Elizabeth Smart
The remarkable journey of Elizabeth Smart: from 14-year-old abduction survivor to leading child safety advocate, author, and public speaker.
Introduction
Elizabeth Ann Smart (born November 3, 1987) is an American activist, author, and public commentator who became internationally known after surviving a kidnapping at age 14. Over years, she transformed her trauma into advocacy for child protection, victim support, and promoting awareness around sexual violence and justice reform.
Her story is one of resilience, faith, and purpose. Through speaking, writing, and organizing, Smart uses her platform to amplify the voices of survivors, challenge stigma, and push for meaningful policy changes.
Early Life and Family
Elizabeth was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Edward “Ed” Smart and Lois Smart.
In school, she attended Bryant Middle School and East High School in Salt Lake City. Brigham Young University, from which she earned a Bachelor of Music in harp performance.
Abduction, Captivity & Rescue
The Kidnapping
On June 5, 2002, when Elizabeth was 14, she was abducted at knifepoint from her bedroom inside her family’s home in Salt Lake City. Brian David Mitchell, who operated with his wife, Wanda Barzee.
Rescue
After nine months in captivity, Elizabeth was rescued on March 12, 2003 on a public street in Sandy, Utah—approximately 18 miles from her home. America’s Most Wanted.
Subsequently, in court, Mitchell was found guilty of multiple charges and sentenced to two life terms. Barzee pled guilty to assisting Mitchell’s crimes and was sentenced to 15 years.
Elizabeth later testified that during her captivity she had been raped daily, threatened, and struggled deeply with her identity and sense of worth.
Journey toward Activism & Advocacy
Rather than withdrawing from public life, Elizabeth progressively turned her ordeal into a mission:
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In March 2006, she spoke before the U.S. Congress in support of sexual predator legislation and the Amber Alert system.
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She was an early proponent of reforming how schools teach sexual education, criticizing abstinence-only programs and arguing they can harm survivors.
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In 2009, she founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, aimed at preventing sexual violence, aiding recovery, and advocating for victims’ rights.
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In 2011, Smart joined ABC News as a commentator, focusing particularly on missing-persons cases, victims’ issues, and related social justice matters.
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She has engaged in public speaking, appearing at women’s conferences and human trafficking events, pushing for legislation on child sexual abuse prevention training in schools.
Her writing includes My Story (2013), a memoir co-written about her kidnapping, and Where There's Hope: Healing, Moving Forward, and Never Giving Up (2018).
She also has a role in media production—she’s been executive producer on Lifetime films based on real abduction cases, such as The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story.
Personal Life
In November 2009, Elizabeth departed Salt Lake City to serve as a missionary in Paris for her faith. Matthew Gilmour, a Scottish native.
The couple have three children: daughter Chloé Rose (born February 7, 2015), son James (born April 2, 2017), and daughter Olivia (born November 7, 2018).
In recent years, Elizabeth has remained engaged in activism and public life. She has also spoken about experiences beyond her kidnapping, such as an alleged inappropriate incident on a flight, and responded by starting a Smart Defense program to teach self-defense skills to women and girls.
Influence & Legacy
Elizabeth Smart’s influence is both symbolic and practical:
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She is among the most recognizable survivors of violent crime to have reclaimed her story and used it proactively for social good.
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Her advocacy has contributed to policy changes, awareness of how to support victims, and cultural conversations about sexual violence, victim dignity, and prevention.
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Through media production, she ensures that narratives of abduction and recovery are told by survivors themselves, rather than purely by outsiders.
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Her foundation continues work to support victims, fund prevention education, and amplify testimony.
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Her public persona reshapes ideas of victimhood—not as passive but as resilient and proactive.
Notable Quotes & Reflections
Elizabeth Smart has shared many powerful reflections. Here are a few:
“We can’t change what happened to us, but we can allow it to define who we become.”
“Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
On shame and self-worth (referring to abstinence-only teachings):
“I thought … I’m that chewed-up piece of gum, nobody re-chews a piece of gum, you throw it away.”
On purpose and healing:
“Your past does not dictate your future.”
These remarks reflect her belief in agency, confronting cultural narratives, and reclaiming dignity.
Lessons from Elizabeth Smart
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Survival can become service. Rather than being silenced by trauma, she turned her experience into advocacy.
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Speak truth to power. She challenges institutional silence around sexual violence, pushing for reforms in education, legal systems, and support structures.
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The narrative matters. By telling her own story, she offers survivors a voice and resists external framing or sensationalism.
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Strength in vulnerability. Openly discussing trauma, mental health, and shame de-stigmatizes those topics and helps others heal.
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Legacy through structures. The foundation, public programs, media work—these ensure her impact extends beyond her personal voice.
Conclusion
Elizabeth Smart’s life is a profound example of transformation: from a teenager’s nightmare to a woman of influence, direction, and purpose. While her story began in trauma, she chose not to remain there—she rebuilt, spoke up, and created change.