Elizabeth Smart looks back at her dramatic rescue | Nightline
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- Опубліковано 21 лис 2024
- Elizabeth Smart speaks with Juju Chang on the 20th anniversary of her rescue from her abductor and how she has turned her trauma into triumph.
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I deeply appreciate that she addressed the disproportionate attention her story got compared to other victims and survivors. Good interview!
@@Prettymisskay Bcuz the damn media keeps pestering her every year and she accepts the interviews.
@@Prettymisskay Because she may feel it important to share her story to every fresh set of ears. Because when white children disappear they get a disproportionate amount of attention and until that changes and we give an equal amount of attention to all victims, someone ha to speak up. I'd rather someone with first hand experience say this. And I appreciate she does so.
@@drubert1981 Oh, shut up you fool.
'White People' conceived, founded and were responsible for the construction of this nation, it is only natural that 'attention' remain focused upon the well-being of _their_ off-spring
If you are so 'disproportionately' worried about the fate of non-white children, then go to the lands where they make up the majority so that you might devote 'a disproportionate amount of attention' to the disappeared among the population.
@@manofiske3318 wow. Aren’t you a nasty little critter. May the hate you foster only grow within your own heart and poison you and no one else. I’m not interested in correcting the erroneous statements of fools, for you’d be no better after the corrections. One can only pray that you are sterile and that your mind corrodes as quickly as possible. Peace and blessings to that heart of yours.
@@drubert1981 the families make this happen by persistence in making public appearances on behalf of their missing loved one. It’s not the media doing this work. It’s the families. If other missing persons aren’t getting attention it’s because their families are sitting in their asses waiting for society to do the work. If someone goes missing the family needs to get up and keep shouting and searching. The cops will not do it. A black family from our town searched for their abducted neice and they actually found her held captive and the family raided the place with guns and beat his ass and carried her out and took her to hospital. She was bear death. Thank God the family didn’t give up or wait in silence for her to be found! We can’t rely on the public!
The woman that helped kidnap her did NOT get enough prison time. And what a courageous and amazing woman Elizabeth is! Glad to see she’s doing great now! She has a beautiful family!
I totally agree, she should have got a life sentence too...
Worse is the woman who helped to kidnap her was allowed to live not even a mile away from an elementary school.
@@aznmochibunny not only allowed to live there, but isn't her housing provided for by benefits?
I know two friends who were murdered by the same person who got less time that lady. Give me a break!
@@michellehenich5522 And your take is oh well instead of we should be locking up murderers for a long time too? You need therapy hun.
Gosh 20 years
I remember how I felt when I heard they found her
It was a miracle
Yes
I was at work and a coworker announced she'd been found alive. I didn't believe her. I was so relieved when I found it was true.
Same. I remember that day. I was walking past a newspaper dispenser and seen her picture, her hair in braids.
I do too. Look at her now.! I am so proud of her
Same. I assumed she was dead when she was found at a Chuck A Rama.
This woman is one of the strongest people I've ever seen. To go through what she did and still be so level-headed and well adjusted? That's remarkable. I hope her continued peace and blessings ❤️
And she never had therapy!
@@merebear87 that's WILD! She is truly amazing!
To fall into depression (after an incident like this) has nothing to do with missing strength.
@peggyengelsen1100 come on now, don't take it personal. It take a mentally strong person to overcome trauma like this! Do not discredit her. Others have turned to a life of drugs and alcohol. They are weaker. Doesn't make them bad people but give credit where it's due! Given all that happened to her, she is STRONG!
@@merebear87even if she did not go
To professional therapy, she did have unwavering love and support from her parents and family. She was given space and time to heal in a safe space and patient support and validation from her parents and from the media and public writ large.
Few long term abuse survivors receive those things. Instead they are left to scrape themselves together and move forward in their lives being someone who is misunderstood and ridiculed because they may act “different” than people who never endured what they did.
