Hannah Anderson allowed the TODAY show on Thursday to ask questions about her abduction, including why Hannah was in contact with her kidnapper James Lee DiMaggio during the day of her disappearance.
Hannah, 16, reportedly has been hesitant about speaking to the media, expressing her discontent about how the news has possibly distorted truth on her account on Ask.fm, a social media site that allows its users to post anonymous questions.
However, the media scrutiny continued, and Hannah wanted to thank everyone who helped her return safe, allowing the TODAY show an exclusive interview on Thursday to air her account of the events.
One of the first things Hannah wanted to clear up was about the contact she had with DiMaggio the day of her kidnapping. Many were speculating as to what Hannah and DiMaggio said to each other in the text message converstation.
"And he didn't know the address or what - like, where I was. So I had to tell him the address and tell him that I was gonna be in the gym and not in front of the school," Hannah told the TODAY show. "Just so he knew where to come get me."
Next on the agenda, Hannah wanted to explain the letters she exchanged with DiMaggio a year ago, telling the TODAY show she was going through a rough patch in her relationship with her mother.
"Me and [DiMaggio] would talk about how to deal with it," she said. "And I'd tell him how I felt about it. And he helped me through it. They weren't anything bad. They're just to help me through tough times."
Hannah took the time during her interview to thank the investigators that worked on her case, the AMBER Alert system and the four horseback riders who saved her life by a chance encounter.
"I'd like to say thank you. Because without them, I probably wouldn't be here right now," Hannah said, referring to the riders.
DiMaggio is accused of torturing and killing Hannah's mother and brother, then setting his house on fire.
The 16-year-old is preparing to bury her mother Christina Anderson, 44, and 8-year-old brother Ethan Anderson this weekend. She described her brother as having a big heart, and her mother as the woman who instilled strength in her.
Hannah is focusing on going to school, dancing, but most importantly, moving past the tragic events that occurred this month.
"In the beginning, I was a victim," she said. "But now knowing everyone out there's helping me, I consider myself a survivor instead."
