Utah Girl Kidnapped From Room At Gunpoint

sandiego.com ^ | June 5, 2002 | ap

[SarahW]

I read them before I made my own comment. The nine year old girls I know (and I was one, myself, and a cagey one at that) could easily be intimidated into being quiet. She would already have come clean by now after seeing the worry and fear of her parents, and being intensely questioned by police.

If she left in her red pajamas, she was abducted.

She's dead by now.

[glock rocks]

Salt Lake girl taken from her home

By Derek Jensen and Pat Reavy
Deseret News staff writers

      A 14-year-old girl was kidnapped at gunpoint from her Federal Heights home early Wednesday, sparking an intensive manhunt for both the girl and her alleged kidnapper.

Elizabeth Smart was taken from her Federal Heights home early Wednesday. Her family is pleading for her safe return.

Photo Courtesy Of Smart Family

      About 1 a.m., a man allegedly forced his way into a house on at about 1500 E. Kristianna Circle (420 North) through a kitchen window, said Salt Lake Police Sgt. Dwayne Baird. The man cut through a screen and then managed to open the window and crawl through.
      He went into the room where Elizabeth Smart and her sister, 9, were sleeping. Elizabeth was taken out of the house at gunpoint while her sister watched, Baird said.
      "She saw a little bit of what was going on but she couldn't see him real clearly," he said.
      Before leaving the room, the man threatened to harm Elizabeth's sister if she told police what had happened, Baird said. The man then took Elizabeth out of the house, allowing her to grab her shoes before they left.
      Despite his threat, Baird said the man was described by the sister as soft-spoken. He did not swear or raise his voice, he said.
      "He didn't call (Elizabeth) by name and he did not seem to know his way around the house," Baird said.
      Investigators said there was no evidence of a vehicle and believe the two left the area on foot.
      About two hours after the alleged abduction, the frightened sister told her parents what had happened. The parents immediately called neighbors to have them check on their own children and begin a neighborhood search.
      Elizabeth is 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighs about 105 pounds and has long blonde hair. She was last seen wearing red satin pajamas.

Search and rescue teams prepare to search for Elizabeth Smart.

Jeremy Harmon, Deseret News

      The alleged kidnapper is described as a man possibly in his 30s about 5 feet 8 inches, with dark hair and a medium build. Police say he was last seen wearing a tan or white jacket with a white cap. He was also carrying a dark handgun.
      The man's description, "Didn't match anyone who had been at or near the house for several days," Baird said.
      By 9 a.m., about 100 law enforcers from several jurisdictions and neighbors along with the state helicopter and dogs were participating in the search.
      One of the bloodhounds picked up on a scent right outside the Smart house but could only follow it for a few feet before losing it in some bushes, Baird said. The amount of time that passed from when the alleged kidnapping occurred to when it was reported made it difficult for the bloodhounds to pick up the trail, he said.
      Brent Pack, a neighbor who is in the Smart's Arlington Hills LDS Ward, organized a group of ward members to search the neighborhood as well as the areas around Memory Grove, Emigration Canyon and the Bonneville Shoreline.
      "It's devastating," Pack said. "(The Smarts) are such easy going, mild-mannered people."
      By early afternoon, the family requested the search be expanded to southeast Idaho and Wyoming.
      The state's new Rachael Alert system for missing children was activated for the first time early Wednesday morning. The alert gives out warnings about missing children over TV and radio, similar to the way weather warnings are issued.
      Groups of teenage girls who know Elizabeth gathered near her house to console each other Wednesday.

Neighbors of Elizabeth Smart, Sissy Galbraith, left, and Mia Harmsen, were among girls consoling each other.

Jeremy Harmon, Deseret News

      "I didn't think it would happen here. Everybody knows everybody. It's a real close neighborhood," said Chelsea Winegar, 12, who went to Bryant Intermediate School with Elizabeth.
      Some residents say this alleged kidnapping combined with another high profile kidnapping attempt 10 years ago at the house right across the street from the Smart home has them on edge.
      In 1992, a plot by two men to kidnap the daughter of H. Brent Beesley, the CEO of Heritage Savings Bank, was foiled when a third man involved in scheme snitched to police in exchange for a more lenient sentence on a separate drug conviction.
      The men had planned to hold the daughter for $3 million ransom. More than 30 officers converged on the alleged kidnappers' van as it moved toward the Beesley house, 1492 E. Kristianna Cir.
      The mastermind behind the plot was sentenced to five years to life in prison. The other man was sentenced to a year in jail.
      By mid-morning, investigators did not have any idea of a motive. The family had also been going over several scenarios of what might have led to this.
      "I think at this point it's just basically summed up in saying we just don't know," said Tom Smart, Elizabeth's uncle and a photographer for the Deseret News. "I don't know one person in the world who has a beef against Edward (Elizabeth's father) or (his family)."
      There had been no calls for ransom money as of 10:30 a.m. Investigators were also questioning real estate agents and others that had been showing the house, which is for sale, looking for clues, Baird said.

Police surround the home of kidnapping victim Elizabeth Smart. The search drew about 100 law-enforcement personnel from several jurisdictions.

