Shocking claims emerge after a 15 y/o girl missing for 9 months returns home.

UPDATE:

Shocking new claims about what happened during the 9-month disappearance of US teen Abigail Hernandez have emerged, the Daily Mail reports.

Police allege Nathaniel Kibby, 34, confined Ms Hernandez in a sound-proof shipping container on his property over a 9-month period.

The Daily Mail reports that neighbours described the orange shipping box as ‘an above-ground bunker.’

It is now reportedly cordoned off with crime-scene tape.

Kibby, who was arrested and charged at his home in New Hampshire on Monday, appeared for the first time in court today, alongside his legal team. To the surprise of many, alleged victim Ms Hernandez, 15, made an appearance in court alongside her mother and sister, sitting  just metres away from the alleged kidnapper, the Daily Mail reports.

No other suspects are under investigation at this current time.

Kibby, who is being held on US$1 million bail,  is due to make a second court appearance on August 12, where more details of the mysterious disappearance of Abigail Hernandez are thought to be divulged.

If convicted, Kibby could face a sentence of up to seven years, as well as a US$4000 fine, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Previously, Mamamia wrote..

The  arrest came just hours after the mother of Abigail Herdandez spoke out for the first time about her daughter’s mysterious return after nine months away.

Abigail Hernandez mysteriously returned home last Monday but there are so far no answers as to where she was for nine months, or how she returned.

Her mother, Zenya told the US TODAY show that she was determined to find out who is responsible for her disappearance.

Police released a sketch of the man  yesterday wanted in connection to her disappearance – from a description provided by Abigail.

Her mother dismissed rumours that Abigail was pregnant “”The majority of people somehow believe that she was pregnant,” her mum, Zenya said. “She was not. She did not run away. I firmly believe that. As for her knowing the individual, I firmly believe that she did not know the individual.”

She said that when Abigail returned home her physical appearance was a shock.

“She was very thin,”

“She lost a lot of weight, very pale. She had a look in her eyes I’ve never ever seen before, and that’s something that’s haunting me and I think will haunt me the rest of my life.”

Zenya said she had encouraged her daughter to speak to the police but that talking about it had been very “hard on her daughter.”

In a statement released by Abigail overnight she referred to her “release”, an indication that the 15-year old was held captive during her time.

She thanked those who had searched for her saying

“My gratitude is beyond words. It’s an incredible feeling to be home and I believe in my heart that your hopes and prayers played a major role in my release. Thank you all for the welcome home”

We will keep you updated.

Mamamia previously reported

A teenager missing for nine months has mysteriously returned home creating more questions for investigators.

287 days after 15-year-old Abigail Hernandez went missing from her hometown of North Conway in New Hampshire in the US, her mother posted this message to her Facebook page.

“Abby IS HOME!! She is safely home with her mom and sister and is resting. Zenya is beyond relieved, over joyed and soooooo happy! Again, we want to thank everyone for everything. Your shares, posts, hanging fliers. Your support and encouragement helped to keep us going. LE is planning on doing a press release tomorrow and I will post video as soon as its available. Thank you again!!!! We have her home!”

The 15-year-old was the subject of an intense search since her disappearance on October the 9th last year.

With posts on the Facebook page “Bring Abby home” speculating she was being “manipulated and/or coerced and could be being held against her will.”

She was last seen leaving school a few weeks before her 15th birthday.

Family and friends feared the worst and a nationwide search ensued.

“We are leveraging every tool, every technique, and every resource we have in hopes of bringing young Abby home to her family,” Kiernan Ramsey, an FBI special agent said at the time.

Roadblocks were set up and a minute’s silence was held at her school’s football finals.

The mystery deepened when several weeks later her mother received a letter from her; the details were not released to the public, but police continued to treat Hernandez’s case as a missing persons investigation.

On Sunday it was announced the missing teen was reunited with her family — but no answers were provided as to where she had been for nine long months.

“We have said from the beginning and we continue to believe that this was a 14-year-old girl who went missing in October,” Associate Attorney General Jane Young told ABC News. “She was gone for nine months. She didn’t have the means to orchestrate and facilitate this on her own.”

For her family though it is simply enough that she is home. Her mother says the relief is overwhelming.

“Today we are the happiest people on earth,” her mother told officials when she and her daughter were reunited.