One of the three women help captive for nearly a decade in a Cleveland house before escaping last year has said she forgives the man who kidnapped and tortured her all those years.

Michelle Knight, interviewed on NBC's Today show, said Ariel Castro deserves forgiveness because she'd want to be forgiven if she did wrong, adding: "That's the way of life."

Tomorrow is the anniversary of the escape from the house by Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus.

Knight - who has a book coming out Tuesday - said she has just recorded a song, and she is also training to be a boxer.

Castro, 53, pleaded guilty in August and committed suicide in prison.

Ms Knight added: "He is a human being and every human being needs to be loved."

She said in the interview that she was surprised when Castro killed himself, wondering "why would he hurt his children like that?"

The women disappeared separately between 2002 and 2004. Berry was 14, DeJesus was 16 and Knight was 20. They were rescued from Castro's run-down house on May 6, 2013, after Berry broke through a screen door.

Ms Knight added: "He is a human being and every human being needs to be loved."

She said in the interview that she was surprised when Castro killed himself, wondering "why would he hurt his children like that?"

The women disappeared separately between 2002 and 2004. Berry was 14, DeJesus was 16 and Knight was 20. They were rescued from Castro's run-down house on May 6, 2013, after Berry broke through a screen door.