Elizabeth Smart’s Life Today: Finding Peace After the Unthinkable
Elizabeth Smart’s story is one the world will never forget. Kidnapped from her bedroom at just 14 years old, held captive for months, and subjected to horrific abuse, her case became one of the most closely followed missing-child stories in America.
Now, more than two decades later, Elizabeth Smart is telling her story again — not to relive the trauma, but to show what healing can look like.
Her new documentary, Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart, revisits the events of her abduction while focusing on something just as important: how she reclaimed her life afterward.
Elizabeth’s message is simple but powerful. Even after terrible things happen, it is still possible to live a meaningful, joyful, and fulfilling life.
Revisiting the Abduction — With Purpose
The documentary recounts the night Elizabeth was taken from her home in Salt Lake City by Brian David Mitchell, a street preacher her family had previously hired for small jobs. For nine months, Elizabeth endured unimaginable abuse before being recognized by passersby and rescued by police in Sandy, Utah.
This time, Elizabeth says the story was told with care.
She explains that the filmmakers were deeply concerned about not retraumatizing her. While she appreciated their sensitivity, she wanted the truth to be told honestly.
The final version struck that balance. It did not soften what happened, but it also did not sensationalize it.
When Elizabeth watched the finished documentary, she felt proud. She believes it honored her story and showed the reality of survival without turning her pain into spectacle.
Where Is Elizabeth Smart Now?
Marriage, Motherhood, and a Quiet Life in Utah
In 2012, Elizabeth married Matthew Gilmour, a Scottish native she met while on a mission trip to Paris. One of the things she values most about their relationship is that he did not know her story when they met.
To him, she was not a headline or a survivor. She was simply Elizabeth.
Today, they live in Utah with their three children. Elizabeth enjoys a life that looks ordinary on the surface — and that is exactly what makes it meaningful to her.
She jokes that her family sometimes dreams about moving to Scotland, but she knows her heart belongs in Utah. She still gets recognized in public places like grocery stores and Costco, though less so outside the state.
For Elizabeth, being able to live quietly, raise her children, and enjoy everyday moments is a victory she does not take lightly.
Parenting After Trauma
Elizabeth’s experience has deeply shaped how she approaches motherhood.
She is open about being extra cautious and intentional when it comes to her children’s safety. Sleepovers are not allowed, and conversations about boundaries and body safety are common in her home.
She emphasizes teaching children the correct names for body parts and removing shame from those conversations. For Elizabeth, education is a form of protection.
Her goal is not to instill fear, but awareness — and to make sure her children know that their safety always comes first.
Turning Pain Into Purpose
Advocating for Survivors
Elizabeth has dedicated much of her adult life to supporting survivors of sexual violence.
She believes strongly in the power of stories. Statistics may inform, but stories connect on a human level and stay with people long after the facts fade.
That belief is one of the reasons she agreed to participate in the documentary. She wants survivors to see themselves reflected and to know they are not alone.
Elizabeth also helps run a survivor fund that provides practical support, such as help with medical expenses, housing costs, travel, and education. While the fund is modest, she says every bit matters when someone is trying to rebuild their life.
Writing Her Way Back to Normalcy
Elizabeth recently released her third book, Detours, a memoir focused on her journey toward what she calls “normal.”
For her, normal does not mean forgetting the past. It means living fully despite it.
She finds joy in simple pleasures: family dinners, movie nights, trips to their cabin, boating, and spending time outdoors. Watching her children ski — often better than she can — brings her pride and happiness.
These everyday moments are proof, she says, that healing is possible.
How Elizabeth Felt Watching the Documentary
Interestingly, Elizabeth did not find herself emotionally overwhelmed watching her own interviews in the film.
What moved her most were the interviews with her family.
As a teenager, she believed her family had suffered less because they were together while she was alone. Seeing the pain they carried for years gave her a new understanding — especially now that she is a parent herself.
She describes that realization as deeply emotional and eye-opening.
Talking to Her Children About Her Past
Elizabeth is careful about how much she shares with her children.
They know she was kidnapped, held captive, and hurt. They do not know the graphic details.
When given the option to watch part of the documentary, her oldest child declined, and Elizabeth respected that choice. She believes these conversations will unfold naturally over time.
Her approach is guided by honesty, respect, and patience.
Elizabeth’s Relationship With Her Family
Her Father, Ed Smart
Elizabeth credits her father, Ed Smart, as a major influence in her life.
After her kidnapping, Ed became a tireless advocate for child safety legislation and for families of missing children. Even in retirement, Elizabeth says he never truly stops working to help others.
They remain very close and speak multiple times a week.
She describes her family’s guiding principle as leaving the world better than they found it — a value that continues to shape her own work.
Her Sister, Mary Katherine
Elizabeth calls her younger sister, Mary Katherine, her hero.
Mary Katherine was the only witness to the kidnapping, and her bravery and detailed recollections played a key role in identifying Elizabeth’s captor.
Today, Mary Katherine works in special education and continues to inspire Elizabeth. Their bond remains strong, built on gratitude, admiration, and shared resilience.
Where Are the Captors Now?
Brian David Mitchell
Brian David Mitchell was found guilty in 2010 of kidnapping and transporting a minor across state lines with intent to engage in sexual activity. He is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Elizabeth describes the trial as deeply uncomfortable but necessary. One moment in particular changed her perspective — when a defense attorney explained that doing a thorough job ensured the verdict could never be appealed.
That moment gave her unexpected respect for the process.
Wanda Barzee
Wanda Barzee, Mitchell’s accomplice, pled guilty and served prison time before being released in 2018 due to previously uncredited time served.
Her release was painful for Elizabeth. However, it also gave her a new understanding of the fear many survivors live with when their perpetrators are never fully held accountable.
Elizabeth says this awareness deepened her compassion for other victims.
A Message of Hope
Elizabeth Smart does not define herself by what was done to her.
She defines herself by what she built afterward.
Her story is not about surviving trauma alone — it is about choosing joy, purpose, and connection despite it.
She believes there are happy endings, even when the beginning is unimaginable.
And for Elizabeth Smart, living a normal, peaceful life is the greatest triumph of all.
