Posted on 03/12/2003 8:01:09 PM PST by 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.”
What he is saying is NOT true, and does not even refer to 'garments' or as you say 'underwear'.
If he were refering to those he would be even more wrong.
Yes they did. and the scrutiny that the Smart's came under was the result of many flame wars here.
I privately apologized to some via e-mail today as I was one of the more vocal in accusing (wrongfully) the Smart's knowing more than they were telling.
"Actually, it's not ignorant. Everything he says about the "temple underwear" is true."
If you believe this there is little hope for you.
A photo from today? Why is no one else running the photo. Have any Freepers seen it?
What error? Jeeze help me out here. Rather than just say wrong, Wrong, WRONG! Please set me straight. I know I may not be "worth it" but I do not mean any harm. Last month I went to Hill Cammorah(sic) and the Sacred Grove and was fascinated.
What? Don't reply to idiots like me, or to make the effort to educate someone that is genuinely interested.
To read your post, I'm not worth it.
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