Netflix Revisits Elizabeth Smart's Harrowing Kidnapping in New Documentary
The chilling abduction of Elizabeth Smart, which shocked America over two decades ago, is being revisited in a powerful new Netflix true crime documentary. Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart delves into the traumatic 2002 case that saw the 14-year-old taken from her Salt Lake City, Utah, bedroom in the dead of night.
The Abduction and the Captor
As detailed in the documentary, the sole witness to the crime was Elizabeth's nine-year-old sister, Mary Katherine. She pretended to be asleep during the incident but later told police the kidnapper's voice sounded "familiar". This crucial detail would eventually help piece together the puzzle.
The perpetrator was identified as Brian David Mitchell, a homeless street preacher who went by the name Emmanuel. Disturbingly, Mitchell had prior contact with the Smart family. He had first encountered them while preaching on the streets and was later hired to work on a home construction project for the family approximately a year before the kidnapping.
The Search, Rescue, and Trial
Following an intense nine-month search, Elizabeth Smart was mercifully found alive. However, the trauma she endured was profound. During the subsequent trial, she disclosed that Mitchell had subjected her to daily rape throughout her captivity.
Brian David Mitchell's legal proceedings were protracted. It took nine years after the abduction for him to finally be sentenced. He was found guilty of kidnapping and transporting a minor across state lines for sexual activity. The court handed down the severest possible punishment: life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Where Is Brian David Mitchell Now?
For years, Mitchell served his sentence at the high-security US Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana. However, his incarceration took a new turn in late 2025. According to reports from Indiana Public Media, Mitchell was moved after being attacked twice by other inmates.
The 72-year-old convict was transferred to the Federal Correctional Institution-Lewisburg, a medium-security federal prison located in central Pennsylvania. He remains incarcerated at this facility.
Elizabeth Smart's Perspective and Mitchell's Distorted Justification
In the documentary, Elizabeth Smart provides a harrowing insight into her captor's mindset. She reveals that Mitchell believed himself to be a prophet and attempted to justify his horrific actions by claiming he was "following the word of God".
Reflecting on this manipulation in a 2023 interview with ABC News, Smart stated unequivocally that Mitchell "just wanted to rape little girls". She elaborated on how he weaponised religion, explaining: "Over the years, he [Mitchell] had found that the best way to manipulate people was through religion. If someone says, 'That's against my faith...' You really gonna push them? My captors definitely capitalised on that."
The documentary stands as a testament to Smart's resilience and a stark examination of a crime that captivated and horrified the nation. Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart is now available for streaming on Netflix.
