Elizabeth Smart Discusses Kidnapping and the Threat to Her Cousin

Elizabeth Smart revealed that her captor had sinister plans beyond her own abduction. He intended to kidnap her teenage cousin and designate her as his “wife.” Reflecting on her experience, Smart shared, “I remember him saying to me, ‘She’s supposed to be my next wife.’” The plan involved abducting multiple girls, with Smart being the first target.

“When he mentioned that, my stomach sank,” she recalled. Smart expressed guilt, feeling as though she had led him to her cousin, Olivia. The captor had even picked a date for the kidnapping—July 24, thinking it would be ideal since people would be preoccupied with celebrations.

Smart is one of America’s well-known child abduction survivors, now serving as an activist for child safety. She features in a Netflix documentary titled “Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart,” where she narrates her story in her own words.

In her book, Smart reflects on her traumatic experience and how it rerouted her life. Her family was on high alert as Brian David Mitchell stalked her cousin’s residence. Smart, perpetually in fear, spent her days praying for safety. Having previously worked as a handyman for her family, Mitchell knew the area well.

Smart described how, during one week, Mitchell was plotting to abduct Olivia, convinced it was a divine command. After surveilling the house, he attempted to sneak in through a window, but was thwarted when her uncle heard the commotion and rushed to the room.

“It was my older cousin’s window he tried to climb through,” Smart recounted, noting how the noise of trinkets falling alerted her family. This interruption ultimately stopped the abduction.

On June 5, 2002, Smart was taken at knife point by Mitchell, who fancied himself a prophet. He transported her to a secluded campsite where his wife, Wanda Barzee, awaited.

While in captivity, Smart endured extreme trauma, living in dark conditions while being repeatedly assaulted. She was coerced into watching pornography and subjected to various forms of abuse. Some days, she clung desperately to thoughts of her family, dreaming of escape.

In reflection, Smart felt immense guilt—both for her cousin’s potential targeting and for a fleeting wish that her abductor would succeed in kidnapping Olivia so she wouldn’t be alone. Ultimately, she was relieved her cousin remained unharmed, even as she grappled with her own dark feelings during captivity.

In the aftermath, Smart remained in touch with her family in spirit, actively pursuing a future she thought was out of reach. She expressed gratitude for her freedom and the lessons learned through her ordeal, advocating for protection against similar threats faced by children today.

Now married and a mother of three, Smart’s journey, chronicled in the documentary and her own perspectives, illustrates a profound resilience. “You never know how strong you are until you face something horrific,” she emphasized. “Never lose hope. Life is still meaningful, despite the darkest moments.”

“Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart” is available for streaming, further highlighting her incredible journey.