Elizabeth Smart


 

Elizabeth Smart is one of the most outspoken advocates for missing and exploited children that I know of. I remember when she was abducted out of her bedroom in 2002. I also remember when she was “miraculously” found alive in 2003. 

I put “miraculously” in quotes, because when a missing child is found alive, I do not believe it’s a miracle. Many say it is, but to me, a miracle is something that is impossible. Does that mean I think it’s not totally wonderful?  Of course not. It’s wonderful, but not a miracle.  This is because it is not only “possible” for a child to be found alive, but it’s more common than we think for them to be out there somewhere. 

Elizabeth was abducted by a homeless man who her parents had helped out in the past by giving him handy work around the house. He had one wife, but believed God had told him to take many other wives as well. Immediately after Elizabeth was abducted, she was led by knifepoint up a mountain to their campsite and given a rogue wedding. She was then raped every single day for the next nine months until she was rescued. 

One thing that sticks out at me about Elizabeth’s case is that they tried to prosecute the wrong guy. Richard Ricci insisted he didn’t abduct Elizabeth, but they were sure he did.  He died in jail of natural causes before Elizabeth was found. 

Another thing that sticks out about her case is that her abductor announced one day that her cousin Olivia was to be his next wife. Elizabeth was very mixed on this announcement. She didn’t want Olivia to suffer as she did, but she longed for some decent companionship. However, when her abductor attempted to break in to Olivia’s home, someone in the home saw him and the abductor ran away in fear. The attempt was botched. They wondered if this attempted burglary was related to Elizabeth’s disappearance, but quickly wrote that idea off. 

Shortly before Elizabeth was discovered alive, her little sister came to their parents and revealed that it finally came to her who the man in their bedroom that night was. “It was Emmanuel,” she said, finally remembering the man who did handy work for the family. Her parents believed her, but the cops didn’t. They didn’t pursue the little sister’s sudden revelation, asking why she didn’t reveal this in the beginning. However, I believe that her lapse in memory was due to trauma. It also may just have been a regular brain fart combined with trauma. We all have times where we see someone and wonder where in the world we know them from. 

Luckily John Walsh from America’s Most Wanted got involved even though the cops didn’t. They made a composite sketch of Emmanuel and aired it. They were then contacted by Emmanuel’s many siblings who were sure it was their brother. Then while walking out of a store, a local woman recognized them from America’s Most Wanted and called the police. They apprehended all three of them separately, and Elizabeth was reunited with her family. 

Elizabeth is now married with three kids and has devoted her life to advocacy. She is a poignant speaker and has achieved so much. 

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