Cleveland Kidnap Trio Go Separate Ways to Tell Survival Story
Oct. 22, 2013 — -- The three Cleveland women who survived a decade of imprisonment and torture together are going separate ways to tell their harrowing story.
Amanda Berry, 27, and Gina DeJesus, 23, announced a book contract this week, but Michelle Knight, 32, declined to be part of the deal to relive their 10 year in captivity at the hands of Ariel Castro.
Instead, Knight will tell her story first in a three-part appearance on Dr. Phil McGraw's show, which will air beginning Nov. 4.
"We wanted her to be a part of it. We offered it to her," said James Wooley of the Jones Day law firm, who represents Berry and DeJesus, and negotiated the book deal. "She met with the people and then she made the decision to go her own way and we wish her the best."
"From our perspective, it was very amicable," Wooley said. "We were trying to keep some unity with it, but we don't represent her and she's made her own decision."
Knight's attorney did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Wooley explained why the women have decided to go public with the details of their hellish imprisonment.
"It's being told anyways. And told and re-told everywhere," Wooley told ABCNews.com. "The way the case has been handled, the reality is that it's out there. They decided to take control of it at this point."
The book by Berry and DeJesus will be written by Pulitzer-Prize winning writer Mary Jordan of the Washington Post. Jordan grew up on the west side of Cleveland and is a close friend of Wooley. Jordan indicated it will take time to do the book.
Knight will be the first to tell the story of what went on in Castro's dungeons.
"Knight recalls the day-to-day details of her decade in captivity in a manner that can be described as passionate, moving and poignant," a news release from the Dr. Phil show said. "She is the self-proclaimed, most hated victim in the house, and according to Knight, suffered the most abuse at the hands of Castro."
"Michelle Knight's story of horror and courageous survival almost defies description and has changed me like no other in 12 years of doing the show," Dr. Phil said in the statement. "Her dark journey from victim to victor is beyond compelling."
Castro pleaded guilty to charges of rape, kidnapping, torture and imprisonment earlier this year, after Berry escaped and called for help.
PHOTOS: Inside Ariel Castro's House of Horrors
Castro pleaded guilty to 937 counts, including kidnapping, rape, assault and aggravated murder and was sentenced to life in prison without parole plus 1,000 years by an Ohio Judge on Aug 1. He was found dead in his jail cell on Sept. 3.