What a remarkable young woman. To have survived that and NOT let it define nor destroy her life. Incredible!!!
Yeah I remember she said her Mom said something to her that stuck with her. She said something like "that man took 9 months of your life. Don't let him take another day."
@@BrooklynAlien total resilience...glad she has been able to not let this take over her life in a negative way, instead she turned it into a positive and helps others. Her Mum was so spot on with saying that.
@@eggberta Yes! I literally use it when people piss me off and I want to spend the rest of the day hating them lol let it go ☺️
I am amazed on how well adjusted she. Incredible strength that she will pass on to her daughters.👍🏿💯🙏🏿
She is a testament of how her parents raised her.
What a remarkable young woman. It takes incredible strength to turn such a horrific experience into helping others. I’m sure it isnt pleasant to talk about but she does so to bring awareness and encourages others.
SO TRUE
I think it helps to talk about it
What does not help is ppl who tell victims its time to turn the page when no page will never be turned as its real thing and trauma.
She is brave. She must have been so scared and I understand her about not believing ppl could actually do this. I was the same when I grew up and I was very naive. It made me cross the road of many predators and bad ppl.
Parents really need to explain to their kids. Not just what is good and bad. Or ehat they should not do but instead why they should not do it and why ppl can be so mean and sick...
Elizabeth if you read this … the world prayed for you. The world cried tears of joy when you were found. You are so loved. Thank you for your example and for doing such good in our world ❤
Elizabeth has always handled herself with grace and dignity. She's such an inspiration 💗💗
I'm proud of her for surviving that terrible ordeal. I'm so glad she is doing better now. Found alive and her captures facing jail time.
She is 100 percent correct on education of the understanding of what rape is versus consent. Poor woman, my heart goes out to her!
Totally amazing woman. She took her trauma and has never stopped helping others!
She has gone into more detail about that in other interviews. After she was rescued, one of her biggest hurdles was being thrown back into her conservative environment, wondering if her worth was gone because her virginity was.
Whoever Elizabeth Smart’s therapist was/is the whole world needs to go to! 😆 Seriously, what an amazingly “normal,” strong, kind, productive woman still after a type of trauma that would cripple most people for the remainder of their lives. She’s an inspiration to all.
Her parents.
In her book she said she never went to therapy. Her parents said they would do whatever she wanted, but she didn't feel like therapy was the right approach. She said she used horses.
@@carrieberrykix Interesting! Being a lifelong horse person myself, I totally believe this. Horses (and dogs) are amazing animals that definitely have therapeutic qualities. Good for Elisabeth!
The Lord gave her the strength to get through.
The Lord and her stable parents.
She's such a kind, level headed young woman
Wow. 20 years. Elizabeth continues to be an amazingly gracious and stellar woman. God bless her and her beautiful family.
What a blessing she was able to have children after all the physical trauma.
Her husband is a young man she met doing missionary work I think he's from Ireland he had no idea her ordeal I think she's been with him since she was probably in her late teens.
I'm pretty sure her body was not "ruined" if that's what you're implying.
What a blessing that she was able to actually find a man she loved and have children outside of captivity. Jaycee Lee Duggard and Amanda Berry weren't so lucky.
@@EllieBellie_111 She could have been too physically and mentally injured.
@@EllieBellie_111 i cant speak for t crowder, but I think was meant that its a blessing she was able to heal physically. sometimes the damage done physically and especially repeatedly can damage pretty significantly. I know of one woman whose entire peroneum was ripped, because of forced anal and vaginal penetration, pelvic floor completely destroyed that she had to undergo a hysterectomy.
i got to meet her last year september and my goodness what a woman! so encouraging and down to earth, you would've never known she went through what she did, may God bless her and her family!
@Goodness Ifebigh does she have social media?
A truly exceptionally dignified lady! I do hope life will continue to be kind to her! God bless her and her family!
