Ariel Castro's captive: 'I told him he was a monster'

Ariel Castro's captive: 'I told him he was a monster'
Marisol Bello, USA TODAY November 5, 2013

....Knight's short stature, spiky red hair and lip and nose piercings belie the backbone of a fighter who can teach others how to survive in the worst of circumstances, say mental health experts who work with trauma victims.

In her first public interview, Knight describes in graphic detail how her kidnapper, Ariel Castro, abused her and tied her up "like a fish."

With apparent poise, she described how Castro abducted her while she was lost trying to get to an appointment. He lured her into his house by telling her he had puppies that he would give her. He tied her up in the basement with rusted chains and put a helmet on her head.

Knight was matter-of-fact as she talked about how Castro tied her up after he lured her into the house....

"I hated him," she said. "I told him he was a monster."....

Psychologists who work with trauma and sexual abuse victims say the Cleveland woman is an example of resiliency.

"She's a survivor," says Charles Figley, professor of disaster mental health at Tulane University and editor of the Encyclopedia of Trauma. He says she took charge during her captivity, bore the brunt of Castro's attacks and survived.

"Now that she's out, she's taking charge again," he says. By telling her story her way, it's clear that Knight doesn't want to be cast as a victim, he says....
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/05/cleveland-kidnap-michelle-knight-dr-phil/3443371/