Elizabeth Smart has been found alive!

[Sue]

Most stories like this don't end well but miracles do happen. After being missing for 9 month, Elizabeth Smart has been found alive!

[startn]

What a happy, happy time for her and her family!! One reporter said the police are calling it a 'Miracle'... And sadly most do not end this way!! But thank goodness this one did!

[Luna Sea]

OMG - that is such great news!!! This truly is a miracle......I am so happy!!

The Yahoo News story is at:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...lizabeth_smart

[bognrin]

The whole state is so crazy with happiness! Thank God that two people recognized the kidnapper and called police. Here is a link to a local news station.
KSL Link

[TTBK]

I am SO happy and relieved to FINALLY see a happy ending to a story! most or maybe all end so sad or with no answers at all, so this was just the best! I am SOOOO happy for those people who called in the lead and it turned out! just goes to show anyone can make a difference! i cant wait to hear more and hopefully she was unharmed!

What a wonderful Miracle! I cant imagine how happy her family is and how wonderful the reunion must have been! Just gives me goosebumps thinking bout it!

[peachfront]

...something is wrong. She acted like she didn't want to be found. She was wearing a wig and pretending to be someone else. MSNBC.com claims that on several previous occasions, police officer stopped Elizabeth and she claimed another name.

[Luna Sea]

It is curious - but then again - there's no telling what Elizabeth has gone through for 9 months - sadly.

I have heard the words "brainwashed" and "drugs" being thrown around in various news articles I've read today. They've even quoted Elizabeth's dad as saying she was definitely brainwashed.

It makes me think of the 'Stockholm Syndrome'

"The term, Stockholm Syndrome, was coined in the early 70's to describe the puzzling reactions of four bank employees to their captor. On August 23, 1973, three women and one man were taken hostage in one of the largest banks in Stockholm. They were held for six days by two ex-convicts who threatened their lives but also showed them kindness. To the world's surprise, all of the hostages strongly resisted the government's efforts to rescue them and were quite eager to defend their captors. Indeed, several months after the hostages were saved by the police, they still had warm feelings for the men who threatened their lives. Two of the women eventually got engaged to the captors.

If grown people can act so strangely after only six days of captivity and threats....what would it be like for a 15/16-year-old child after 9 months? It's really scary and I think we know so little of the specifics at this point.

And even though I am thrilled for the Smart family - they are so very lucky - I am afraid they have much to work through with Elizabeth. My prayers are with them all.

[startn]

Ditto Luna...I find it hard to believe the insenstivity of people asking 'why did she stay with him'...'why didn't she run when she could'...'why did she deny who she was on occasions'...Sorry but right now most all of that is nothing but speculation by the press.

There will be so much for her and her family to work through as to what all took place, what this maniac did to her and how she's physically and emotionally survived the ordeal. She is so very, very lucky. And her family so very blessed to have had it turn out the way it has. (But they have a long road yet!)

My cousin was kidnapped....when she and I were both 13. By someone the family had made aquaintance with...and sadly they were not this fortunate. He brutally sexually assaulted her, and killed her. It took 2 1/2 years for them to find the 'Bastard' that did it...and they only found him then because he did it again to another little girl. (He also had two young daughters of his own!) The devestation of something like this is everlasting to everyone it touches. It's been 36 years since this happened in our family. And even that many years ago, the 'speculations' by the press and public were almost as devestating as the loss of her was.

So my heart is so thankful that the Smart's have their daughter back and have enough love to see Elizabeth through it.

Our prayers will continue to be with them all!

[Luna Sea]

HUGS to you, Sandie. I am SO sorry to hear that about your cousin. That is so tragic and sad.

[peachfront]

That's really horrible about your cousin. My heart goes out to you.

I guess what I'm saying is, I don't believe Elizabeth was kidnapped. It sounds like she was with this couple voluntarily. You don't lie to police officers, on multiple occasions, about your name if you are with kidnappers. Sadly, I agree that teen-agers do often run away to take drugs with drifters and ne'er do wells. It is tragic but it happens every day, and nothing is said in the press. I could list the names of any numbers of friends and acquaintances as teens who ran away and took drugs and never got one mention in the newspapers. But they made this case out to be something else -- to the point where an innocent man was put in prison and "somehow" died.

This girl caused a lot of problems for a lot of people. I hope she gets the treatment she needs, because she is going to need help when she realizes what she has put her family and the Ricci family through.

Unfortunately, even though it seems ugly at times, it is the job of the press to ask questions, especially when issues of public funding are at stake.

[TTBK]

I think she was probably brainwashed and therefore didnt speak to police officers or others. plus she could have been threatened that if she ran or got help her family or herself would be hurt or worse. that would make a lot of teens think and just be scared for their life. plus they are talking she might have been sexually abused too, and that wouldnt be somethign she volunteered to do (showing signs of being forcefully raped if that be what they are talking bout, they havent let out any information formally yet). I dont think she went with them voluntarily, if she ran away that would be one thing but its too much of a coincendence that the guy worked in their house for a short bit etc. if she wanted to run away she wouldnt be within miles of her home. just my opinion.

we will probably never know, but i am sure if she wanted to be with them the guy emmanual or whatever it is would be saying, she left voluntarily with us, she wasnt held against her will and that isnt being said at all.

