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A new statement on behalf of Abigail Hernandez and her family says that the New Hampshire teen 鈥渨as violently abducted by a stranger ... and for many months suffered numerous acts of unspeakable violence.鈥�

Along with that information came more pleas for the public to give Abigail 鈥渟ome time and space to physically and emotionally heal.鈥�

As has happened with many other criminal cases, the one involving Abigail has sparked curiosity from the public and a desire to understand what happened. But such inclinations often come into conflict with the need of victims to have a large measure of privacy as they recover from their ordeals.

Only time will tell how much the media and the public will heed the request to give Abigail time and space. But speculation and intrusive media coverage already are 鈥済oing to complicate the recovery鈥� for Abigail, suggests Loretta Brady, a psychology professor at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., who has expertise in trauma recovery.

Abigail returned to her home in Conway, N.H., on July 20, nine months after disappearing on her way home from school. Nathaniel Kibby, of Gorham, N.H., has been arrested and charged with kidnapping her.

Professor Brady says it鈥檚 particularly distressing that both before and after Mr. Kibby鈥檚 arrest, speculation about whether Abigail had run away on purpose circulated in some press reports and social media commentary. And after she went to the court and faced the man accused of kidnapping her, a photograph of her gesturing negatively to a camera as she was surrounded by press was published by some outlets.

鈥淒o we generally photograph child victims as they attend hearings for their alleged abuser?鈥� Brady asks. Even when media reports are responsible, she says, if they have Internet comments after them full of speculation, those often leave a more lasting impression on readers.

All this can lead to a victim feeling betrayed, and that can be as difficult to recover from as the events themselves, Brady says.

鈥淲ill Abby recover? Absolutely 鈥� people are very resilient,鈥� she adds. 鈥淏ut the public and the media have to understand we are part of what she鈥檚 recovering from, with all these conversations and speculations. We鈥檙e making her journey harder than it needed to be.鈥�

During the approximately 18 months that it could take for Kibby to be tried, and sentenced if convicted, Brady suggests that Abigail鈥檚 support system will most likely be getting her psychological help to 鈥減repare her for the emotions associated with seeing evidence and hearing the details and being exposed to him鈥� in court. This can 鈥渂olster her ability ... to heal鈥� once the legal issues are resolved, she says.听

Abigail and her mother, Zenya Hernandez, recognize the tension 鈥渂etween the public鈥檚 desire to have information鈥� and their desire to support Abigail鈥檚 privacy and recovery, says Michael Coyne, a lawyer from Andover, Mass., who recently agreed to assist the family, pro bono, as it works through the justice process and the media attention. The law firm Coakley & Hyde of Portsmouth, N.H., has also been helping them.

Abigail 鈥渋s so grateful for everyone鈥檚 efforts, including the media, to keep the story alive and have her returned to her family,鈥� Mr. Coyne says in a phone interview with the Monitor.

But 鈥渆veryone wants answers to questions that can only come with time,鈥� he says. 鈥淚鈥檓 not certain that people understand we鈥檙e dealing with a child who has been through an event that no one, much less a child, should have to go through.... Even in this social media age, those that choose to have some level of privacy should be entitled to it.鈥�

In contrast to Abigail鈥檚 low profile, a year ago California abduction victim Hannah Anderson apparently took to a social media site to answer questions about the experience just two days after her rescue.听In that case, the ensuing criticism of Hannah online became another burden: 鈥淪he鈥檚 doing okay, but the hostility and judgment just makes it harder,鈥� her grandmother, Sara Britt, told MailOnline.com, the online version of the British newspaper the Daily Mail.

Kibby maintains his innocence, his lawyer says.

Kibby鈥檚 next court appearance is scheduled for mid-September. He has been charged with felony kidnapping, but 鈥渁t some point I would expect there will be additional charges,鈥� Coyne says.

The search warrants and related police affidavits detailing the allegations have been sealed because it is an ongoing investigation.听

Coyne says he doesn鈥檛 expect many public statements beyond what was posted Wednesday on the website BringAbbyHome.com, which reads in part: 鈥淎bby simply asks that you respect her wishes and the justice process as this case moves forward. We trust that justice will be done. On behalf of Abby, we ask that you be sensitive to the well-being of this child and give her the time and space she needs 鈥� that any of us would desire for a member of our own family or loved one who suffered as she has.鈥