Nathaniel Kibby, 34, of Gorham, New Hampshire, was ordered held on $1 million cash bail Tuesday at his arraignment on a kidnapping charge in Conway District Court.
Kibby was arrested Monday in his home for allegedly kidnapping 15-year-old Abigail Hernandez while she was walking home from school in Conway, New Hampshire, last October.
Hernandez sat in the front row during Kibby's hearing surrounded by friends and family.
"This girl is stronger than anyone I know. I admire her family's strength during this whole ordeal," Paul Kirsch, a family friend, said.
Kibby's attorney didn't contest the high bail, but said the case is without merit.
"When the facts come out, this case will be entirely different than what you think," attorney Jesse Friedman said.
Hernandez resurfaced on July 20 wearing the same clothes she disappeared in nine months ago.
In a press briefing after the arraignment, the New Hampshire Attorney General credited police, the community and Abby herself for her escape, but they would not say how she escaped or whether she was Kibby's captive the entire time.
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"We learned Sunday might that there was enough evidence to obtain a search warrant," Associate Attorney General Jane Young said.
On Monday, a SWAT team arrested Kibby at his trailer home without incident.
If convicted on the kidnapping charge, Kibby faces a maximum of 7 years in jail. He could face additional charges depending on what police discover in their Search of his home and surrounding property.
Sources have told NECN that Kibby held Hernandez captive in a storage unit behind the house; however, the Attorney General's Office would not confirm.
Kibby's probable cause hearing is set for Aug. 12.
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