A video of Ohio kidnap victims Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight thanking their supporters has been released.
The survivors appeared on camera and spoke for the first time after their horrific ordeal.
In the video, Amanda Berry speaks first, followed by Gina DeJesus and her mother and father. Lastly, Michelle Knight speaks. All three girls look happy as they thank the community for their love and support after escaping from their captor Ariel Castro.
Amanda Berry: "First and foremost, I want everyone to know how happy I am to be with my family and my friends, it has been unbelievable. I want to thank everyone who has helped me and my family through this entire ordeal. Everyone who has been there to support us has been a blessing, to have such an outpouring of love and kindness. I am getting stronger each day and having my privacy has been helping immensely. I ask that everyone continues to respect our privacy and give us time to have a normal life."
Question: "Gina, if you could say something to each and every person out there who contributed money to your funds to help you, what would you say to them?"
Gina DeJesus: "I would say thank you for the support."
Gina's Father Felix DeJesus: "I would like to say thank you to everybody who donated to the courage fund for these girls, and all of the bodies, everybody who donated. I also would like to thank the family for having so much passions and strength and the strength to go on with us."
Gina's Mother Nancy Ruiz: "I would like to thank personally thank the courage fund, everybody in general, and I am also saying my community and my neighbors. Every single one, they know who they are. Awesome. So people, I'm talking not just about people but parents in general that does have a loved one missing, please do me one big favor. Count on your neighbors. Don't be afraid to ask for the help, because help is available."
Michelle Knight: "Thank you everyone for your love support and donations, which help me build a brand new life. I just want everyone to know I'm doing just fine. I may have been through hell and back, but I am strong enough to walk through hell with a smile on my face. And with my head held high and my feet firmly on the ground, walking hand and hand with my best friend, I will not let the situation define who I am. I will define the situation. I don't want to be consumed by hatred. With that being said, we need to take a leap of faith and know that God is in control. We have been hurt by people, but we need to rely on God as being the judge. God has a plan for all of us, the plan that he gave me was to help others that have been in the same situations as I have been in. To know that there is someone out there to lean on and to talk to. I'm in control of my own destiny with the guidance of God. I have no problem spreading how I feel inside. Be positive, learn that it is important to give then to receive. Thank you for all of your prayers. I am looking forward to my brand new life. Thank you."
The video was filmed July 2 and was released at midnight by a public relations agency on the women's behalf with the cooperation of their lawyers.
The kidnappings of Berry, DeJesus and Knight had haunted the small town in Cleveland, Ohio for ten years. The three disappeared between 2002-2004 and all have been held captive by Ariel Castro for about ten years before they were dramatically rescued after Berry managed to escape his house of horrors.
This footage is the first footage of all three girls together, showing their faces for the first time, to show the public that they have been recovering well since their ordeal.
Their captor, Ariel Castro, is accused of 329 counts of kidnapping and rape charges. He pleaded non-guilty and remains in jail on $8 million bond.
He also faces charges of aggravated murder after he forced his victims to miscarry by beating them when they fell pregnant by him.
According to state prosecutor Tim McGinty, a meeting is planned for July 11 to discuss whether the death penalty should be sought for the horrific crimes committed by Castro.
The 52-year-old kidnapper was arrested on May 6 shortly after Berry's escape.
Knight, 32, has been held captive by Ariel Castro for the longest time among the three victims - a total of 11 years. She had required additional medical care as she was found with facial injuries and had suffered at least five miscarriages while in captivity. She was reportedly starved and punched in her stomach whenever she fell pregnant by Castro.
