Hannah Anderson, the teenager who was kidnapped this month and found in the Idaho wilderness after being held hostage, has spoken exclusively to NBC News about her ordeal.
The 16-year-old Lakeside, Calif., resident thanked people for paying attention to the Amber Alert and said she considers herself a survivor.
"In the beginning I was a victim, but now knowing everyone out there is helping me I consider myself a survivor instead," she told NBC News. "My mom raised me to be strong."
The full interview will air on the "Today" show on Thursday morning at 7 and 8 a.m.
Timeline: Searching for Hannah Anderson
Hannah's brother Ethan and her mother Christina were found dead on Aug. 4 at the burned property of kidnap and murder suspect James Lee DiMaggio, 40, in the community of Boulevard, near San Diego.
According to search warrants, investigators believe DiMaggio – a longtime friend of the Anderson family – “tortured and killed” Christina and Ethan on Aug. 4 before allegedly kidnapping Christina’s daughter Hannah.
DiMaggio then fled San Diego with Hannah, sparking an Amber Alert that spanned across six states.
The pair ended up in the rugged Idaho backcountry near Cascade and Morehead Lake, where they were spotted by a group of horseback riders on Aug. 7.
After seeing the Amber Alert, the riders reported the sighting to authorities, leading more than 200 federal, state and local law enforcement officials to the rural community in Idaho in search of Hannah and DiMaggio.
The pair was ultimately found by an FBI tactical team near Morehead Lake on Aug. 10.
Hannah was rescued safely by officials. DiMaggio was shot at least five times and killed at the scene.
Hannah has since reunited with her family and returned home to San Diego. Days after her rescue, the teen was fielding questions about her kidnapping on social media. Last week, she made her first public appearance since her rescue at the fundraiser in Lakeside.
The teenager’s family has asked for privacy as Hannah continues to recover. She has since appeared at multiple fundraising events and thanked people for their support.
Hannah's family sent a public statement about the NBC News interview, asking people to respect their privacy as they prepare for the funeral of Christina and Ethan.
Photo Credit: Today Show