Elizabeth Smart who vanished from Utah home found safe

Seattle Times ^ | March 12, 2003 | Mike Carter

[Shermy]

Elizabeth Smart, the 15-year-old Salt Lake City girl kidnapped from her home last June, had been held in a polygamous relationship by a man who believed God had told him to take her as another wife.

Police sources in Utah, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the man had kidnapped the girl more than 8 months ago and she was living with him and at least one other woman in a house in suburban Sandy, Utah, about 20 miles south of the girl’s home.

The girl was found alive — against all hope — in a car stopped by police.

“Miracles do exist,” said the girl's uncle, Tom Smart. He said the girl was in good condition.

Elizabeth was wearing a wig when police in Sandy pulled over the drifter, a man known as Emmanuel, authorities said. She was taken to the Salt Lake City police department, where her family was with her.

Brian David Mitchell

The man, whose real name is Brian David Mitchell, had worked “for about five hours” at the girl’s parents' luxurious home in the foothills near the state Capitol more than a year earlier, the source said. Police say he had become enamored of the girl at that time and prayed about taking her as another wife.

“It was a religious thing,” the source said. “This guy just wanted another wife and God told him this was the one.”

A month ago, the Smarts held a news conference where they released a sketch of Mitchell, who did work at their home in November 2001. As recently as yesterday, the family openly criticized police for not devoting enough attention to the former handyman.

Mitchell’s sister called authorities with his identity after the family’s Feb. 3 news conference. The man’s stepson gave investigators photos of Mitchell and said his stepfather was “capable” of kidnapping a child.

He also said Mitchell believes he is a prophet who needs to preach to the homeless and has no source of income other than handouts.

On the night of June 5, 2002, a man cut the screen in the girl’s bedroom window and climbed inside. Armed with a handgun, he took the child from her bed while her little sister, Mary Katherine, witnessed the kidnapping. The sister, afraid the man was still in the house, laid in bed for several hours before waking her parents and reporting the kidnapping.

Last month, Elizabeth’s younger sister was re-interviewed by detectives and told them that the man who broke into the bedroom that night resembled the man she knew as Emmanuel. Elizabeth Smart’s parents issued a new reward and released a sketch of the man.

Until then, police were disheartened over the disappearance. Their main suspect, a convicted burglar named Richard Albert Ricci, had died in prison of a brain hemorrhage last August. He had steadfastly denied any role in kidnapping the girl.

Investigators have said they believe Ricci was involved but may not have acted alone.

“They should have caught this guy by now,” said Tom Smart. “The police are too vested in Ricci.”

Elizabeth’s father, Ed, was less harsh but expressed his “frustration” at public statements made by police dismissing Mitchell as a potential suspect.

Police said they followed up more than 16,000 leads from the public in addition to those they came up with themselves.

Children’s advocates were elated by the good news.

“We are very, very relieved,” said Marilyn Ward, director of Child Search, a national missing children center based in Houston. “This should help the cause of missing children everywhere. We are thankful she’s alive. It gives hope to people to never give up.”

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Here is the actual news story - direct to the source:

http://kutv.com/specialsection/local_story_071193346.html
Elizabeth Smart May Have Been Photographed With Street Preacher At Party in September

And yes, this street "preacher" looks like an muslim, not a Christian.

[CCWoody]

Thanks for the clarification. It seems that this man thinks he is a little more than just a prophet. Evidently he thinks that he is Jesus Christ. I wonder if he has chosen to model his life after someone. Won't this be fun to see all the interesting details work their way out.

Well, it's nearly midnight here in Texas. This Freeper is going to sleep.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

The final answer for each of us will be delivered. I have no problem with this judgement. It is promised.

[landerwy]

My daughter called this afternoon with an account that happened around 11:00 A.M. in Orem at the UVSC bus stop. It seems my daughters friend was there as were ES and the other two. Her friend heard them in conversation with someone there concerning religion and a few other things.

If this is accurate then they were in Utah valley earlier today. Just a bit of information she told me.

[Slyfox]

My son's Suzuki violin teacher is a good friend with the music school director where Elizabeth studied the harp. The poor girl has been out of practice for 9 months. It will take her a little bit of time to get back into the swing of praticing and stuff. But, I think as dedicated as she was to playing the harp, she will probably find her way back with her family and her harp. I doubt whether she'll need a shrink.

[marajade]

"I doubt whether she'll need a shrink."

I can guarantee you she will get professional help...

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Not to worry. I just recognize German spellings when I see them. And Furhman didn't look right to me (even this late! ;-), so I did a quick search to verify and be 100% sure myself, and lo, and behold, found Fuhrman's own website.

[drstevej]

I'll write it a 1000 times as pennance..

Fuhrman Fuhrman Fuhrman Fuhrman Fuhrman
Fuhrman Fuhrman Fuhrman Fuhrman Fuhrman
Fuhrman Fuhrman Fuhrman Fuhrman Fuhrman
Fuhrman Fuhrman Fuhrman Fuhrman Fuhrman
Fuhrman Fuhrman Fuhrman Fuhrman Fuhrman...

I am no Fuhrman fan. I see no connection with Isaiah 7:14 (a Messianic passage) and this situation. In 7:14 the son born of the virgin is named Emmanuel (Heb = God with us). In this case, this weirdo calls himself by that name (a blasphemy in and of itself).

Speculation about whether this girl was sexually abused I think is premature and offensive.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Your daughter should report that incident to the police ASAP!

[marajade]

I've been up since 5 am and worked a full day... I just had to come get the scoop on what happened.

Thank God she was found alive... and thank God those women were suspicious...

[landerwy]

I forgot you. See post 265.

[motexva]

But if she was all doped up, so much so that she was incapable of calling for help on any of the occasions that she was in public places with the kook and his other wife, then I don't think she would have even been aware of a reunion with her family.

Ergo - she was probably undrugged. So we're still looking for a reason she didn't escape from this guy or get help one of the times she was out in public. Let me know if you can think of any because I can't.

[landerwy]

She has.

[marajade]

Emmanuel, John the Baptist, whatever... the guy has a christ complex...

[homeschool mama]

I'm so blessed by Elizabeth being home and in the arms of her loving family. I pray their reunion is sweet. This is indeed a happy day.

[CARepubGal]

Most shrinks are pretty whacked. There are some good peer support groups out there and rape crisis centers have mostly LDS volunteers and do pretty well at comforting the women and men who were assaulted. Anyway, getting back to normal life will be interesting for her(strong reactions to the darndest things are normal for awhile). I was a CA rape crisis volunteer (Utah does have a similar program I think) and it is actually a useful and helpful thing.

Freegards!

[dsutah]

I don't know. Why sit and let some guy threaten your little sister at gunpoint to be quiet, and go through the motions to put on such a kidnap act? Why not just slip out, and meet him on some street corner or something? Why put on such a drama just to go off with some older man? My, how romantic!/sarcasm

[Palladin]

How could you forget me! I'm insulted. I'm going to press the abuse button. ;)

[maui_hawaii]

There may be some final judgement but its not yours to make.

The traditional self righteous zealot motto: "the Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Pentacostals are ALL going to hell, but ______(insert religion here) are the right ones."

It boils down to "God says everyone (except me) is going to hell...", when in fact more often than not the believer of such thoughts most likely isn't even living as they should themselves. That is evidenced by the view they hold of their fellow man.