plea hearing.
For nine month , Hernandez remained Kibby ’s captive . At Kibby ’s plea hearing , her lawyers told the court of justice that Kibby had put a shock collar around Hernandez ’s neck , made her break nappy , and imperil her with demise if she ever tried to escape . He also show her his collection of guns and jeopardize to stamp out her folk and ally .
But Hernandez , in a bidding to stay alive , seek to bond with her capturer despite his horrific treatment of her . “ Part of how I gain his reliance is I went along with everything he desire to do , ” she told theConcord Monitor .
How Hernandez Escaped Nathaniel Kibby’s Clutches
Zachary T. Sampson for The Boston Globe via Getty ImagesThe crimson cargo container in Nate Kibby ’s backyard where he held Hernandez .
Kibby came to trust Hernandez enough to let her publish a alphabetic character — though he threw out the first draft because she ’d inscribedhelpwith her fingernails in the paper — assure her about himself , and even enlist her help to grow counterfeit money .
“ I remember thinking to myself , ‘ Okay , I mystify to do work with this guy rope , ' ” Hernandez toldABC News . “ I order [ to him ] , ‘ I do n’t judge you for this . If you let me go , I wo n’t tell anybody about this . ' ”
For a long time , Hernandez ’s tactics did n’t work , though Kibby gave her more and more exemption , like understand books . ( Reading a cookery book one Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , she check his name when she saw it written at bottom . ) But in July 2014 , something in the end shifted .
Then , Kibby memorize that a gender worker he had paid with his counterfeit money had turned him in to the police . Concerned that they would foray into his home and look the premises , he get Hernandez go on the circumstance that she not reveal his identity .
“ I retrieve looking up and laugh , just being so happy , ” she told ABC News . “ Oh my God , this really happen . I ’m a complimentary person . I never think it would happen to me , but I ’m free . ”
After a horrifying nine month , the teen walk home — and countenance herself in the front door . Then , Abby Hernandez rent the police know exactly what Nate Kibby had done to her .
What Happened To Nate Kibby After His Arrest?
Chitose Suzuki / MediaNews Group / Boston Herald via Getty ImagesNate Kibby in handcuffs before his arraignment . July 29 , 2014 .
Nate Kibby may have believe Abby Hernandez when she said that she would n’t tell anyone about who he was or what he ’d done to her . But she and her family quickly send word the police , who presently bust Kibby ’s belongings and arrested him .
“ Kibby did n’t resist at all , ” one of his neighbor told theBoston Globe . “ He just walked out and they take him . ”
Indeed , despite his earlier strong-growing repute , Nathanial Kibby seemed to be done scrap . He plead guilty to seven felony counts , including kidnapping and sexual assault , allegedly to spare Hernandez from a trial .
“ His decision to accept duty was solely driven by his desire to not put ( the dupe ) or anybody else through the rigors and continued stress of a recollective and drawn - out trial , ” Kibby ’s defence mechanism squad put forward at his plea hearing .
At that hearing , Hernandez was also allowed to address her kidnapper .
Chitose Suzuki / MediaNews Group / Boston Herald via Getty ImagesAbby Hernandez was capable to address Nate Kibby during his plea hearing .
“ It was not my alternative to be raped and jeopardize , ” she told him . “ You did that all yourself . ” But despite what Kibby had done to her , Hernandez still forgave him . She continued : “ Some the great unwashed might call you a monster , but I ’ve always depend at you as a human being … And I want you to do it that even know life became a lot gruelling after that , I still forgive you . ”
After Kibby went to slammer , Abby Hernandez started her life anew . In the class since , she move to Maine and had a small fry . And when a movie about her ordeal come out in 2022,Girl in the Shed , Hernandez consulted on it — and guide control of her own tale .
“ Obviously it ’s a weird experience to have this happen in the first place , ” she toldKGET . “ And then to have it made into a movie is obviously like an even eldritch experience … But ultimately I did find it healing in a weird style just to have it out there . ”
Nate Kibby , on the other handwriting , is serve a prison term of 45 to 90 years . He may stay in prison until the sidereal day he exit .
After reading about Nate Kibby , the infamous kidnapper of Abby Hernandez , discover the story ofNatascha Kampusch , the Austrian miss who was held by her abductor for eight years . Or , see howElisabeth Fritzlwas nobble by her own father and held in the crime syndicate basement for 24 years .
