Elizabeth Smart: How Was the Kidnapping Victim Rescued?

Disclaimer: The article contains mentions of abduction and sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised.

On June 5, 2002, an unknown assailant abducted 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart from her residence in Salt Lake City, Utah. Reports indicated that Smart’s sister, Mary Katherine, was the only person to witness the kidnapping as she was present in the same room. Smart’s parents called the authorities and requested they initiate a search operation. Almost nine months after the abduction, police found Smart walking down the street with his abductor, Brian David Mitchell. Police then apprehended Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee, for Smart’s kidnapping. Subsequently, the court sentenced both of them to prison.

According to ABC News, Brian David Mitchell entered Elizabeth Smart’s room and held a knife close to her neck. The publication stated Mitchell told her to follow him and promised that he would kill her and her family if she tried to escape. He took Smart to a nearby campsite in the forest where his wife, Wanda Breeze, was waiting for them. Per BBC, Mitchell raped her frequently and made her consume alcohol and drugs to lower her resistance. Finally, in February 2003, Smart’s sister, Mary Elizabeth Smart, told her parents that the kidnapper might be someone who previously worked at their home.

Moreover, she told her parents that a former worker named Emmanuel might be the abductor, per History.com. The Smart family then held a press conference and released Emmanuel’s sketch to the public. Meanwhile, the popular true-crime series America’s Most Wanted did an episode of Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapping and featured the sketch. Several days later, a man called the authorities after recognizing Emmanuel from the sketch. Finally, on March 12, the police found Smart alive, along with Mitchell, aka Emmanual, and Barzee, just five miles away from her residence.

Authorities charged Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Breeze on six counts, including aggravated burglary, aggravated sexual assault, and more. Both accused went to trial and were found guilty. According to CNN, Mitchell received life imprisonment, while Barzee was sent to prison for 15 years.

How was Elizabeth Smart rescued during the kidnapping?

After his arrest, Brian David Mitchell pleaded not guilty to the charges, while the court found Wanda Bree incompetent to stand trial. As a result, the court sent her to a hospital in Utah for further reevaluation. Six months later, the court found Mitchell to be incompetent to stand trial as well and sent him to a hospital. The case had to face a lot of roadblocks before the trial. However, in November 2009, Barzee pleaded guilty to abduction and unlawful transportation of a minor. Per CNN, she also agreed to cooperate with authorities in the cases against Mitchell. Subsequently, the court sentenced her to 15 years in prison.

In November 2010, the trial of Mitchell began, and the prosecutors presented a wide range of evidence against him. According to BBC, Mitchell tried to force Elizabeth Smart into a polygamous marriage. Moreover, the prosecution stated that the kidnapper talked about his peculiar religious teachings to Smart during the ordeal. Later, Smart testified against Mitchell and opened up about what happened to her. Citing her testimony, Deseret noted that Mitchell forced himself on her and raped her. Additionally, Smart claimed that Mitchell kept on saying that God “instructed” her to do this.

Smart also stated that she tried to fight him off during the sexual assault, but her efforts were unsuccessful. She said, “I tried to fight him off me, but a 14-year-old girl versus a grown man doesn’t even out so much.” After hearing Elizabeth Smart’s testimony and seeing a lot of evidence, the jury found Mitchell guilty on multiple charges. According to CNN, the jury found him guilty of kidnapping as well as the unlawful transportation of a minor with intent to engage in sexual activity. The court sentenced him to life in prison.

Several documentaries about Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapping are currently available to stream on Hulu, Lifetime, Apple TV+, A&E, and more.

Aayush Sharma

Entertainment Journalist by profession and a complete cinephile, Aayush Sharma has been writing about Hollywood movies, US TV shows, True Crime and more from the last 7 years. Previously, he has worked for reputed media outlets such as ANI, International Business Times, and MEA Worldwide.