One could take that stance, but for some reason THIS family became part of the public discourse on issues of life and death. Hundreds of kids go missing every year, but for some reason Elizabeth Smart's kidnapping became part of the public consciousness. That's the way it is. For various reasons certain situations come to symbolize the core of a debate on an issue or just capture the public's interest more than others.
I think this case became public because Michael Schaivo is a publicity hound, and fashions himself a player in politics (for the Democrats, as it turns out.) I don't think anything proves his egotistical nature any more clearly than his absurd slap on the back to himself on her gravestone. What a creep he is!
I respectfully disagree with you.