Elizabeth Smart was born on 3rd November 1987 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is the second of six children born to Lois and Ed Smart, both devout members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her mother is a homemaker and her father is a highly successful real estate developer.
She was sought out to perform as a harpist at local weddings and funerals, and she played numerous recitals—including opening for the Utah Symphony under Salt Lake City's Capitol Rotunda. Smart was also a skilled equestrienne and distance runner who was training to compete in cross-country racing when she reached high school.
She and her family attended an end-of-year awards ceremony at her school, where she won several awards for academics and physical fitness. Early the next morning, about an hour after midnight, Smart was awakened in the bedroom she shared with her younger sister Mary Katherine by the sound of footsteps and the feeling of cold metal against her cheek.
After several months, it suddenly occurred to Mary Katherine that the kidnapper resembled a man who had once worked on their home as a handyman and who had called himself Immanuel. Police discovered that Immanuel was a man named Brian David Mitchell, and in February 2003 America's Most Wanted aired his photograph. Finally, on March 12, 2003, a passerby recognized Mitchell walking with Smart—who was veiled and wearing a wig and sunglasses.
She was sought out to perform as a harpist at local weddings and funerals, and she played numerous recitals—including opening for the Utah Symphony under Salt Lake City's Capitol Rotunda. Smart was also a skilled equestrienne and distance runner who was training to compete in cross-country racing when she reached high school.
She and her family attended an end-of-year awards ceremony at her school, where she won several awards for academics and physical fitness. Early the next morning, about an hour after midnight, Smart was awakened in the bedroom she shared with her younger sister Mary Katherine by the sound of footsteps and the feeling of cold metal against her cheek.
After several months, it suddenly occurred to Mary Katherine that the kidnapper resembled a man who had once worked on their home as a handyman and who had called himself Immanuel. Police discovered that Immanuel was a man named Brian David Mitchell, and in February 2003 America's Most Wanted aired his photograph. Finally, on March 12, 2003, a passerby recognized Mitchell walking with Smart—who was veiled and wearing a wig and sunglasses.
