Warning: This article contains discussion of rape which some readers may find distressing.
A determined younger sibling managed to identify the abductor of her 14-year-old sister who was taken from her bedroom.
In June 2002, Elizabeth Smart awoke in her bedroom to a terrifying situation, being threatened with a knife.
Her captor, Brian David Mitchell, then took her into the Utah mountains, where he and his wife, Wanda Barzee, subjected her to nine months of torment.
Throughout her captivity, Elizabeth suffered repeated sexual assaults by Mitchell.
Elizabeth was ultimately found in March 2003 after an observant member of the public recognized her from an episode of America’s Most Wanted.
It was revealed that Mitchell would often disguise Elizabeth in public by making her wear a veil, justifying it with religious explanations.
Elizabeth’s younger sister, Mary Katherine, had been in the room during the abduction and recognized Mitchell’s voice.
Mitchell had previously worked at the Smart family home, providing him access to the house without raising alarms before the incident.
While flipping through a Guinness World Records book, Mary Katherine suddenly identified the kidnapper, a suspicion that was later confirmed.
Discussing her sister’s role, Elizabeth told Today: “Had she not remembered who had kidnapped me, who’s to say that I would be here today? The police all had their suspects, and my captor I don’t even think was on their radar at all. So she is my hero.”
So, where is Elizabeth now?
Elizabeth, now 38, channels her own traumatic experience into efforts to protect children from abuse and exploitation, and supports those who have suffered similar fates.
A Netflix documentary titled Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart explores her ordeal, where she expressed her hopes that it might offer solace to other abuse survivors.
She remarked: “There will be victims and survivors who watch this, and I hope they realise they’re not alone, and that they don’t have to be ashamed of what happened to them.”
Mitchell was sentenced to life imprisonment, whereas his accomplice, Barzee, received a 15-year sentence. She was released in 2018.
Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart is available for streaming on Netflix.
If you’ve been affected by any of the issues in this article, you can contact The National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673), available 24/7. Alternatively, online support is available at online.rainn.org.