Years After Elizabeth Smart Was Found, Her Dad’s Confession Sent Her Back Into The Spotlight

Ed Smart is no stranger to the spotlight. After all, he is Elizabeth Smart's father – the teenager who disappeared in horrific circumstances nearly two decades ago. But years after Elizabeth was found safe, Ed became the subject of scrutiny again. Then, speaking on network TV, he made a stunning revelation – and that confession would catapult the dad and his daughter right back into the public eye.

In The Spotlight

Ed is likely used to the attention, though, as he and his wife, Lois, became household names in unimaginable circumstances. In the summer of 2002, their 14-year-old daughter was snatched from their home in the Salt Lake City suburb of Federal Heights. At the time, Elizabeth Smart had been in the bedroom she shared with Mary Katherine, her younger sibling.

Something You Don't Forget

And, terrifyingly, Mary Katherine claimed to have seen the crime. The then-nine-year-old, who had feigned sleep during the kidnapping, later told cops that the abductor was a dark-haired white man, possibly in his 40s, who stood approximately 5’8” tall. Unfortunately, though, she didn’t manage to get a clear look at his face. She had also been left too frightened to raise the alarm immediately.

Staying Hidden

Scared of being taken by the abductor, Mary Katherine hid in her bed for around two hours before alerting her parents. And while Ed and Lois initially believed that she’d merely had a bad dream, it wasn’t long before their real-life nightmare began. A cut screen window proved that Mary Katherine wasn’t making the whole thing up.

Going Public

So, after informing the police of the crime, Ed and Lois did everything they could to find their daughter. They became regular faces on television as they pleaded for her safe return. With the aid of 2,000 volunteers, the Laura Recovery Center also helped to conduct an extensive search mission across the region.