At a Glance
- Amanda Knox was exonerated in March 2015 after a decade of legal battles.
- She has since launched a podcast, written two books, and produced documentaries about her experience.
- In 2022 she returned to Italy to meet her former prosecutor and later co-produced a Hulu series.
- Why it matters: Her story illustrates the impact of wrongful convictions and the power of advocacy.
Amanda Knox’s name is synonymous with one of the most controversial criminal cases in recent history. After her exoneration in March 2015, she turned her ordeal into a platform for criminal-justice reform, producing media, writing, and speaking engagements that have reached a global audience.
Early Life and the 2007 Incident
Born on July 9, 1987, Amanda Knox grew up in West Seattle with her mother, Edda Mellas, and younger sister Deanna. She earned a scholarship to Seattle Preparatory School, where she excelled in soccer and theater. After graduating in 2005, she attended the University of Washington, studying creative writing, German, and Italian.
During her junior year she saved $10,000 from three jobs to study abroad in Perugia, Italy. There she met Raffaele Sollecito, a 23-year-old Italian student. On November 2, 2007, Knox claimed she returned to her apartment to find the door ajar, blood in the bathroom, and Meredith Kercher’s body discovered by a friend of her roommate.
Arrest, Trial, and Conviction
Knox was detained and interrogated for 53 hours without legal counsel. She signed a confession implicating her former boss, Lumumba, and was arrested on November 6, 2007. A separate trial for Rudy Guede, a 21-year-old from the Ivory Coast, resulted in a 30-year sentence.
In January 2009, Knox and Sollecito were tried and found guilty of murder and sexual violence. Knox received a 26-year sentence, while Sollecito was sentenced to 25 years.
Appeals and Exoneration
An Italian appeals court overturned most charges on October 3, 2011, leaving only a defamation conviction. Knox was released after four years behind bars, receiving credit for time served.
A retrial in 2013 led to a second conviction: 28 ½ years for Knox and 25 years for Sollecito. The case was finally overturned on March 27, 2015 by Italy’s highest court, citing “stunning flaws” in the investigation.
Post-Prison Life and Advocacy
After her release, Knox completed a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and authored Waiting to Be Heard in 2013, a New York Times bestseller. She hosted The Truth About True Crime podcast in 2019 and appeared in the Netflix documentary Amanda Knox (2016), which earned two Primetime Emmy nominations.
In 2020, she launched the podcast Labyrinths with Amanda Knox with husband Christopher Robinson. Together they have two children.
Returning to Italy
Knox returned to Perugia in 2022 to meet former prosecutor Dr. Giuliano Mignini. She described the encounter as a moment of forgiveness and personal closure.
The meeting was documented in the Hulu limited series Mouth of the Wolf: Amanda Knox Returns to Italy, released in 2026.
Recent Projects
In 2025, Knox published her second book, Free, and served as executive producer on the Hulu series The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox. The series starred Grace Van Patten as the narrator.
She also co-produced The Scarlet Letter Reports, an unscripted Facebook Watch series that gave a platform to women publicly shamed.
Legal and Financial Outcomes
The European Court of Human Rights awarded Knox nearly $21,000 in damages in January 2019 for the lack of legal assistance during her interrogation. The court did not find her treatment to be inhuman.
Key Takeaways
- Amanda Knox’s exoneration in 2015 ended a decade-long legal saga.
- She has leveraged her experience into media, literature, and advocacy.
- Her return to Italy and subsequent documentary work demonstrate a commitment to reconciliation.
- Knox’s story remains a powerful reminder of the importance of due process and the potential for transformation after wrongful conviction.
