Kidnapped Elizabeth Smart who spent nine months in captivity as a teen tells of her struggle being in isolation during the coronavirus pandemic as she shares sweet family snap
- Elizabeth Smart, 32, shared on Instagram a photo of her family, including her husband and their three children, in Park City, Utah
- Smart, who spent nine months in captivity as a teenager, wrote that staying home and practicing social distancing ‘is not easy’
- She urged people to do their best to flatten the curve of the coronavirus and suggested going outside for at least a few minutes
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Kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart is having a tough time being in self-isolation amid the coronovirus outbreak, she revealed on Monday.
Smart, 32, was abducted from her bedroom and held captive for nine months as a teenager in 2002.
But the child safety activist, who now lives with her husband, Matthew Gilmour, and their three young children in Park City, Utah, shared a touching family photo on her Instagram and posted a message of encouragement to her 165,000 followers.
‘Practicing social distancing and staying inside at home all day every day is not easy!’ she wrote. ‘And I think it would be fair to say that each of my family members can attest that I’m not exactly a ray of sunshine all the time during this pandemic but it is important to flatten the curve as much as we can and protect those who are vulnerable among us.
Elizabeth Smart, 32, on Monday shared on Instagram this photo of her family and wrote in the caption that staying home and practicing social distancing ‘is not easy’
As of Tuesday evening, there were 181,989 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 5,704 in Florida, and 3,699 deaths nationwide
‘I just wanted to say that whatever happens, and however things change it will be ok. Let’s try to do our best, getting outside even for just a few minutes can work wonders. (I’m not sure if I’ll ever get a photo with everyone looking at the camera and smiling).’
Smart was 14 years old when she was kidnapped from her Utah home by a street preacher and held in captivity in the woods for nine months
Utah has 806 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and four fatalities, including a 24-year-old woman suffering from diabetes.
In 2002, Smart was kidnapped at age 14 from her Salt Lake City bedroom at knifepoint by street preacher Brian David Mitchell, who climbed through an open window.
She was held captive for nine months in a camp in the woods and repeatedly raped by her captor.
Smart was rescued in March 2003 after a couple recognized her with Mitchell’s wife, Wanda Barzee, and called the police.
Mitchell was sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping and raping Smart. Barzee was also in prison but was unexpectedly released in September.
On March 12, Smart shared her old ‘Kidnapped’ poster showing her as a teenager to mark the 17th anniversary of her rescue.
Smart was rescued in March 2003 after someone recognized her outside and called the police (Elizabeth in pictured with her parents at the White House)
Brian David Mitchell (left) was sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping and raping Smart. His wife Wanda Barzee (right) was also in prison but was unexpectedly released in September
‘I couldn’t let today pass me by without acknowledging how grateful I am for people’s prayers and sacrifices not only while I was kidnapped but in my healing and recovery!’ she wrote.
’17 years ago today I experienced one of the greatest miracles a person can, by the quick action of everyday individuals phone calls were made to the police which lead to my captors being apprehended and questioned by police and finally my rescue! Thank you everyone for never giving up on me!!!’