Elizabeth Smart, at the age of 14, was abducted from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah, by a street preacher named Brian David Mitchell. Mitchell, accompanied by his wife Wanda Barzee, subjected Elizabeth to nine months of captivity during which she was sexually assaulted multiple times daily. The couple humiliated her by making her walk like a dog with a cable around her neck and confining her to a dark underground hole to avoid detection.
After an extensive search effort, Elizabeth was rescued when a viewer of America’s Most Wanted recognized Mitchell and Barzee on the streets. Despite initial struggles to speak about her traumatic experience, Elizabeth eventually founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation to support survivors of sexual abuse, receiving an overwhelming response from others who shared similar stories.
Mitchell was later convicted of interstate kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor, with Barzee sentenced to 15 years in prison for her role in the abduction. Elizabeth, now 38, emphasized the importance of speaking out against sexual violence and breaking the stigma surrounding survivors. She shared her story in the hope of empowering others and shedding light on the issue.
The journey to justice was described as painstaking and emotional by FBI Special Agent James McTighe, who highlighted the unwavering commitment to ensuring that justice prevails, regardless of the time it takes. Elizabeth’s harrowing ordeal has been documented in a Netflix series titled Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart, featuring archival footage and interviews with her family members. She aims to inspire other survivors to speak out and find solace in knowing they are not alone.