What happened to Elizabeth Smart? Subject of Netflix's Kidnapped

This article contains mention of sexual assault that some reads may find distressing.

When 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart was abducted in 2002, it ignited one of the most intense and widely-covered missing persons cases America has ever seen.

Now, told through exclusive interviews with Elizabeth herself and her family, new documentary Kidnapped traces the months during her captivity and the rescue that took place nine months later.

Netflix has confirmed the film will dive into the "psychological and emotional toll on Elizabeth and her family, as well as their community's tireless search for answers".

Read on to learn more about Elizabeth Smart and her harrowing ordeal.

What happened to Elizabeth Smart?

Elizabeth Smart was abducted at knifepoint from her home in the early hours of Wednesday 5th June 2002.

During her captivity, Elizabeth was sexually assaulted and often starved.

To stop her from escaping, she was shackled to a tree with a metal cable around her leg, as per Elizabeth's autobiography.

Who abducted Elizabeth Smart?

Brian David Mitchell abducted 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart.

Mitchell broke into the home of Ed and Lois Smart and threatened Elizabeth with a knife before forcing her to walk four miles in her nightgown into the woods outside of Salt Lake City, where she was met by his wife, Wanda Barzee.

How was Elizabeth Smart rescued?

In March 2003, Smart was found miles from her home, walking the streets of Utah. She was spotted by a couple who recognised her.

"We think we found a homeless girl that might be Elizabeth," Smart's father recalled the police telling him at the time.

He wrote in his book: "She looked like a homeless girl … I wasn't certain at first that it was her. I went over and put my arms around her and just started bawling. I held her back, looked her in the eyes, and said, 'Is it really you, Elizabeth?'"

Where is Elizabeth Smart now?

Elizabeth Smart is a child safety activist and commentator for ABC News and has been an advocate for missing persons and spoken out against abstinence-only education.

She is married, and is a mother of three children.

"My children have brought so much happiness and joy. To me, they’re the very definition of love," Smart told People shortly after welcoming her child.

"After I was rescued, when I first got home, I did not want to talk about what happened with anyone," she told Tudum. "And when the trial finally happened, I remember sitting up on the stand, giving these answers, and feeling like there was no context around them.

"I remember thinking that if all of this was going to be out there anyway, I wanted it to have some meaning, and for it to serve a purpose. I wanted to have some ownership over my story. That helped me decide to share it."

She continued: "There will be victims and survivors who watch this, and I hope they realise they’re not alone, and that they don’t have to be ashamed of what happened to them. And I hope that people who watch this can gain compassion and understanding for other families who are going through this.

"I also hope it brings comfort that there are happy endings — and that even after terrible things happen, you can still have a wonderful life."

Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart is available to watch on Netflix now. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media.

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