Elizabeth Smart, who was kidnapped from her bedroom at the age of 14, has bravely detailed her nine-month captivity in a new Netflix documentary titled Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart. The now 38-year-old survivor recently appeared on ITV's This Morning to discuss the harrowing experience that unfolded in 2002.
The Night of the Abduction
Elizabeth vividly recalls the terrifying moment when Brian David Mitchell, aided by his wife Wanda Barzee, entered her family home in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was asleep beside her younger sister Mary Katherine when Mitchell placed a knife to her neck and whispered, "I have a knife at your neck, don't make a sound and come with me."
"I thought it was a dream at first," Elizabeth explained. "When I opened my eyes, there was a man standing over me with a knife. I felt my only option was to do exactly as he said."
Nine Months of Captivity
Mitchell took Elizabeth just three and a half miles from her home into the mountains behind her property, where she was held in a tent and subjected to months of physical and sexual abuse. During her captivity, she heard someone calling her name in the distance once, but Mitchell threatened that if they were discovered, he would kill that person and blame Elizabeth.
"It made me feel broken on the outside, but very broken and dirty on the inside as well," she reflected on the abuse. Remarkably, her captors occasionally took her out in public with a veil covering her face, including one occasion when a police officer asked Mitchell to uncover her face, but he refused on religious grounds.
The Rescue and Aftermath
Elizabeth's rescue came nine months after her abduction when her younger sister Mary Katherine recognized Mitchell's voice from the night of the kidnapping. Police officers arrived on March 13, 2003, to free Elizabeth, ending one of America's most high-profile child abduction cases.
For years after her ordeal, Elizabeth struggled with shame and embarrassment about what had happened to her. "After the trial, I felt that all the information I'd never shared before was out there," she said. "I knew how alone I had felt when I got home, and I wanted to help other people."
Rebuilding Her Life
Nearly a quarter century later, Elizabeth has rebuilt her life remarkably. She met her Scottish husband Matthew Gilbert while doing missionary work in France in 2009, and they married in Hawaii in 2012. The couple now has three children – daughters Olivia and Chloe, and son James.
"I hope people who watch this can gain compassion and understanding for other families going through this," Elizabeth said about the documentary. "I also hope it brings comfort that there are happy endings – and that even after terrible things happen, you can still have a wonderful life."
Purpose in Sharing Her Story
The Netflix documentary features never-before-seen material and includes accounts from family members, police investigators, reporters, and Utah residents who encountered Elizabeth during her captivity. Elizabeth now dedicates her life to helping other victims through the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, which supports survivors of sexual violence.
"When this opportunity came along, I thought it was the biggest world stage I'll ever be on," she explained about participating in the documentary. "Hopefully someone out there who has also experienced something similar won't feel quite as alone as I did."
Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart is now available to stream on Netflix, offering a comprehensive look at Elizabeth's capture, rescue, and remarkable journey to recovery and advocacy.