She’s amazing! I remember this story. Even being so young at the time. Also, did anyone notice they said “March 2023”, instead of 2003?
I just heard it and was like huh??
Every missing child deserves to be found.
Been following Elizabeth for years, it’s amazing the work she’s done and her resilience and motivation is evident within that work.
You are remembered Elizabeth. Wishing you and your entire family continued health and contentment.
What an important interview. So good to see what a great survivor and role model Elizabeth has become. Very best wishes to her and her lovely family.
I was a young mom when this happened and I remember it so well. First we were all hoping she was ok, then time kept passing by and we all thought that she was dead. The joy and excitement of finding her alive was soon overshadowed by the understanding that she probably went through hell and what would be left of her now that she has been gone so long was horrifying. I’m so glad she’s safe and she is a proponent of bringing other missing children’s stories to the forefront.
I am a sexual violence prevention educator and for years I have been using clips of Elizabeth Smart in my classes for parents. I love having this updated clip above to use.
Parents, clergy, teachers: LISTEN to her when she talks about the pain that abstinence-only education has caused her. She was raped, which was bad enough, but then laid there and reflected on the messages she was given saying that non-virgin girls are ruined and worthless. The psychological damage is huge. Glad to see she is thriving now.
I understand sometimes parents support these Christian programs out of love, or to protect their kids, but it's misguided. Research tells us these programs don't support teens. They DO cause huge shame in survivors of rape, incest, and childhood sexual abuse.
Please don't join child rapists in telling little girls they are worthless and dirty if they are victimized or have sex.
Well said.
@Kira -Lynn. Are you implying that God does not find everyone in his creation as valuable, worthy and made in His image? Did Christ not want everyone to come to Him as they are, whether that be a thief on a cross, a prostitute or someone who extorted extra money whilst collecting the taxes?
It is not wise to misrepresent love. Don't you know that God is love.
@Fay Turner
What a tone deaf comment. I don’t even understand the point. God is love so girls / women who are raped or assaulted should know they’re loved nevertheless? Do you realize how sick that sounds? That’s incredibly painful. It induces great grieving for childhood / virginity when occurring young, & the shame is made terribly worse when the victims have only heard the degrading messages about sexuality from the church.
I just don’t understand how your comment helps at all. Also most of the world isn’t even Christian. You are not the majority.
@Faye Turner
She wasn’t implying anything about god. She was talking about REALITY. Not myth.
@@fayturner6877
Maybe you're talked to about real Christ-like actions: loving, not judging, helping those in trouble?
But abstinence-only sex ed is all about telling girls in America that if they are already penetrated before marriage they are like a used kleenex, or chewed gum, or a piece of tape covered in hair and dirt: garbage.
These "education" programs say that what matters isn't how much God loves you or Christ loves you, but what matters to your inner worth is what a man did to you and your hymen.
She is an amazing example of a person overcoming extreme destruction in her life....
Bless Elizabeth. I have not endured a situation like this, but she is a frickin' hero and strong as nails. Still, the empathy and kindness in her endures. Folks, that is incredible strength.
She didn't let tragedy ruin her life, such a strong woman!
I was sat watching thinking, the attention this one child got due to background and colour, would not have been so willingly given in any other circumstance, so to hear her echo my thoughts herself a survivor, I commend her even more. A deeply thoughtful, caring example to us all.
Do you really not understand why a suburban girl from an area with like 0 crime, getting kidnapped and missing for months WOULDN'T be a big story?
It's the same reason someone who makes it big from poor areas gets more attention than some wealthy trust fund baby.
@@WTFBUTWHY I completely understand it, but still doesn't negate my point. You can look at two similar cases in the UK Ben Needham and Madeline McCann. Both went missing whilst abroad and in similar-ish circumstances. Madeline from a middle class background, with wealthy parents has received much more funding from the police and press attention, than the boy from a poorer background, who's mother had to fight to continue any sort of investigation and funding from the police. So yes whilst a girl being kidnapped from her room helped fuel the story, her affluence, colour and gender would've meant she was ''worthy' of the coverage as happens so often, name me any other child that went missing the week she did?
