Elizabeth Smart, then only 14 years old, was abducted from her bed while her younger sister looked on in horror, initiating a harrowing experience. In an exclusive Netflix documentary titled “Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart,” the now 38-year-old survivor recounts her story, featuring never-before-seen footage.
During the distressing incident on June 2, 2002, Elizabeth was taken from her Salt Lake City home by a man who had cut through a window screen to gain access. Holding her at knifepoint, he forced Mary Katherine, her 9-year-old sister who shared the room, to witness the ordeal silently under threat of harm.
Despite initial skepticism from investigators, it was Mary Katherine who ultimately identified the kidnapper as Brian David Mitchell, also known as Emmanuel, a man familiar to their family. After four months, her realization led authorities to Mitchell, who had been sexually assaulting Elizabeth at a remote camp with the assistance of his wife, Wanda Barzee.
The captors, including Barzee, would accompany Elizabeth in public outings, concealing their faces under veils. Elizabeth, traumatized and abused, refrained from seeking help even when prompted by a detective during a library visit due to fear and manipulation by Mitchell, who claimed religious reasons for the face coverings.
Mitchell, deluded into thinking he was a prophet named Emmanuel, eventually took Elizabeth to California but was persuaded by her to return to Salt Lake City. Nine months after her abduction, she was rescued by officers familiar with Mitchell, leading to her safe return home.
Mitchell, now 72, is serving a life sentence, while Barzee has been released after serving half of her 15-year term. Elizabeth, now a mother of three and a prominent advocate for missing persons, aims to inspire and support others who have endured similar traumatic experiences through the sharing of her story.
“Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart” is currently available for streaming on Netflix, shedding light on her remarkable journey of survival and resilience.