October 7, 2011 9:45 AM

Amanda Knox: I was sexually harassed in prison

(CBS News) 

Amanda Knox is revealing that during her four-year ordeal behind bars she was sexually harassed by a high-ranking Italian prison administrator, "48 Hours Mystery" correspondent Peter Van Sant reported on "The Early Show."

Knox returned to her home in Seattle this week after an Italian appeals court overturned her conviction in the murder of her British roommate in 2007.

A letter written by Knox gives details of the manipulation and sexual intimidation she says she endured while in prison.

For Amanda Knox, freedom comes at a hefty cost

"We learn about sexual harassment inside prison where an administrator would take her up to his office alone at night and say a number of inappropriate things to her, and that left Amanda terrified," Van Sant said on "The Early Show" in advance of a report to air on Saturday night's "48 Hours Mystery,"

Check out a preview of "Amanda Knox: The untold story"

Complete coverage: Amanda Knox comes home

Photos: Amanda's homecoming

Viewers will hear from Amanda's father, Curt Knox, in the special report. He spoke with Van Sant Wednesday in Seattle, telling him about his daughter's last moments of incarceration and her first days of freedom.

That final journey began earlier this week in Perugia - inside a tense courtroom when the verdict was read. And at first, Amanda Knox and her family didn't quite realize what had just happened.

Curt Knox told Van Sant, "I watched Amanda. And I saw her slump. And I went, 'No.' And then our attorney that speaks English turned around and said, 'She's free.' And I'll tell ya - couldn't be - couldn't be better."

Van Sant said to Curt Knox, "Unbelievable moment."

"Yup," he said. "It's a nightmare period. And we've now kind of woken up and realized that the nightmare's over.

"I lost one of my daughters for a while,' Curt Knox said. "It's not gonna happen again."

When asked if he could believe that Amanda Knox had been freed, Curt Knox said, "I'm still pinchin' myself."

Van Sant asked, "Does Amanda understand that her story grabbed the attention of the entire world, that literally millions of people came to care for her?"

"I think she's beginning to understand that," he replied. "But I think the real first, you know, hit on that was, you know, that press conference when she came to Seattle. I think it really - it really was something that hit her hard, you know, that so many people cared."

At that press conference on Tuesday, Amanda Knox told reporters, "I'm really overwhelmed right now. My family is the most important thing right now, and I just want to go and be with them."

Van Sant asked Amanda's dad, "What sets her off? What makes her emotional?"

Curt Knox said, "Well, just the realization that she's no longer in prison and she's now home. It's huge when you've been in prison for four years for something you didn't do in a foreign country."

So what does Amanda want to do with her life next? Finish her degree, according to her father.

"She, maybe in five years, she may be, you know, an advocate for people that have been wrongfully convicted and trying to have them feel what she felt and let it be known that there still is a light at the end of the tunnel," Curt Knox said/

Van Sant said, "She suddenly has control in her life again."

Curt Knox said of his daughter, "She's almost kind of reborn in a way. I mean, living for four years inside a concrete and steel, you know, prison, and now being able to kind of just look around, smell the air and - and just do what she wants to do, hopefully when she wants to do it, it makes a huge difference."

Van Sant added on "The Early Show" that Amanda Knox can't do everything she wants to do - at least not quite yet. She's become one of the most recognizable faces in the world. Van Sant said her father told him that she would love to do simple things again, such as go out to her favorite places, have an ice cream and visit friends. However, she has not yet set foot in public because of all the news crews and paparazzi camped outside the house - just waiting to take that first picture.

"48 Hours Mystery" airs Saturday night at 10 p.m ET/9 p.m. CT, with a special look back on the Amanda Knox case. Check out a preview of "Amanda Knox: The untold story now.

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by Kendallthegirl October 18, 2011 5:02 PM EDT
Oh look. Another white girl is set free and an innocent black man is murdered by the state of Georgia. I'm not here to question Amanda's innocence. Just pointing out how the media gives more attention to pretty white girls (IE Amanda Knox and Casey Anthony) than they do POC.
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by dparks2010 October 17, 2011 3:57 PM EDT
What happened, Foxy Knoxy; I thought you liked the 'freaky' stuff?..
Maybe next time you're in Italy, you won't run around partying and having roommates show up dead?..
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by liberalmike October 15, 2011 7:58 PM EDT
Well here's a thought, someone killed that girl and I personally believe Amanda had a lot of involvement.

A killer just walked free imho, yet most are fooled by her innocent looking demeanor.

