Elizabeth Smart traces 20 years since her abduction

Elizabeth Smart reflected on the 20 years since she was abducted from her childhood home in Salt Lake City, Utah, and said she had overcome the trauma of her “will to live” and “doing good in the world”.

The 34-year-old was taken from his bed on June 5, 2002, at the age of 14, and held captive before being rescued by Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee, on March 12, 2003.

“It took me a while to realize that I would never be the old me until all this happened. That will never happen. That person is gone,” he told Fox 13 news †“I had to learn to be comfortable in my new life and it took some time. It didn’t happen overnight.

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Smart was kidnapped from his bed with a knife at age 14 and held captive by Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee.

Self-proclaimed prophet Mitchell kidnaps Smart with Barzee’s help and takes him to the woods where he performed a fake wedding ceremony before raping her for the first time.

He tied it up to prevent it from escaping… steel cables in a cave full of rats and spiders.

Smart was forced to use drugs and alcohol, testified in 2009, and was raped daily up to four times a day.

Mitchell and Barzee later moved her to Lakeside, California, where they conspired to kidnap the other girls. After the last unsuccessful kidnapping attempt, persuaded them to return to Utah.

Smart, Sandy, was rescued at age 15 after witnesses in Salt Lake County spotted her and her kidnappers.

From June 2002 to March 2003, she spent nine months in captivity, where Mitchell “wedding” her and raped her repeatedly.

Smart was finally found on March 12, 2003, at age 15, after witnesses in Sandy, Utah, called the police. She was photographed with her family in April 2003, a month after she was rescued.

He has since become a public speaker, author, and advocate, but that wasn’t always his plan. When he first came home, he just wanted his old life back.

“I swore I would never write a book. I would never make a movie or a documentary. I didn’t want to do media. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I didn’t want to see anyone, ”she recalls.

Smart explained that he struggled with “a lot of shame” and “a lot of guilt” for what happened to him, even though he logically knew he had done nothing wrong.

Mitchell and Barzee’s hearings were also delayed for years due to delays and mental assessments. It took nearly eight years for Mitchell’s case to finally come to court.

“There were times when it was difficult, when I was frustrated,” Smart told Fox 13 News. “The process, the lawsuit, the process, I mean, it was so frustrating. ‘Why hasn’t it been done yet?’ I got really angry when I thought about it.

“It took me a while to realize that I would never be the old me until all this happened. That will never happen. That person is gone,” he told 13 News Fox

Mitchell (left) has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his crimes, but Barzee (right) is just 15 years old. She was recognized for the seven years she served and was released in 2018.

Mitchell (pictured while being taken to court in 2005) suffered a gruesome assault on Smart and was convicted in 2010.

Mitchell was sentenced to life in prison for his crimes, but Barzee was only 15 years old. In a plea deal, he was given credit for the seven years he served.

Barzee was released from prison in September 2018 and now lives in the same town as Smart, despite Smart begging the parole commission not to release him.

Smart thanked his mom, Lois Smart, for always pushing him to keep going, because that’s a lesson he carries with him.

“If I was having a bad day, I was like, ‘Elizabeth, what do you do when a horse pushes you?’ she said. And I hated it. Oh, I hated it. “Make me feel sorry for myself for five minutes,” I said.

“He always asked me to get up again. He always wanted me to continue. My whole life has been like this,” he added. “Now, as an adult, I’m so grateful for that because no matter how low I got, I still got up and kept going because that’s what I was raised for and that’s how I am here.”

Smart thanked his mom, Lois Smart, for always pushing him to keep going. “Every time I have a bad day, I’m like, ‘Elizabeth, what do you do when a horse is chasing you?’ would say, ”she recalls.

Smart, who shares three children with his wife, Matthew Gilmour, said that what helped him come to this day is his hope for the future.

Smart has spoken openly about her challenges as a speaker, writer, and advocate.

Smart, who shares three children with his wife, Matthew Gilmour, said his hopes for the future helped him get to where he is today.

“It was hell, pure hell, but it’s over,” she said of her abduction. “It’s over, and I think my will to live, to be lucky and do good in the world, has overcome my trauma, my nightmares, my fears.”

Smart founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation in 2011 and has fought the victimization and exploitation of sexual violence for more than a decade.

Earlier this year, it merged with its organization. Malouf Foundation, which provides assistance to victims of child sexual exploitation.

Smart told Fox 13 News that the merger made him feel like the future was limitless.

“When you imagine someone telling you their story and really living it for you, and you have it, you have an almost emotional connection with that person, that is, when you’re telling them about what they’ve been through and how those actions make up for it.” Their life makes a difference. It makes a huge difference,” she says.

Smart celebrated the 20th anniversary of her abduction on Instagram by sharing photos from the Malouf Foundation’s second annual summit on antisexual exploitation in April, which Gayle King (left) attended.

Earlier this year, the Elizabeth Smart Foundation merged with the Malouf Foundation, which provides services to survivors of child sexual exploitation.

Smart says the merger was his “best choice” with his foundation

Smart celebrated the 20th anniversary of her Instagram hijacking by sharing an update on her foundation on Sunday.

‘Wow 20 years! “I usually don’t recognize the anniversary of the day I was depressed, I tend to focus more on the day I was rescued, but 20 years seems like such a big thing to me,” she wrote. “I remember a time when I didn’t even think I could say ’20 years ago,’ but here I am.

“And I can’t think of a better way to recognize this day than to realize how far I’ve come, not just myself but those who helped me and were the first to combat all forms of sexual exploitation.”

Smart went on to say that my “best choice” with the Elizabeth Smart Foundation was to join forces with the Malouff Foundation.

“Together we scheduled their second annual summit against sexual exploitation in April, which was great,” she said. †[Gayle King] it was so good and came to Utah to start! We’ve had incredible training for survivors, professionals, legislators and lawyers. I can’t wait for the summit next year! ‘

Smart closed the post, thanking his followers for their “support, kindness and love” over the years.

“You never know how much it means to me and how it has helped me move forward, regain my life and find happiness,” she wrote. Because today I am really happy. God bless you all. ‘