Big admirer of this little girl, she really came through that horrible time, healed and spends a lot of her time when she isn't wrangling her own kids helping others.
Such an extraordinary woman. Her strength is admirable. I’m so glad she was able to put the pieces of her life back together and go on to have her own family and advocate for other victims.
This woman is stronger than most of us could ever imagine
I am always in awe of Elizabeth; she's the walking definition of a strong, courageous, poised woman.
Such an amazing person you are, Elizabeth. To be able to move from all that abuse and create a normal and happy life is quite incredible! God bless you!
This may be irrelevant but her hair transformation is on point! Her and Auburn agree beautifully😍
What a strong , beautiful woman. I can not imagine what she went thru and look how she over came. I am so amazed and thrilled for her.
What a strong and courageous woman!
Shes lucky to have a loving supportive family. I imagine that has made all the difference.
Sooo glad she was found. I cant believe its been 20 years
I recall my heart being with her.
Bless her and all who need that care. May they find it also❤
Elizabeth is a voice of hope for every girl or woman that is sexually molested! She did not allow those monsters to define the rest of her life ❤❤
It depends on what the girl looks like, which always affects how they're treated by everyone throughout their lives.
@@bobo-kj6od What are you referring to?
Boys can be molested too.
Elizabeth Smart is a miracle. Her parents were amazing too.! For her to go through what she did, survive, and then devote her life to helping other victims/survivors is truely an astonishing act of love on her part. I bow to her strength, insight, courage, love, thoughtfulness and dedication. A true heroe.
Parents need to teach their kids that it's okay to scream, fight back, to cause a scene. So often we teach them not do these things, but they need to know that there are situations where fighting back can save their life.
💯🙌🏽👍🏽
He had a knife and told her not to scream. He threatened her family.
@@carollewis3912 I’m not referencing Elizabeth’s situation. Just reiterating what Elizabeth stated, about telling her kids, it’s okay to scream in certain situations.
@@lolah42 It would have been good that night if the alarm system had been on.
@@carollewis3912 I believe you should tell your child to scream anyway, if he is gonna kill you he will do it anyway, ifhe is not going to kill you he won't do it, he will run when you scream. I have heard so many times "don't get into a car by someone telling you they will kill you if you son't get in, scream as loud as you can and you might survive, he probably drives off because he does NOT want to be caught, but if you get into that car you will never be seen again".
I'm thankful for her honesty in sharing her experience. She nailed it on the head for survivors. There is a difference between something stolen from you, and consensual heart filled intimacy.
You are so amazing. What an example of selflessness. What lucky kids to have you as a mom.
My heart breaks for all this wonderful young woman had to go through. Very best wishes Elizabeth
"Bad things can happen to good people!" That's her parents said to her before the incident.
Yes, they said that to her , and that was making a difference. The great parents did not give only so much love, but
the real wisdom and strength. We, people, are very horrible creatures, but we, people, are also the most amazing creatures a well.
She said he was spotted in "March 2023"....come on ABC do better
Right. I had to rewatch just to confirm.
I picked up on that right away!! Like they couldn't have gone back and edited that??
It's not even March 2023 yet(as of the day of this post)
@@dharmawannab 🤭
@@dharmawannab thanks I hadn't noticed
She's one of the strongest human beings of all-time. No exaggeration.
Elizabeth Smart and Alison Botha (from SA). Don't know how these women managed to turn their horrific experiences into something positive!
She was lucky she wasn't killed after being ra**d most won't make it alive😑
I was her age. I saw the pictures asking for information. It was so scary. Feeling like you were safe in your home is awful
She is so strong. Elizabeth Smart is a hero. I hope she lives a healthy and full life.
Her kids have a fierce mother. Elizabeth is a warrior.
