After Netflix released ‘Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart‘, many viewers started revisiting the case and tried to remember what really happened back in 2002.
Now that the documentary is set to retell the events in Elizabeth’s own words, the same questions are coming up again: how did the kidnapping happen, what happened during those nine months, and where is Elizabeth Smart today?
The True Story Behind ‘Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart’
Elizabeth Smart was only 14 years old when someone abducted her from her Salt Lake City, Utah, home in the early hours of June 5, 2002. The case quickly became one of the most publicized kidnappings in American history, as the search for her intensified and the media covered every development closely.
Related: 20 Disturbing Documentaries That Expose Freaky Cults
Netflix’s documentary Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart tells the story through Elizabeth’s own words and includes exclusive interviews with her family, investigators, and others closest to the case. Investigators later identified Brian David Mitchell, described as a “street preacher,” as the man who kidnapped Elizabeth and later sexually abused her.
The situation felt even more disturbing because Mitchell wasn’t a stranger to the family. As it turns out, the Smarts had hired him to do odd jobs before the kidnapping happened. Elizabeth remained in captivity for nine months before passersby spotted her and police officers rescued her in nearby Sandy, Utah. Law enforcement arrested Mitchell and his then-wife, Wanda Barzee, shortly after, identifying Barzee as his accomplice in the crime.
What Happened To Elizabeth Smart After The Ordeal
While the documentary revisits the kidnapping itself, it also takes us through what came after. We know how hard it can be for someone to get back to a normal life after such an incident. And, it was no different for Elizabeth. The film explores the psychological and emotional toll on Elizabeth and her family, the relentless media attention, and the community’s tireless search.
In case you missed it: “She Said Straight Out, ‘I’m Kidnapping You’”: Al Pacino Recalls A Drunken Night In A ‘Crazy’ Female Fan’s Car
But she overcame all the hardships eventually. And now, Elizabeth Smart has built a life in Utah with her husband and their three children. She has also written books about her experiences and continues to advocate for others through the Elizabeth Smart Foundation. In an interview with Tudum and Netflix’s Skip Intro podcast, Smart shared the message she hopes people take away from her story: “There are happy endings.”
She added that she wants viewers to see that even after terrible things happen, it’s still possible to have a wonderful life. And for Smart, that “wonderful life” is in the small moments she lives with her family every day. According to Tudum and the Skip Intro podcast, she enjoys being at home with her family, having a good dinner, watching movies with her children, traveling to the family cabin, boating, spending time outdoors, and even seeing her kids “out-ski” her.
You might also like to read: 15 Most Shocking True Crime Documentaries On Netflix
