I dont know how to truly be free.
But I know how to try.
Trying takes on many forms acrossFree.
Lucien Knuteson*
Over the next few days, police questioned Sollecito and Knox.
As soon as she realized what shed done, Knox recanted her confession, but it was too late.
Police arrested Knox, Sollecito, and Lumumba on Nov. 6, 2007.
Lumumba was released after customers at his bar provided an alibi.
Knox and Sollecito were to stand trial for murder.
Even at 20 years old, Knox felt convinced the truth would prevail.
But the prosecution, led by Mignini, threw everything they had at her.
You are our little sex demon icon.'
(Guede was convicted and has since served 13 years of a 16-year sentence.)
But Knox had tremendous difficulty picking up where she left off in Seattle.
It didnt matter that she had been acquitted or written a bestselling book.
Even worse, Knoxs name kept resurfacing in the international news.
(Knox did not go back to Italy for the trial.)
In February 2014, Knox and Sollecito were again found guilty.
Ultimately, in March 2015, the Supreme Court of Italy overturned the convictions in a final decision.
Italys Supreme Court upheld the ruling in January 2025.)
Its in the public consciousness.
Theres no pretending thats not a part of my reality.
I have had to fight to be treated like a person instead of a product, she says.
Foxy Knoxy was not a person.
She was an idea of a person that people purchased over and over because it was morbidly satisfying.
And also, you know, sexually titillating.
Since her release from prison, Knox has found community in lobbying for criminal justice reform.
These are things that we dont fully understand.
For instance, Knox introduces the single victim fallacy.
Knox is still living within this fallacy, much to her disappointment.
But I remain my own person, and my experience matters.
Thats why Im choosing to share it, and it is not at Merediths expense.
Perhaps the most surprising friendship readers will read about inFree, however, is Knoxs friendship with Mignini.
Her decision to write to Mignini did not come from a place of rage or self-righteousness.
Yes, he prosecuted the wrong people, flattening me into a cartoon villain for the world to judge.
I was haunted by that question…
I feel like a lot of people approach the world like its a department store, Knox says.
Instead, it is like a thrift store.
You are not going to find that little black dress that fits you perfectly that you are looking for.
