“Two very young women went to Perugia, and one of them didn’t get to go home, while the other came home completely and utterly changed.” That haunting quote brings back one of the most gripping stories of the 2000s. It’s the story of two bright-eyed women in their twenties, both full of hope, who traveled to Italy to study: the American Amanda Knox and the British Meredith Kercher. But only one returned home—and her return forever changed her. The brutal murder of 22-year-old Meredith Kercher rocked the quiet town of Perugia in 2007.

She shared an apartment with 20-year-old Amanda Knox, who soon found herself at the center of a legal nightmare. Wrongly accused and convicted alongside her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, Amanda would spend four years in prison before Italy’s Supreme Court of Cassation ultimately cleared her name in 2015. While the trial itself was dramatic, what truly captivated the world was the relentless media circus surrounding Amanda. Painted as a villain and scrutinized on a global stage, Knox became the subject of a ruthless trial by media. She was sentenced to 26 years in prison, all while maintaining her innocence.

Forensic experts from the U.S. backed her claims, highlighting inconsistencies in the evidence—particularly since the American also lived at the crime scene. Her legal journey was a rollercoaster: an initial acquittal, a retrial and conviction, and finally, in 2015, a full exoneration. By 2016, Amanda Knox had been cleared of all charges. And yet, one question lingered for years: How did Amanda Knox go from a 26-year sentence to walking free? The answer remained elusive—until now.

In episode #2324 of The Joe Rogan Experience, Amanda Knox opened up about how she survived those harrowing years. In a candid conversation, she shared how psychological insight helped her navigate the battle—and how she even found a way to ‘befriending’ with the very man who once fought to imprison her.

Knox explained:
“What could I and my prosecutor have in common? I didn’t know this man. I didn’t know what his history was, what his background was. But I did know that he, like me, people who have been hurt… um, the challenge is that people who hurt other people don’t like to be confronted with that fact. And so, how do you start a conversation that’s not going to immediately become adversarial?…But I came up with this methodology that actually became so important to me…And so I reached out to him and I acknowledged that fact.”

Since returning to America, Amanda Knox has never been the same. Marked by years of trauma and public scrutiny, she reshaped her identity—emerging as an activist, a journalist, and a bestselling author. Her 2018 memoir, Waiting to Be Heard, captured global attention and solidified her voice. Now married and a mother of two, Amanda continues to leave an impression—perhaps most unexpectedly on the very prosecutor who once tried to put her behind bars.

In a surprising turn of events, she has formed an unlikely connection with the man who once stood against her in court. Let’s delve into what Knox has revealed about this astonishing relationship.

Amanda Knox speaks on her relationship with the Prosecutor

Amanda Knox has reportedly developed a surprising connection with Giuliano Mignini, the very prosecutor who once tried her case. Despite this, Knox’s family suspects she may have developed Stockholm syndrome toward him. Responding to these claims, Knox said,

“But I was haunted by this ‘Why?’ question. Why did this happen to me? If they had done their job correctly, I would be a footnote in Meredith’s story.” Years after their initial confrontation, this unusual relationship made headlines again earlier this year when Knox appeared on NewsNation’s Banfield to promote her new book, Free: My Search for Meaning. During the interview, she revealed something unexpected:

“He texted me today. He really wants to be my friend and consistently informs me that he cares about me and wants me to be happy.”Knox went on to explain, “He was deeply moved by the fact that I genuinely wanted to know him as a human being, because he never really had been interested to know me as a human being.” She added, “He did not say, ‘I’m sorry.’ He did not say, ‘I was wrong.’ He did say, ‘You are not the person that I thought I was prosecuting.’”

After enduring her ordeal and using psychological insight to survive and emerge from prison, what are your thoughts on Amanda Knox’s recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience? Share your opinion below.