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Netflix's new crime documentary, called Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart, brings to light what happened to the 14-year-old girl who was abducted in 2002 by Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee. The documentary is a culmination of interviews from her family, investigators, and others involved with the case.
Currently, the documentary is set for release on January 21, 2026, and Elizabeth herself will open up about what happened. It took her over two decades to be ready to properly talk about it. Regarding the documentary, she says that,
"I hope it brings comfort that there are happy endings."
It took around nine months until she was finally found. Throughout that time, the culprit raped her continuously. The abductor was given a life sentence, while his wife was sentenced to 15 years. The forensic psychologists also said that Mitchell had narcissistic personality disorder.
The real story behind Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart
The incident discussed in Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart took place during the early hours of June 5, 2002. Mitchell broke into a house in Salt Lake City where the victim lived. He took her at knifepoint, and while he was doing this, Elizabeth's sister Mary was awake but afraid, so she pretended to sleep.
As soon as the abductor left with Elizabeth, Mary woke up and tried to warn her parents. However, Mitchell hadn't left yet, so she went back into the room, afraid, and it wasn't until after a couple of hours that she finally checked if they were gone. After that, around 4 in the morning, she told her parents, who didn't believe her and told her that it was just a dream.
When Mary was asked about the man, she described him as someone of the same height as her brother Charles and soft-spoken. She also said that his voice was somehow familiar.
Elizabeth tells Tudum ahead of Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart's release that,
"There will be victims and survivors who watch this, and I hope they realize they’re not alone, and that they don’t have to be ashamed of what happened to them. And I hope that people who watch this can gain compassion and understanding for other families who are going through this."
While Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart will throw more light on this incident, she has also tried to narrate her story before in a crime television film called I Am Elizabeth Smart, which was released in 2017.
How were the kidnappers identified?
During the time Elizabeth was with the kidnappers, they relocated several times to avoid being spotted by the investigators. However, it was Mary who became the lifesaver of her sister.
She said that the family hired a man called Immanuel for a day. Though the investigators were a bit skeptical at first, they sketched the description Mary gave them.
The picture was rolled publicly and was identified by some people in 2003. When the police finally caught them, Elizabeth told them that she was Augustine Marshall. However, she was soon recognized following the arrest.
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