FBI Source: Elizabeth Smart Was Married to Drifter

MSNBC ^ | March 13, 2003 | Ashley Banfield

[ewing]

breaking now..

[glory]

Well well, what says those who said she ran away? Given the culture of the mormon church regarding marriage-it's forever and women are generally obedient to their husbands, it's not hard to understand why Elizabeth would have thought that now she had some kind of connection. Hell this dork may have even told her that her parents had "given" her in marriage to him. Elizabeth was too young yet to understand the obedience expected of a wife in the Bible and could probably be easily manipulated to believe it was something it was not.

This poor girl, so this likely means she was sexually assaulted--damn shame! I hope they can get her the help she needs and some day when she is much older, she finds a real husband of HER choice whom adores her and respects her. Let's hope her family and church are sensitive enough to let her know that this does not make her unclean in anyway.

[JimRed]

What the hell was going on there, that a drifter that looks like Charles Manson can live in a teepee in the desert and wander the streets panhandling with two women in veils and headscarves -- and nobody investigates? Especially with a young teen girl in tow?

(In my best Mr. Rogers voice [God rest his soul]) "Can you say "political correctness? I knew you could!"

[DAnconia55]

If you haven't been exposed to someone good using brainwashing techniques...

No such animal.

[glory]

Umm..still kidnapping. I'm thinking that in the state of Utah and girl of 14/15 still needs to have her parent's consent to marry and my guess is this is not a legal marriage anyway given the fact that the guy is already married to someone else and I doubt he walked a 14 yr old in to the marriage license office and got a legal license.

[Alberta's Child]

The old "the slut was asking for it" doesn't apply to 14 year-olds.

No, but the old "reasonable doubt" certainly does apply, even to a case involving the alleged abduction of a 14 year-old.

If this case ever goes to trial, I'll tell you right now that there will be one huge indicator about whether she was abducted or not -- let's see if the prosecution calls on the younger sister as a witness.

Because you can bet the defense will, and we'll really see what all those discrepancies in the "official story" are all about.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

I would like to believe otherwise,however I think this case is so strange. I have been wondering this myself. Espicially since the parents and family "just knew" she would be back. I still think Elizabeth was a vicitm of brianwashing, however I think it may have happened before she was "taken". It makes sense to me, considering all of the info we have gotten thus far. Just some common sense stuff leads me to believe the parents may have known more than they were telling the media. BTW... If my child were missing / "runaway" I would do the same thing they did. Why not use the Media to help find the kid.

If I am correct, I don't balme the family for using the media to help find a missing person, even if they knew she was a victim of brainwashing and ran away.

She is still too young to be held accountable in a situation like this, but she is old enough to be honest. Her family should come clean now, if they were hiding anything.

[glory]

I agree Revolting--I think the fact that she went relatively unnoticed has so much to do with the tolerance crap. A crazy looking man in a white robe and turban, ushering along two unusually quiet women with veils on their face, one who looks young enough to be a child. Nothing to see here--move along.

[AppyPappy]

Nonetheless, if she just ran away, it wouldn't be a problem. The drifter assisted her and married her. He will fry for that.

[Mihalis]

I saw that program and I agree with you. I don't know why they don't round them all up.

[glory]

I agree with you. While I think the smiles are authentic and she is indeed happy to be home, that may be saving her right now from facing just what she has been through. I too see a sort of detached aching in her eyes. The girl is going to need a lot of sensitivity and a lot of care to get through this.

[Mihalis]

I think this case is a huge failure of the SLC police and the FBI.

[NautiNurse]

is a huge failure of the SLC police and the FBI

In what specific way?

[glory]

BRAVO--I totally agree!

[tomkat]

Welcome to Free Republic!

really !
ain't it awesome the way some of these pilgrims have FR all figured out after a whopping 30 days on board ?

foflmao

[Kentucky]

The sicko staged a bizzar "marriage" ceremony. what choice did she have. We don't know if a knife was at her throat, was she bound and gagged. She was kidnapped in the middle of the night. More than likely thinking if I just go along maybe they won't kill me.

[glory]

I thought I remember that too, but if this were the case and depending on the size of the cuts, my guess is he cut it to get in and then as he's taking ES out of the room, he probably had to cut it again, to open the hole he came in bigger, for both of them to get out, assuming of course, he had to hold her in some way to get her out of there.