Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapping became one of the most high-profile missing person cases in U.S. history after she was abducted at age 14 from her home in Utah in 2002. Her nine-year-old sister, Mary Katherine, witnessed a man hold a knife to Elizabeth’s throat and take her away. For months, investigators struggled with false leads and suspects, while Mary insisted she recognized the kidnapper’s voice as someone who had previously worked in their home. Four months into the search, Mary’s memory was triggered while reading a Guinness World Records book, where the name “Immanuel” suddenly reminded her of the man she had seen. That name belonged to Brian David Mitchell, a preacher who had once visited the family. Although police were initially skeptical, the family pushed forward, releasing a sketch that ultimately led to Mitchell’s identification and arrest.

Elizabeth was found alive nine months later, having endured horrific abuse in captivity. In the new Netflix documentary Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart, both sisters recount the trauma and resilience that shaped their lives. Elizabeth speaks openly about her suffering and survival, emphasizing the importance of telling the full truth of her experience to empower other victims. Mary’s bravery as a child witness and her determination to trust her memory became the key to bringing her sister home. Today, the documentary not only revisits a haunting crime but highlights the strength of a family who refused to stop searching, ultimately turning tragedy into advocacy, awareness, and hope for survivors everywhere.