Elizabeth Smart was held captive for approximately nine months. She was kidnapped on June 5, 2002, at the age of 14 from her home in Salt Lake City, Utah, and was rescued on March 12, 2003, in Sandy, Utah, which is about 18 miles from her home.
Captivity Details
Smart was abducted by Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee, who subjected her to severe physical and psychological abuse during her captivity. She was forced to live in a campsite near Salt Lake City and later in San Diego County, California. Mitchell, who claimed to be a religious prophet, repeatedly raped her, forced her to wear a veil in public, and threatened to kill her if she tried to escape.
Rescue and Aftermath
She was discovered walking with her captors in a public area in Sandy, Utah, where a bystander recognized them and alerted authorities. Following her rescue, Smart became a prominent advocate for child safety and founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation to help prevent predatory crimes against children [web:
