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Hostage survivor breaks silence 20 years later

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    Kidnapping victim speaks out on ordeal

  • Duration 7:28
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We're keeping a close eye on new life and death hostage situation Alabama right now we're a little boy has been held captive in an underground bunker.

We they suspected killer for four days police say the -- garner.

Has been crying out for his parents and of course he's terrified this case is eerily similar to another kidnapping in New York twenty years ago.

When the ten year old Katie Beers was kidnapped and locked in an underground box for seventeen.

Days -- -- Gallagher has more on this story Trace.

While in an underground box you talked about Merck KG as it were was five feet by seven feet it was dark it was damp.

And ten year old Katie Beers was often change.

Inside that box the FBI called it a hell hole a real life silence of the lambs.

Her abductor was a construction worker and family friend named John -- the Zito who hit her.

And raped her and neglected her still she forced herself to stay awake trying to convince as to Zito to release her seventeen days later.

He finally did he remains in prison to this day.

Here he was back during his sentencing watch.

-- -- -- -- -- -- And -- mayor says as horrifying as that ordeal was it was the best thing that happened to her because it finally rescued her from -- years of emotional and sexual abuse at home.

Repeatedly sexually assaulted by her god mother's husband living in a filthy lice infested home.

After her rescue in 1993 she went to live with Foster parents who sheltered her from the media.

-- call if you will the weeks and weeks the media how did this girl waiting outside her school finally.

Finally they gave up and for twenty years Katie Beers has not said anything publicly at all about this case -- And now she's finally speaking out.

That's exactly right trees and we are about to talk to her because Katie Beers knows firsthand.

What this little five year old boy is going through she's breaking her silence now in his new book called buried memories Katie Beers -- -- and she's joining us now.

Via Skype hi Katie.

I don't worry -- -- -- well and we're happy to have you with -- to tell your story to share your thoughts.

As you hear of this horrible nightmare that this little five year old boy in Alabama is going through what.

What were you thinking today when you heard little drips and drabs of what he's -- -- And fortunately did not hear about this story -- yesterday I had been in LA all week doing.

I'm things were buried memories.

I was horrified.

When I heard about this poor little -- -- five years old.

And I can't even imagine honestly what he's going through being -- -- young not knowing his adopted her.

Possibly seeing his school bus driver killed in front of him.

Katie we were talking about how you were abducted when you're actually nine years old you -- your tenth birthday in that dungeon -- we just showed.

What can you tell us about your experience from those seventeen days.

The seventeen days.

I what is it deprived of -- -- and I -- Human contact ailing human contact and I had was it John -- -- and my doctor.

I was deprived.

Nourishing food and I -- was deprived.

Normal everyday things that everybody takes for granted being able to brush your -- shower.

I mean he is -- -- things like that it was horrific car buying and how did you get through it.

I'm in my case I knew my doctor I had known -- through all of my Hawaii.

This thing that kept to meet -- what is it that I knew him I didn't know I in my heart I really didn't think that he is going to have.

Kill me I knew eventually I would get out whether it was and two weeks five years or when I was eighteen and I'm nobody knew him.

But the thing that kept me going -- was it thinking about my future and just thinking about the things that I wanted to do with my life.

And were you able to reason win your abductor and and plead for mercy.

I want to be able to read and my doctor and I was able to do that because my doctor wasn't patent trial.

Even the doctor.

Seems like it abduct her at the opportune.

He almost.

Didn't I don't.

Feel for the stories -- -- I don't feel he pinpointed eaten exactly I think that.

He was just looking for a young child here -- -- able to fight back again.

-- and it's -- so hard for us to know obviously what's going on in.

Has Asperger's syndrome may be he has ADHD it's hard to know.

If his captor we'll show any mercy or if -- is even able to reason with him we have heard that -- can -- for some coloring books.

Some crayons and we just pray pray that this scenario turns out all right.

How did you get free Katie.

I cannot -- finally my doctor gave in to end the police not -- sitting on his house essentially.

I'm I had the day before -- just zero had -- -- me I told him that I wasn't feeling well.

And and I think dying manipulated given away by asking him questions every day about my future.

-- intentions -- work to keep me until the cops out looking for me.

And try to build the future it means.

Even the doctor I don't think is looking for long term fortunately -- hand.

And Katie how often did those seventeen days -- you're in captivity come back to you is -- daily.

Re playing in your head or have you repressed much of it.

What I don't come until I started breeding buried memories I have -- a lot of men when I started -- buried memories.

I had to dig dig everything back up and the almost relive it.

And now that I and decorating buried memories I can focus on my teacher and spoke about the good focused on my husband my kids my -- -- And -- what was your recovery like I mean once you were set free you were only ten years old.

How did you emotionally recover.

I'm years if they're being and I have to it.

Credit my parents immensely my -- -- parents they gave me childhood that I never thought that I would be able to have day let me run around in the streets and gay and -- -- needles and gave leash structure things that I didn't have growing up.

And Katie Evian last I know that that is the silver lining here is that you.

Somehow had been able to turn this horrific ordeal.

Into something positive for yourself because you were able to go to a loving and generous and beautiful Foster care family so.

So that's beautiful your book again is buried memories it's Katie Beers a story we thank you so much.

For sharing your personal story -- us and giving us some insight into this hostage situation Thanksgiving.

Thank you Alison.

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