Farida eventually confesses that parts of her story were fabricated. She claims she lied for a "greater cause"—to draw international attention to the problems in her country.

Dr. Knowlton lost her own daughter, Jessica, two years prior. She began abducting children as "replacements," believing she could provide a better life than their current parents.

Lightman uses a "20 questions" style interrogation with Samantha's psychiatrist, Dr. Christina Knowlton , and quickly determines she is the abductor.