Amazing Elizabeth Smart. I followed your story from day one. So very happy you are safe and settled with your own family now. Love from South Africa.
Beautiful human being inside and out! Thank you, Elizabeth for all you do!
I still have goosebumps everytime I heard this sad story ..
such a gracious and courageous woman for speaking up! i wish her whole
family healing
Did anyone catch that she said that after the America's Most Wanted aired, they found him walking down the street in 2023 not 2003? I'm shocked that wasn't caught in editing.
Came to look for this comment !!
Right! I had to go back to see if I heard that correctly lol
I came lookin for this comment! Lol
What an absolute sweet soul. Bless her. Shes so lucky to be so good and strong spirited that she survived this horrific traumatic experience and lives a regular life and even helping other victims ❤
great interview. Elizabeth Smart is an amazing soul.
If it is meaningful to say that you love someone you've never met, then I love her. A true hero.
In college, I fought off an attacker and was able to stop him. As he grabbed me from behind, I swung my elbow backward with all of my strength while yelling "stop it" and hit him in the middle of his chest/stomach area with a lot of force. He fell backward and landed on the ground and I was able to escape. I was not trained for self defense and was just lucky. Training is a great idea.
Everything Elizabeth has stood for because of what she has gone through, has strengthened every little girl and big girl the world over. Nothing can prepare a girl for something like what Elizabeth and so many others have gone through, but hearing the testimony of these girls, and women, has enabled others to find their voice!
I will never understand how a human being can do this to another human being, especially a vulnerable teenage girl. Just disgusting.
Elizabeth is a very strong woman, and I hope she continues to heal from her trauma. But those 9 months will never be corrected, never be erased. Its so dreadful.
So proud of this young woman for working hard to make the most out of her life despite what she’s been through. Now she has a family of her own. So happy to see where she’s at now 💜
Just because somebody doesn't come out of trauma looking picture perfect like this lady doesn't mean they aren't just as strong.
Thank you Elizabeth for continuing to tell your story. I am SO happy you are here❤
Such a composed, beautiful person.
She is one lady that I have followed and truly respected her
I can't even imagine. I've watched a lot of her interviews and she said in one of them or maybe in a couple of them that she was raped every day for 9 months and she was just a young girl and I can't even imagine everything that her poor little body went through. And the fact that she was feeling shameful for being "ruined" because of that when it was no fault of her own is just heartbreaking absolutely heartbreaking.
Wow she looks so different from the time she was found amazing good lock god bless her an family
Her sisters description of the perp. Just wow kids are incredible 💫
Reading her book was a lesson in courage for me. Also kudos to John Walsh for keeping the story alive. 🙏🦋☮️
Strong and brave woman. I wish nothing but the best for her.
What an amazing, resilient, kind, just deep down good woman she is.
Elizabeth had great help and rightly sees herself as a survivor. She is not a victim. Teach your children that they are survivors not victims. Bravo for her and those she has been able to talk to and help. So many victims of rape have not had this positive influence.
WOW!I remember this story so clear, the Lori Poland story, my gosh! Brave and smart little girls - awesome young women. You have both done awesome things to turn this around and help others become survivors!
I remember where I was when I heard they got her. I was 16 listening to the radio and they said they got her, I always felt she was alive
I am so very thankful for answered prayers!!!! Wishing her & her family every blessing life can hold!!❤🙏❤🙏
Did I hear her right? Did she say the sketch was released in March of 2023? I'm just wondering if it was a mistake or I heard it wrong. I remember 20 years ago when this story unfolded and it was heartbreaking and I remember the day they announced she was found. It could have differently. Elizabeth you are a strong soul!!!!
No, you heard it right. I came looking for this comment. It's the 20 year anniversary coming up so I'm sure she meant 2003 but hard to believe nobody caught that in editing. And indeed Elizabeth is SO strong and inspiring.
Yeah. I also heard 2023. It just must have been a slip up that wasn't caught.