Paul Barker, Deseret News

      The family's computer was also being searched Wednesday to look for whether Elizabeth had been involved in any chat room discussions recently and may have met someone on the internet.
      Elizabeth lived with her three sisters and two brothers. Their house was in the process of being remodeled and various workers had been going in and out throughout the week, Tom Smart said. Ed Smart is employed as a mortgage investment broker.
      It had already been a hard week on the Smart family. Just Monday, Elizabeth played the harp at her grandfather's funeral, Tom said.
      "The family was just emotionally exhausted before this even happened," Tom Smart said.
      Now the family is pleading with the alleged kidnapper to return their daughter safely.
      "Please bring this beautiful girl back unharmed. Cut your losses at this point and bring her back," Tom Smart said.      

[Redcloak]

According to the story, the police are checking files on the family computer to see if she's been chatting online.

[hellinahandcart]

Some of us over here agree with you

I feel terrible for being such a cynic, but I also remember outrageous stories from Tawana Brawley and Susan Smith, and my alarm went off when I heard that the younger sister waited several hours before alerting her parents.

It just doesn't sound normal, unless the nine-year-old has some sort of diminished capacity.

I'm not convinced that the older sister left of her own free will, or that she is even alive now. I just know something about the story doesn't ring true.

[Mo1]

I knew exactly what you meant and agree that it is a strong possibility. More so that the account given by her sister.

Fox News made a comment that the house was for sale

Anyone know if the family was planning on moving out of town .. if so .. it could give the boyfriend theory more legs

[let freedom sing]

Not my initial reaction-- better to find the girl, first, and ask questions later.

[mystery-ak]

Having been a 9 year-old girl myself...I agree with you.....she would have fessed-up by now!

Prayers for the family

[OldFriend]

The exact same scenario as the Polly Klass kidnapping and murder. Pray for this child to be found alive and safe.

[cherry]

what is wrong with you people?..the little girl of 9 was threatened to death and the death of her sister if she said anything... nine years old!!!! there was definately a breakin..this is not a friendly kidnapping or runa way

[mhking]

Call me what you want, but if the parents were asleep, how did they know that the kidnapper took the girl at gunpoint!!!???

[Phantom Lord]

To believe that a stranger spoted her on the street, followed her home and then kidnapped her is to believe some things that I find hard to swallow.

1) The kidnapper would have had to see her far earlier in the day. Unless she was out playing in the streets closer to 2 AM.

2) He would have after seeing her had to follow her home and determine that it was her place of residence.

3) He would have then had to return to the home and break in without anyone waking (that is very possible)

4) He would have then had to manage his way directly to the girls room, making no mistakes and not entering the parents room by accident. (leading me to believe he knew what room to go to)

5) Upon entering the room and surprising the girls with his presence they would have had to remain silent from the get go. (Now who is going to wake up to a man with a gun in their room and not scream, especially a young girl, 2 of them!)

6) He would have then had to make his way out of the home with the girl putting up little to no struggle thus not awaking her parents.

7) The younger sister would have then had to sit there for 2 hours, silent, not fall asleep and then proceed to her parents room to tell them what happened. (I would think, if this actually happened she would not have waited 2 hours, though it is a very remote possibility.)

I am leaning very heavily toward her running off with someone she met on line, or a boyfriend. Though I have moved decidedly toward the online option.

[spokanite]

If this kind of scenario plays out and she's OK, when they find her, she will wish she were dead! I pray for the angels to watch over her until she is found...alive.

[mhking]

Oop - I missed the bit with the sister. It still stinks though!

[let freedom sing]

I also remember outrageous stories from Tawana Brawley and Susan Smith

Healthy skepticism is ok, but I don't see Al Sharpton, here, knocking on doors. Come on, you guys, this is Utah. Look at that innocent face-- 14, with a ponytail.

[let freedom sing]

Call me what you want, but if the parents were asleep, how did they know that the kidnapper took the girl at gunpoint!!!???

The sister wasn't asleep-- do you think she knows what a gun looks like?

They should put up a physical description of the kidnapper. Strange-- PC profiling working here?

[KansasGirl]

"Their house was in the process of being remodeled and various workers had been going in and out throughout the week"

Maybe the cops should talk with these people.

[Phantom Lord]

"He didn't call (Elizabeth) by name and he did not seem to know his way around the house," Baird said.

How do they know this? Did the little sister follow the kidnapper and her sister around the houses as he attempted to exit? If not, how do they know his lack of knowledge of the house and what path he took to get her out?

Seems to me that if he broke in and found his way to the room he would just back track easily to exit.

[texasbluebell]

The exact same scenario as the Polly Klass kidnapping and murder.

Exactly. And I'm trying to remember, but weren't the other girls at Polly's house told to keep quiet for a while, and they did? Or were they tied up? I can't remember the details. It seems perfectly believable that a 9 year old would be afraid to speak up if she had been threatened.

But this is simply horrifying.

[BJClinton]

Anyone know if the family was planning on moving out of town .. if so .. it could give the boyfriend theory more legs

Wow, good catch. Any SLC FReepers here with access to local reports?