I am just thankful she is home and praying that she can get over whatever she endured.

[Luna Sea]

The more I hear about these two criminals-freaks, Mitchell and Barzee, the madder I get. They took this precious child forcibly from her home by knifepoint and the wife assisted the husband (that very night) in his sexual molestation of Elizabeth. The more Mitchell talks, the more heinous and delusional he truly sounds. Then they threatened to hurt/kill her or her family if she didn't fully cooperate. No wonder she cooperated fully and didn't try to escape. Just imagine......if you thought causing trouble for your captors would truly put someone you loved in jeopardy - what would you do? That would be hard to deal with as an adult, let alone as a young teenager.

Now we hear that Mitchell even tried to kidnap Smart's older cousin a few weeks after kidnapping Elizabeth...to add to his collection of "wives." How sick is that?

Also remember that Mitchell had been arrested for vandalizing a church - and released - during Smart's captivity....so why wouldn't she think he would be released this time as well? I am quite certain that Elizabeth was told over and over (amongst other things) that if she talked, no one would believe her and when they got her in private - very bad things would happen to her and her family. That so typical for kidnapping brainwashing. That would certainly account for her panic around police. One she was sure she was safe and would not be returned to those idiots, she started talking to officials.

For the record, Richard Ricci wasn't an innocent man. He was a career criminal who already in jail for parole violations when suspicion was cast on him for Elizabeth's kidnapping. And his death was by brain hemorrhage - hardly questionable means. He obviously wasn't involved in Elizabeth Smart's kidnapping - but he is hardly a saint. If Ricci had lived - and all of this other news had come out about Mitchell and Barzee - he would have served his current time and walked. There is no way his death was caused by his kidnapping suspicion. Sorry - I just don't buy that.

Anyway, I can't even fathom what Mitchell and Barzee put Elizabeth through....I pray none of our children ever have to go through this kind of hell. I also hope Mitchell and Barzee get their just rewards. I truly do.

I just had to vent. I think a lot of things in life are sad and awful but the mistreatment of children is the worst. I have no pity and zero tolerance for people who hurt kids. None.

[carmel camel]

For those of you who believe that Elizabeth Smart went with David Mitchell willingly please read the following report:

LINK

[Luna Sea]

Thank you, Carmel Camel.

[Luna Sea]

Thank you, Carmel Camel.

[startn]

Boy did you nail it on the head Luna!!! HURRAY!!!

For anyone to have even entertained the notion that Elizabeth left 'voluntarily' with this creep and his creepy wife is just ludicrist. This was so 'A Typical' of a Kidnapped victim...Her behavior throughout the 9 months was also typical for someone who is scared, beaten down, brainwashed, and convinced that this is now 'her life'....even around other people, public activities and even the Police! For a 14 year old 'child' to have survived all she endured is both admirable and a miracle.

And I couldn't agree more about Ricci...he was a "CRIMINAL"...serving time as a 'Criminal'...and died from a Brain Anurism....not from anything related to this case...and to suggest that an 'innocent man' died....and it was some how caused by "all this child put people through" is just rediculous...

And sorry to disagree Peachfront...but I don't care if I peraonally handed the Press $10.000 of my own money...or if it's 'public funded' money...It's not a matter if it 'seems ugly sometimes for them to have to ask questions'....The Press and Media in general are 'out of control'....in almost every area that they report. And have been for years...and it's just getting worse and worse!! THIS.. 'unfortunately' is just another example of their maliciousness to "try to get a scoop", "be the first to know", and "make a headline as 'shocking' as they can".. at the expense of...and with no reguard for People's lives! Most Reporters and Media are right up there with 'Lawyers' on their lack of morals, ethics and human concern..Everytime I hear of a Reported getting 'decked' by someone....I applaud!!!!

[carmel camel]

You're welcome Luna!

This is a horrible and tragic thing that happened to a young girl, and I don't feel that she, of all people, needs to be scrutinized and blamed for what happened to her. People feel that if they can not understand another persons actions than that person must be at fault. Until you have been abducted at knifepoint, sexually abused, and had your life and the life of your family members threatened, you have no right to form any sort of opinion against her. I am a social worker by degree and profession, therefore I realize that in a irrational situation one can do irrational things in order to cope with the situation. Although I do not feel that it takes any sort of degree to figure out that Elizabeth Smart did what she needed to do to stay alive, and to do anything else could result, in her mind, her death or the death of a family member.

O.K. I'll get off my soapbox now.

[startn]

DITTO, DITTO, DITTO To you Carmel Camel!!

You are so correct.....and you can stay on your 'soap box' as long as you want!!

It's human instint to do 'what ever is nessessary' to survive! She's one tough little cookie if you ask me!!! And although I know she'll need alot of help and love..I think she'll overcome this ordeal with flying colors!