Elizabeth Smart Found ALIVE!!!

[zurgswife]

Miracle!!!!

 

[Olaf]

This is an absolute miracle. So wonderful for her family.

I don't even want to think about what the poor girl has been through. She's going to need intensive therapy; I hope she gets it.

 

[4greatboys]

What a miracle! I am so happy they found her alive. So many times the outcome is a horrible one but times like this give you hope for the others.

 

[fklhou]

This is truly wonderful news but what the heck was she doing with this homeless guy all of the time. I am glad that she was found and is safe but there is more to this story.

 

[Mermaid02]

Thank heavens she is okay! I never in a million years thought this case would end up like this!!

It will be interesting to find out what happened... if Ricci was involved or not and what kind of threats this guy made.

 

[robinb]

This is wonderful news! I'm so happy for Elizabeth and her family.

 

[Liz]

Some people can truly be jerks (not the real word I'm thinking). They interviewed a lady on TV who said "I hope she realizes what she's put her family through!" Yeah, its all her fault. Sure.

I've heard several other comments about why couldn't she just run away or scream, etc. but until someone walks in her shoes and endures such a horrible situation no one can place any blame. The precious child did what she had to do to keep herself alive until she could be found. Bless her.

 

[Dan Murphy]

A wonderful story today. Thank God.

 

[phanomouse]

I agree with you liz but you've got to admit it is a valid question... I live in Salt Lake, I worked with Utah Search and Rescue on this case and many others. When she was found today, I received a phone call from the family spokes person to tell me the good news. I asked for details and he didn't know anything... since that point I have had the News on the TV and the Radio listening to everything... People have pictures of her 9 blocks from her home at a party with over 200 people. She was seen at the very same Grocery store that I shop at. Granted she was almost completely covered. I am guilty of thinking the exact same thing... Why didn't she motion to someone, why didn't she run? I mean 9 blocks away, that is like a morning jog distance. They have also found that for a while she was living with her kidnapper 3 miles away from her home in the mountains DIRECTLY behind her home... I searched those mountains, I feel guilty that I didn't find anything as do the rest of our team. But 3 miles??? I think it is just human to want to know why she didn't try do alert someone? I am glad she is home, I have known the family a long time they are very glad to have her back. I don't think that she went willingly or that she didn't want to be back home, but I do have to say that I think that it is perfectly normal to ask that sort of question when no one knows what happened and we are all wondering where she has been, what has she been doing, what were the circumstances???

 

[Mermaid02]

Well this man went into her house (where children are supposed to feel the safest) and took her. In her eyes she must have seen him as powerful...... there comes a time when people are kidnapped that they kind of resolve themselves to "this has what has happened, now I accept it and will concentrate on surviving" I saw several DR's talk about this since she has been found. Plus who knows what threats he used.

That being said it MUST be so frustrating for people to know that she was at times- right under their noses.

 

[Dizzy-Disney4]

That is the most wonderful news. I can't even imagaine the joy her parents must be feeling. Miracles do happen.

 

[Serena]

Is anyone sick and tired already of the media speculating on whether she went with him willingly???

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I am getting a little tired of the media already. I hope that they can leave the family alone so everyone can heal from what has happened. I just can't believe they found her alive. I'm still in shock. It is truly a miracle to me!

Prayers and pixie dust continue.....

 

[Serena]

Me too Lucky.

 

[cybrarian]

Supposedly when the police first questioned Elizabeth she used alot of obscenities. Either this guy is a great brain washer or she was on drugs. I too have to wonder why she didn't escape. After all, she knows how to use the phone and her captors have to sleep some time. Very strange.

 

[MosMom]

I don't think anyone should speculate until the facts come out because WHO KNOWS what those people did to her. They could have tied her up at night or when they were away. They could have told her they would murder her entire family if she ran. There are a million and one ways to manipulate a child into doing what you want.

 

[Liz]

You know if the kidnappers and Elizabeth were living in the mountains and in homeless communities, etc. I'm sure she wasn't seeing all the news coverage and probably didn't have any idea of the magnitude of the search for her, or that so many people knew her face and name. So if she had yelled out in a store or something "I'M ELIZABETH SMART!" she was probably thinking people would look at her like "so????" and then she'd have to deal with her kidnappers.

Sure there are questions but I just know in my heart if she felt she could get away she would have. Maybe they told her if she got away they'd come back for her sister or something. We just don't know.

Lori, I respect your right your to your opinion but I totally disagree with you 100%.

 

[vald1977]

Originally posted by MosMom
I don't think anyone should speculate until the facts come out because WHO KNOWS what those people did to her. They could have tied her up at night or when they were away. They could have told her they would murder her entire family if she ran. There are a million and one ways to manipulate a child into doing what you want.

I agree with you 100%.

I am just so overjoyed that this miracle has happened and this young girl is back home with her family!

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by Serena
Is anyone sick and tired already of the media speculating on whether she went with him willingly???

Yes and I'm also tired of the police and FBI patting themselves on the backs for "bringing Elizabeth home". They act like they found her when in reality if it weren't for the media and some alert citizens she would still be out there somewhere. The police really dropped the ball on this one.

 

[s&k'smom]

I am truly grateful they found her and she can begin the long road of healing. But I am truly amazed at what kinds of questions the reporters asked. Now she had just been found and the reporters at the news conference were asking questions that bordered on silly. One expert I was listening to last night mentioned something called the Stockholm Syndrome. In a nutshell it's when the victim is some strange way identifies with the kidnapper. For example what happened to Patty Hearst. Sort of like to stay alive she has to go along with what they say or something like that and that she's so grateful that they haven't hurt her she does go along with it. Can you imagine how frightened she was. I've heard many abuse victims say if they tell the abuser will hurt a family member. I hope this makes sense. In the end all that matters is that she has been found and she is with her family.