Film & TV3 min(s) read
Girl who witnessed her sister’s abduction identified the culprit after reading Guinness World Records book
The case of Elizabeth Smart’s abduction was one that shocked the United States, making national headlines when she went missing in June 2002.
For nine months, the country watched in disbelief as the young girl was held captive, enduring unimaginable horrors.
Her sister, Mary Katherine, was a key figure in the investigation from the start, as she was the only witness to the abduction, watching a man break into their home and take Elizabeth at knifepoint.
Mary Katherine was just nine years old at the time, and her recollection of the event became crucial in helping authorities.
In a new Netflix documentary titled Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart, Mary Katherine opened up about her role in solving the case. Although the investigation initially focused on her account of the abduction, it was her discovery, months later, that ultimately led to the identification of Elizabeth’s kidnapper, Brian David Mitchell.
A breakthrough from an unexpected source
In the documentary, Mary Katherine recalled how she spent her sleepless nights after the abduction, flipping through books and trying to piece together the details of the kidnapping.
“After my sister was kidnapped I was very frightened to go to sleep, my dad would have to come in and tuck me in and while I was waiting for him I would be looking at books or racking my brain about who could have taken Elizabeth,” she shared.
It was during one of these late-night sessions that she flipped through a Guinness World Records book and had a sudden realization. Four months after Elizabeth’s abduction, she made a connection.
“For some random reason in that moment the name popped into my head and I knew immediately who was in my bedroom June 2002, that’s the man who kidnapped Elizabeth,” Mary Katherine said.
Police skepticism and ultimate confirmation
Despite her recognition, the authorities were initially hesitant to follow Mary Katherine’s lead. The police were focused on a different suspect, a man who had died in custody.
However, when Mary Katherine mentioned the name “Immanuel,” the alias used by the kidnapper, Brian David Mitchell, her father Ed Smart knew they were onto something. “Lois and I had gone out for the evening and when we got home Mary Katherine had said ‘I think I know who it is, and she said it was ‘Immanuel’,” Ed recalled.
Mitchell had previously met their mother, Lois, while preaching in their town as a homeless man. He was offered work on the family’s house, and it was during this time that Mary Katherine had first encountered him.
Her memory of him was jogged when she revisited the Guinness World Records book. Eventually, a police sketch based on her description led to Mitchell’s capture.
Elizabeth’s harrowing ordeal lasted for nine months, during which she was subjected to repeated abuse. Despite the suffering, Elizabeth has spoken out about her experiences with incredible courage, emphasizing how the filmmakers behind the documentary approached her story with sensitivity and respect.
“They wanted to be so sensitive to me. Well, I didn’t go on vacation, I definitely wasn’t just sunbathing up in the mountains waiting for someone to come and rescue me,” she said.
Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart is now available to stream on Netflix.