Sounds to me like this women is into some wild and kinky sexual activities that her momma surely didn't teach her.
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by PourpaixPourpaix October 10, 2011 12:26 PM EDT
Let's not forget that in the minds of little Princesses, sexual harassment is a term to be used as a weapon. To 90% of the women in America, any term used by a man in the presence of a woman that does not resemble subservience and hero worship towards the woman is deemed "inappropriate". And when the man doesn't actually say the wrong thing, it's easy enough for the woman to make it up. They haven't my sympathy until they can come up with something tangible ...... the plight of the chronic liars.
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by 88Ronin October 10, 2011 1:49 PM EDT
Sounds like your mother did a number on you. Seek psychiatric care.
by rashomon66 October 10, 2011 8:55 PM EDT
PourpaixPourpaix
Misogyny is a central part of sexist prejudice and ideology and, as such, is an important basis for the oppression of females in male-dominated societies.
by caseyhue5 October 9, 2011 9:57 PM EDT
@wmotley1 instead of insulting me why don't you just think about it... Really think like a human being an analyze. Are you saying there is no doubt in you mind that she has not one shred of guilt in her bones. Give me a break!! Nobody can be that stupid..
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by caseyhue5 October 9, 2011 10:04 PM EDT
Disregard... I wrote this twice...
by johnwinters96 October 11, 2011 12:55 PM EDT
Talking of stupidity, how about this: ''The 2 that were free should be back in prison for being accessories''

Are you seriously suggesting that Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were accessories on the wrist of a small-time pot dealer/drifter/burglar? Which university did you go to? Oh no don't tell me, the university of life or something. Well Amanda and Raff attend institutions of real academic achievement and do not become accessories to murders carried out by desperate drifters suddenly one evening no matter how many casual contingencies take place between them during that evening. Not forgetting of course, that Rudy, Raff, and Amanda (Amanda and Raff being virtual strangers to Rudy), would have had to meet up, go through their casual contingencies, plan and suddenly murder someone together in the space of two hours.

That isn't stupidity. It's bullshi#.
by mryoubrian October 9, 2011 9:17 PM EDT
Amanda is guilty as all hell. Period.

Take it from a former military investigator- the first thing that they teach you in investigations IS TO LOOK FOR WHAT IS 1. Most common, 2. most reasonable, and 3.most logical.

Amanda--- 1. Never cried over the other roommates death.
2. Never cried till she got before a judge and then she cried fro herself.
3. Never to the police that she was scared for her life.
4. Never shouted in dismay at the news of the death.
5. Never said she "missed" her roommate.
6. Amanda stood outside the apartment and chose to spend her time putting her tongue down her boyfriends throat instead of shedding a tear.( she was making out with boyfriend while the police were putting up crime tape.)
7. Never begged the prosecution and judge to find the real killer before someone else is hurt.
8. She never demanded to know what happened in that apartment that night.
9. She never said it was a shame that the roommate died so young and violently.......

I will end it here just to be polite. I could go on for hours more.

Her responses and actions were virtually all abnormal reactions or actions following an event like this. They were almost all illogical and not what you would expect a reasonable person to do.

She may not have done the killing but she was in on the murder and knows alot more than she is telling. People rat out others for a lesser sentence all the time (especially when they are innocent). They only stay tight lipped when they are just as guilty or they fear they are an accessory to murder.

She through blame without any details. She got away with murder.
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by caseyhue5 October 9, 2011 10:11 PM EDT
I agree with your comments.. Isn't it ironic that she also realizes how the media attention is sinking in. That she wasn't fully aware of the attention.. Right?? She knows. Also she wasn't in the US less than 5 days an she hit right to the media. If it was me I couldn't face the media I would be in therapy or something an would need a lot more time before speaking with anyone. Especially if I was harassed by the Italian administrator. Here comes the money.. Ms.Knox.. Huh?? I never paid attention to the Italian courts when they called her a She-Devil boy!!! I sure am now!!!
by eyeinsky October 10, 2011 4:53 AM EDT
So, let's look for what is 1. most common 2. most reasonable 3. most logical

DNA from only 1 person, Rudy Guede, was in the room
DNA was described as being ALL OVER the room
So, if a cleansing effort had taken place, Guede's would have been removed

Guede fled.

Amanda Knox stayed, which is what an innocent person would do if they
have nothing to fear.

The prosecutor has a history of seeing "Satanic" influence and is also in charge of the investigation.

Amanda Knox was questioned without a lawyer present in a foreign country with a foreign language.

Clearly, the most logical scenario is the prosecutor saw the crime thru his "satan glasses" where everything looks like satan, even the sky, and then used his widely reaching power as prosecutor, detective, etc to force the facts to fit his theory.

What's more "LOGICAL"? Girl meets dude, stays at his house, comes home to find a ROOMATE dead or Girl worships the devil, has orgy, and flies around the room with her magical witch powers leaving NO DNA to kill a girl for sexual pleasure, then decides to hang out in Italy just to rub it in.

Your analysis above is based entirely on what YOU determine to be appropriate EMOTIONAL responses to a situation. First of all, the girl was a ROOMATE. Not a sister, life long best friend, or even family pet. So who is to determine the amount of "crying" required? Second, who is to say she never cried? She was reported to have mourned at home with her boyfriend and not at a police station. Seems reasonable to me, especially considering SHOCK and the time it takes to grieve.

