Elizabeth Smart
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Ann Smart is an American female activist and contributor for ABC News
. She first gained widespread attention at age 14 when she was kidnapped from her home and recovered nine months later.
to Ed and Lois Smart. She has four brothers and a sister and is the second-oldest child in her family.
, 18 miles from her home, in the company of Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Ileen Barzee. Her abduction and recovery were widely reported and were the subject of a made-for-TV movie
and non-fiction book.
On October 1, 2009, Smart testified to being threatened, tied, and raped daily while she was held captive.
On November 16, 2009, Barzee announced she would plead guilty to assisting in the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart, as part of an agreement with prosecutors. On May 19, 2010, Barzee was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. As part of a plea deal between the defense and federal prosecutors, federal Judge Dale Kimball gave Barzee credit for seven years that she already has served, the U.S. attorney in Utah said.
On March 1, 2010, Mitchell was found competent to stand trial for the kidnapping and sexual assault charges in federal court by judge Kimball; his trial began on November 8, 2010, and on December 10, 2010, the jury found Mitchell guilty on both counts. On May 25, 2011, Mitchell was sentenced to two life-terms in federal prison.
to support Sexual Predator Legislation and the AMBER Alert
system, and on July 26, 2006, she spoke after the signing of the Adam Walsh Act
.
Smart attended Brigham Young University
(BYU), studying music as a harp
performance major. In May 2008, she traveled to Washington, D.C.
, where she helped present a book, You're Not Alone, published by the U.S. Department of Justice, which has entries written by her as well as four other recovered young adults.
In 2009, Smart commented on the kidnapping of Jaycee Lee Dugard
, stressing that dwelling upon the past is unproductive. On October 27, 2009 Elizabeth spoke at the 2009 Women's Conference in California
hosted by Maria Shriver
, on overcoming obstacles in life.
On November 11, 2009, Smart left to go on her Mormon mission
in Paris. Smart returned temporarily from her mission in November of 2010 to serve as the chief witness in the federal trial of Brian David Mitchell. After the end of the trial she returned to France to finish her mission. She finished her mission and returned to Utah in the spring of 2011.
Smart was one of four women awarded the Diane-von Furstenberg Award in March 2011. The award included a $50,000 prize which Elizabeth Smart will use to start a foundation, The Elizabeth Smart Foundation aimed at helping young people avoid or recover from violent events.
, mainly focusing on missing persons
.
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
. She first gained widespread attention at age 14 when she was kidnapped from her home and recovered nine months later.
Early life
Elizabeth Ann Smart was born in Salt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
to Ed and Lois Smart. She has four brothers and a sister and is the second-oldest child in her family.
Abduction and recovery
Smart was abducted from her bedroom on June 5, 2002, at age 14. She was found nine months later on March 12, 2003, in Sandy, UtahSandy, Utah
Sandy is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is a suburb of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,461 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth-largest city in Utah....
, 18 miles from her home, in the company of Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Ileen Barzee. Her abduction and recovery were widely reported and were the subject of a made-for-TV movie
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
and non-fiction book.
On October 1, 2009, Smart testified to being threatened, tied, and raped daily while she was held captive.
On November 16, 2009, Barzee announced she would plead guilty to assisting in the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart, as part of an agreement with prosecutors. On May 19, 2010, Barzee was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. As part of a plea deal between the defense and federal prosecutors, federal Judge Dale Kimball gave Barzee credit for seven years that she already has served, the U.S. attorney in Utah said.
On March 1, 2010, Mitchell was found competent to stand trial for the kidnapping and sexual assault charges in federal court by judge Kimball; his trial began on November 8, 2010, and on December 10, 2010, the jury found Mitchell guilty on both counts. On May 25, 2011, Mitchell was sentenced to two life-terms in federal prison.
Activism, education, and missionary work
On March 8, 2006, Smart went to CongressUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
to support Sexual Predator Legislation and the AMBER Alert
AMBER Alert
An AMBER Alert or a Child Abduction Emergency is a child abduction alert bulletin in several countries throughout the world, issued upon the suspected abduction of a child, since 1996...
system, and on July 26, 2006, she spoke after the signing of the Adam Walsh Act
Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act
The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act is a federal statute that was signed into law by U.S. President George W. Bush on July 27, 2006. The Walsh Act organizes sex offenders into three tiers and mandates that Tier 3 offenders update their whereabouts every three months with lifetime...
.
Smart attended Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
(BYU), studying music as a harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
performance major. In May 2008, she traveled to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where she helped present a book, You're Not Alone, published by the U.S. Department of Justice, which has entries written by her as well as four other recovered young adults.
In 2009, Smart commented on the kidnapping of Jaycee Lee Dugard
Kidnapping of Jaycee Lee Dugard
The kidnapping of Jaycee Lee Dugard occurred on June 10, 1991 in South Lake Tahoe, California. Dugard was 11 years old at the time and was abducted from a street while she was walking from home to a school bus stop. Searches began immediately after the kidnapping, but no reliable leads were generated...
, stressing that dwelling upon the past is unproductive. On October 27, 2009 Elizabeth spoke at the 2009 Women's Conference in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
hosted by Maria Shriver
Maria Shriver
Maria Owings Shriver is an American journalist and author of six best-selling books. She has received a Peabody Award, and was co-anchor for NBC's Emmy-winning coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympics. As executive producer of The Alzheimer's Project, Shriver earned two Emmy Awards and an Academy of...
, on overcoming obstacles in life.
On November 11, 2009, Smart left to go on her Mormon mission
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in Paris. Smart returned temporarily from her mission in November of 2010 to serve as the chief witness in the federal trial of Brian David Mitchell. After the end of the trial she returned to France to finish her mission. She finished her mission and returned to Utah in the spring of 2011.
Smart was one of four women awarded the Diane-von Furstenberg Award in March 2011. The award included a $50,000 prize which Elizabeth Smart will use to start a foundation, The Elizabeth Smart Foundation aimed at helping young people avoid or recover from violent events.
Journalism
On July 7, 2011 it was announced that she would be a commentator for ABC NewsABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
, mainly focusing on missing persons
Missing Persons
Missing Persons is an American band who plays a blend of New Wave and Pop rock. The band was founded in 1980 in Los Angeles by guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, vocalist Dale Bozzio, and drummer Terry Bozzio. They went on to add bassist Patrick O'Hearn and keyboardist Chuck Wild. Dale's quirky voice...
.
External links
- Elizabeth Smart Missing Child Profile at America's Most Wanted