Elizabeth Ann Smart, born November 3, 1987, grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, the daughter of real‑estate broker Ed Smart and Lois Smart. At age 14, on June 5, 2002, she was abducted from her bedroom by Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Eileen Barzee. The kidnapping sparked a national outcry and a multi‑state search that ended on March 12, 2003, when Smart was found walking along a street in Sandy, Utah, five miles from her home.
Early Life and Abduction
Smart’s family reported that after the abduction she was held at a remote campsite, sometimes tethered to a tree or hidden in a hole. She heard her uncle calling for her but could not answer. Mitchell later attempted to abduct Smart’s cousin, Jessica Wright, on July 24, 2002, but was unsuccessful.
Legal Proceedings
Both Mitchell and Barzee faced multiple felony charges, including aggravated kidnapping and sexual assault. After a series of competency hearings, Mitchell was ultimately found mentally competent and was sentenced to life in prison on May 25, 2011. Barzee received a 15‑year prison term in 2010 and was released in September 2018 under strict supervision.
National Impact and Advocacy
In April 2003, Smart and her family met President George W. Bush, who signed a child‑protection bill encouraging states to adopt Amber Alert systems. Smart’s testimony before Congress helped shape legislation aimed at improving rapid response to child abductions.
In 2011, she founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and providing resources for families of kidnapping victims. The foundation also launched “Smart Defense,” a self‑defense program for women and girls, announced in February 2020.
Public Appearances and Publications
Smart’s story has been featured in numerous media projects, including a televised interview with Katie Couric in October 2003, a CBS movie titled “The Elizabeth Smart Story,” and a Netflix documentary “Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart” released in January 2026. She has authored several books, such as “My Story” (2013), “Where There’s Hope” (2018), and “Detours: Hope & Growth After Life’s Hardest Turns” (December 2025).
Beyond writing, Smart has contributed to ABC News as a missing‑persons commentator, appeared on reality shows like “The Masked Dancer,” and launched a true‑crime podcast, “The Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart,” in August 2026.
Family Life
Smart married Matthew Gilmour, a fellow missionary, on February 18, 2012, in a Mormon temple on Oahu, Hawaii. The couple has three children: Chloe (born February 2015), James (born April 2017), and Olivia (born November 2018).
Through her advocacy, public speaking, and written work, Elizabeth Smart continues to champion child‑abduction awareness, support law‑enforcement efforts, and empower families facing similar tragedies.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
