Elizabeth Smart was missing and held captive for about 9 months away from her family.

Quick Scoop

  • Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah, in June 2002 when she was 14 years old.
  • She was found and rescued in March 2003, about 9 months after her abduction.
  • During those 9 months, she was moved between locations and held by her kidnappers under constant threat and control.
  • Her case became one of the most widely reported child abductions in the United States in the early 2000s, driving major media and public attention.

A brief timeline

  1. Abduction: Early June 2002, taken at knifepoint from her home in Utah.
  1. Captivity: Held in remote camp areas and later moved between states while being forced to conceal her identity.
  1. Rescue: March 12, 2003, recognized in public and recovered by authorities, reuniting her with her family after roughly 9 months away.

Elizabeth Smart has since become an advocate for child safety and survivors of abuse, often referring to March 12 as a “happy day” and a reminder of miracles and resilience.

TL;DR: Elizabeth Smart was away from her family for about 9 months between her kidnapping in June 2002 and her rescue in March 2003.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.