Today is a great day. The man who kidnapped Elizabeth Smart was found guilty in a federal court in Utah. Brian David Mitchell was convicted of kidnapping and transporting a child across state lines for sexual purposes. I think he is disturbed but never understood why no one thought he could stand trial or understand his defense. He certainly knew what he was doing when he planned the kidnapping and convinced his wife to go along with him. He had no problems sexually assaulting an raping Elizabeth and keeping her prisoner. The guy is scheduled to be sentenced in May and faces life in prison.
I am amazed that Elizabeth was able to testify and the composure she showed having to face the guy who did not stop singing or humming almost through the entire trial. She stared the guy down and did what had to be done. It was probably so incredibly hard, but she did it and now hopefully she can get some closure.
What an incredible young lady.
ReplyDeleteI wonder about Jaycee Lee Dugard and how is she and her 2 daughters are doing. Would she be able to now stand up to the man that kidnapped her and fathered her 2 kids. I wonder how those 2 girls feel. My heart goes out to all 3 of them.
ReplyDeleteGood for her! We should all be so brave :)
ReplyDeleteI wish Elizabeth nothing but the best for the rest of her life. She deserves it. This scumbag isn't worth a mention.
ReplyDeleteWhat Kris said.
ReplyDeleteI read on CNN when the wife was talking about getting her pregnant she broke down and fled the courthouse.
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine what she went through as a little girl.
From the jump I thought the insanity defense was just a bullshit excuse to get out of jail time. Glad he is going to get life, he deserves it.
this guy is more cunning than crazy. he was able to take her, keep her, and even got her past suspicious eyes more than once. he's every parent's worst nightmare.
ReplyDeletei have tremendous respect for elizabeth smart. i know from personal experience how tough it is to tell a room full of strangers what was done to you. she did that with dignity and grace. i wish her nothing but happiness for the rest of her life, and somehow, i think that's just what she'll get.
I hope she is able to move on now after the conviction. She is so much wiser than her years and has shown such strength.
ReplyDeleteSlam the cell door and throw away the key!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth is an amazing young woman, who obviously comes from a very healthy and supportive family. I hope from this day forward, she never looks back!
In crimes against children involving a stranger, I still believe it should be the parents' right to have five minutes alone in a room with the SOBs once they are convicted. I believe an eye for an eye when it comes to crimes against innocent, helpless children!
Ha! So glad he did not get away with his insanity BS.
ReplyDeleteI wish the best always for Elizabeth Smart.
I hope she can move on and have peaceful life.
ReplyDeleteSuch great news for Elizabeth. I hope she feels empowered for being a big part of putting him away forever. Insanity my ***. This monster never deserves to see the light of day again. Can you just imagine what that poor girl went through with that disgusting face. Sick sick sick.
ReplyDeleteYet she is a true inspiration. I hope other girls realize that they too can rise above what was done to them. No matter what this man did to her, he couldn't take away her self respect, dignity, grace, beauty, talent, intelligence, her heart and soul and her family and loved ones.
No....Elizabeth has survived!!! I wish her great success and happiness throughout her life.
May Elizabeth and her family find more peace and healing with this verdict.
ReplyDeleteLock him up and throw away the key. I believe this is the sort of case where the death penalty should be used & could be used effectively.
I'm an atheist but I'm glad Elizabeth Smart has her faith to sustain her.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if that makes sense.
I hope he gets a cell with a guy who's the biggest, baddest, meanest, horniest SOB in the whole cell block.
ReplyDeletehave to agree w/ every comment before mine...all eloquent and well-said. thx for speaking my heart, fellow CDANers.
ReplyDeleteHate all you want on me.. BUT I live in SLC and there are a lot of us (me included) that think there is still something very fishy with this whole story.
ReplyDeleteNot that I don't think this batshit crazy mofo deserves to be in jail (I had a run-in with him myself onetime)..BUT Somthing in the water ain't right.
Glad Elizabeth is home and safe..
Just my two-cents from a local!
@Icecat-more please? Your first sentence made me think you were going to add that the Smart family was involved somehow. Color me intrigued.
ReplyDeleteI ain't gonna hate, Icecat! From previous stories, you do know your Utah stuff. Please to elaborate?
ReplyDeleteI believe to a certain degree that they were... I think Elizabeth maybe ran away or got preggers, who knows. Remember now, they attempted to abduct her cousin too. The family is strange, very strange, and very well respected in the Mormon Church.. But you can't convince me otherwise that her dad isn't a closeted homosexual..I don't want to go to far into it here.....But it's weird and a lot of people think so!
ReplyDeleteMitchell has been a homeless person around Salt Lake for years. Once while working at a downtown deli he came in asking to do work for a sandwich. I was young and rebellious and I just gave him one, but as I did he told me he was Jesus and I was going to be saved and all this crap. CREEPED me out....
I think most assumed she was starting to rebel and wanted to run away. Some think she got pregnant and the family wanted to hide it... We will never know, but here in SL there is a weird black cloud around the whole story...
ReplyDeleteHis life sentence will be very short.
ReplyDeleteI hope he is infertile, not her, it's crazy that she didn't end up pregnant.
ReplyDeleteShe just seems like such an amazing young woman.
Honestly, I think it's completely unfair to cast dispersions on the family at this point. How could you expect the little sister to maintain the same lie all these years? There is absolutely *nothing* to base the idea on that Elizabeth was getting rebellious, running away, possibly pregnant, etc.
ReplyDeleteHooray! Hopefully Elizabeth can put this behind her and go on to lead a normal life.
ReplyDeleteShe gave the most intelligent statement after the verdict, she's a pretty amazing girl and I think unlike many victims she found her voice and got her life back. An experience like hers would have broken most people but she's been empowered by what happened and she's become a strong girl. She deserves a great life and I hope that's exactly what she finds.
ReplyDeleteThe perp is nothing but a sexual sadist who used religion to live out his sick fantasies, I also believe if he gets out of prison he will commit a similar crime. He needs to be locked up and he won't act crazy in prison but settle right in. Just watch he'll do fine in jail.
Interesting, Icecat. It was odd that he hired a homeless, scary looking older guy to fix his roof. I've always wondered if she took/is taking the Rx they give people too reduce trama. I don't remember the name of it offhand. I remember that she gave a harp recital just months after she was found and thought it was odd that she was so composed so soon. In any case I hope her life will be forever happy after what she endured.
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting, Icecat! I never heard those theories before. That is a little frightening.
ReplyDeleteI was watching 48 Hours Mystery this weekend & watched the sole survivor of a serial killer talk about testifying against him. I think I would be so filled with anger I'd HAVE to confront something like that, as scared as I might be. I'm glad Elizabeth was able to do that & she certainly is a brave woman.
Am I the only one that thinks the death penalty is a better decision for someone like this? This kind of person cannot be rehabilitated.