Regarding never "said" or "demanded"... how do you know? Were you there? Maybe she said it in English and a translator wasn't present. Or maybe she said it inside to herself because she knew no one would understand her language.

Also, it is LOGICAL to believe a person to continue proclaiming innocence if actually INNOCENT.
"Ratting someone out, especially if they are innocent" is the most absurd upside down nonsense I've heard. Maybe innocents are forced because people are so willing to convict an innocent to have some sense of justice or resolution.

Convicting an innocent is not justice. It's injustice. Someone better be DAMN sure. This woman has had 4 years stolen from her life IN ADDITION to the victim's loss of life. I see TWO injustices that need to be settled and only one has been. Rudy Guede is behind bars, serving his sentence. Who cares what color he is?? Does being a certain race exclude him from the ability to leave DNA or commit a crime?

Your logical is unreasonable nonsense. Thankfully you are a FORMER "military investigator", which I find hard to believe. Stop watching actors on television as a judge to how someone should react. They are paid to enhance drama.
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by hairynews October 8, 2011 11:12 PM EDT
Thanks to Italys conduct in this case lots of people are staying away from that country. Hold you for over a year without charges? Torture? No food or water? No translator? No Lawyer? No call to USA Embassey as required by law? Forced to sign a statement in another language after 15 hours of interrogation in broken English? Down the block the local highschool cancelled a trip to the land that beats girls, Italy and are going to France instead. Italy lost over 400 tourists on that trip alone, keep up your 3rd world act.
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by GOPeconomicterror October 9, 2011 6:43 AM EDT
Sounds like Gitmo, except for the 183 waterboarding sessions.
by pococolo October 9, 2011 4:26 PM EDT
Italy's wonderful, full of beauty, art, history and many, many good people. Learn a little Italian. Follow sage advice and do drugs. Keep a clear head. If someone in your orb is murdered, go ahead of the country if you don't know what happened. If you want to help the police, talk to the embassy first and get a lawyer. Take precaution but GO to Italy. Almost all tourists have great experiences and come back knowing more about the world. I believe Amanda was railroaded but she is free now. In the end, the Italian justice system worked for her, and she made some mistakes. She was zonked on drugs so she didn't have a clear memory of events. She went to the police without representation and she lied about her and Meredith's drug use and signed a document implicating and innocent man and putting herself at the scene during the murder, which I believe was false, but still. She should have taken better care to protect herself. Her story is an important cautionary tale for strangers in strange lands, but no reason not to experience fantastic Italy, it's culture, it's magic.
by unclebernies October 8, 2011 7:08 PM EDT
It's not hard to beleive that happened. I'm suprised it didn't go further into rape or beatings.
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by GOPeconomicterror October 9, 2011 6:43 AM EDT
Yeah, they could have made videos like at Abu Gharib.
by bluedav32 October 8, 2011 6:45 PM EDT
I dont know . Something about this girl does not sit right with me.
She is in hiding from the very american media that saved her from prison and doing a good job at it. Doesnt it seem the media is trying to force us to believe she is totally innocent? Especially Elizabeth Vargas. Yet shes in the same category as Oj. I just have sympathy for the Engish girl that died. I rather remember or learn more about her. The Knox people are just want to rake in money at the expense at that english girls misfortune.
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by wmotley1 October 8, 2011 8:25 PM EDT
What makes you think she is in hiding? Would you not want SOME time
to acclimate from the ordeal she has been through? Guess you thought the Nigerian/Somalian was innocent.You need to try to get a GED if even possible
by Naivete October 9, 2011 12:40 AM EDT
I'm with you. I don't know if shes guilty or not. Maybe she did kill someone or whatever it was and deserves to go to Prison...and its not like rapes worse than murder. The Italians could of done a better job at prosecuting, and giving her the rights she deserved.
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by caseyhue5 October 8, 2011 5:05 PM EDT
I don't buy it.. I'm not saying it's true or untrue.. her allegations. Come'on she hasn't been in the US for even a week an already allegations against the Italian administrator. I thought she was devastated an recovering from 4 years of torture in prison. Now she's all over the air waves stories coming out everywhere. Give me a break!! I don't buy it...!!! Shouldn't she be recovering seeking help etc... instead blabbing to the world her devastation torture. Something doesn't click here. On top of it she wasn't fully aware of the publicity being portrait an it's finally sinking in. Please she knew !! She is sure full of it I'm beginning to believe the prosecution an that she's is a she-devil an a liar...con artist etc... in so many words. I believe it more that when it was said previously in Italy.
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by bluedav32 October 8, 2011 6:34 PM EDT
You are correct. There is something not right. I have always doubted that she is totally innocent.
by wmotley1 October 8, 2011 8:29 PM EDT
And yes, professor you have all the details that were fed you from the press. "All over the airwaves+ and THAT is proof of guilt.
Suggest you go leave your factory job and try to get a GED! thiought t
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