I heard it too and was so confused that I listened several more times. Just a human mistake.
I heard that too!
Elizabeth Smart, I have always admired your strength and your life. You are helping so many women. We look to you for being such a beautiful source in this world. God bless you.
Bless her ❤ glad she found a physical outlet and has moved forward with her life.
She is so so beautiful I remember when she was kidnapped. I was raising my kids, youngest is now 19 I'm so proud of Elizabeth I prayed for her
The fact that the woman has been released is insane to me
I agree. She absolutely needs a life sentence too.
She should have been sentenced to life in prison too. IMO
What a horrific experience! This woman is truly a survivor! Her spirit and splendor for life is astounding! Thank God for you!
One Powerfully Inspirational "Smart" Lady.
I remember I was at work (in Canada) the moment the news hit she was found and alive, and I held back tears of joy!
I forwarded the news to a friend who messaged back a similar sentiment!
Her book is so good! She went through so much.
A beautiful and sweet young woman. Proud of her, strong woman.🇨🇦🇨🇦❤️❤️
She’s so strong !
What a strong and good woman Elizabeth is. God bless her for helping others avoid what happened to her.
Elizabeth Smart sinônimo de resiliência!! Saudações do Brasil🇧🇷🙏❤️
She has risen above her awful experience and has given back with magnificent increases.
Kudos to Elizabeth, for lack of a more expressive word.
Blessed Be, Elizabeth. 💝✨🌍✨💝You’re making a profound impact on a lot of women.
Americas most wanted really needs to come back. It helped SO many people.
I remember this terrible time quite vividly. I’m just a year younger than her, and I remember feeling scared that something like that could happen to me or one of my friends. Ms. Smart has been through hell and she chose to draw on her awful experience to save others and that is absolutely remarkable. I wish her and her beautiful family peace and happiness. 💗
What a remarkable woman.
Not only is Elizabeth so strong as a survivor, she is an effective and impact making activist helping the cause and is so eloquent in doing so.
She, by example, informs, warns, and helps to prevent such things happening.
Very inspiring.
She is truly Elizabeth Smart and Elizabeth Strong.
Nice to see that she has three beautiful children (looking much like herself) after her ordeal. She beat the odds and won in life.
Her upbringing, family and other support, and her faith may have helped her positively.
God bless her and her family.
The sketch was shown in March 2023!! So we haven’t found her yet!🤔
Lol yeah, I was like 'what?'.
Glitch in the matrix
Should of said 2003 I think lol
There’s a mistake in this story at 4:51, Juju Chang says that eyewitness saw Elizabeth in March 2023 - except it was 2003. I don’t know if ABC can correct this video in post, or re-upload it, but that’s a big error to leave in the video.
she can predict the future :D
She's the living embodiment of not a victim. 🙏
Our media needs to give more women like Elizabeth Smart attention and less people like, say, Kanye West. She is really an icon of survival and steadfast resilience.
Thank you for the example you are sharing, that trauma can be overcome, it is possible to not remain a victim for the rest of your life. A video of your wedding stays with me. It showed your father beaming at you and his gaze was filled with such intense love and joy that it took my breath away. It was beautiful. You are beautiful. Much love.❤
She looks amazing her family is beautiful 👏🏾
Never forget Elizabeth Smart! She’s a brave woman. Most people don’t even realize they’re in a bad situation until they end up in the grave. She’s a warrior and survived horrors 🌹🌹🌹
I can hardly beloved the victim shaming remarks here. I hope they get deleted. Unbelievable.
I adore this woman. Can’t say much, she’s the best, just the best thing almost ever🌹🌹🌹.
It’s like God, creation, humanity and Elizabeth Smart. She’s awesome
Amazing interview but equally amazing no one at ABC caught the blunder at 4:52
Her story to this day is incredible. She is a survivor and has come out the other side with such a strong sense of self.Blessings to her .