Elizabeth Smart, who was kidnapped at age 14 and held for nine months, has shared her story in a new Netflix documentary. Now 38, she is a child safety activist who speaks powerfully against the shame associated with sexual abuse.
The documentary covers the 2002 abduction from her Salt Lake City home, where she was taken at knifepoint while her younger sister watched. Smart was repeatedly raped by Brian David Mitchell, a homeless man who claimed to be a preacher. Her family's extensive search and the eventual arrest of Mitchell are detailed.
Smart's frankness about her ordeal is inspiring. She describes the shame she felt due to her religious upbringing and how she now places responsibility on her abuser. The documentary also highlights the failures of the police investigation and the family's decision to publicise Mitchell's name.
After Mitchell's conviction in 2011, Smart found a happy ending in Scotland, where she now lives with her husband and children. Her activism focuses on protecting vulnerable people from predators and supporting survivors.
