He broke into the house and kidnapped her from her bed. My sister heard everything. The search lasted 9 months

On June 5, 2002, fourteen-year-old Elizabeth was kidnapped in Salt Lake City, USA. In the morning, when the girl was sleeping soundly in her bed, a strange man broke into the house, put a knife to her throat and ordered her to follow him. The search for the teenager lasted until March 2003.

Elizabeth was kidnapped from her home. Her sister heard everything

Elizabeth lived at home with her parents and five siblings. She shared the room with her nine-year-old sister, Mary, who witnessed the kidnapping. The terror caused her to pretend to be asleep during the event. Only when the kidnapper left the house with the teenager did she get up and run to the room, waking them up with the words “Elizabeth is gone. You won’t find her.” The search for the girl began almost immediately, and information about her disappearance spread throughout the United States. Not only the police with tracking dogs and helicopters, but also hundreds of volunteers helped in the search. Despite this, the girl could not be found for a long time.

The kidnapper believed he was a priest. Elizabeth became his “wife”

Elizabeth’s kidnapper was Brian David Mitchell, who had previously pretended to be Emmanuel and repaired the roof of their house. The man was holding her captive just 7 kilometers away, and his wife was also involved in the whole plan. It turned out that Brian believed that he was a priest of Melchizedek, and the fourteen-year-old was to be the first of the virgins with whom he “married”. Over the next months, Elizabeth was sexually abused and chained to prevent her from running away. From time to time he and his wife took her to the city. Of course, after putting on a wig and scarves.

Elizabeth had a chance to be saved. The policeman believed the kidnapper

After some time, Mary associated the kidnapper’s voice with Emmanuel. A portrait of him was even created, but ultimately the girl’s testimony was questioned, so the description never saw the light of day. As if that wasn’t enough, during one of their trips to the city, Brian and Elizabeth were approached by an interested girl. However, he believed the kidnapper’s words that she was not the missing fourteen-year-old, thus depriving the terrified Elizabeth of a chance to save herself. Then they went to California.

The kidnapper was recognized by a random woman. Today, Elizabeth helps children

Time passed, no new clues emerged in Elizabeth’s case, and media interest decreased. Therefore, the girl’s parents decided to publish a portrait of the potential kidnapper, whom his ex-wife recognized. Then they learned his name. Meanwhile, Brian, his partner, and Elizabeth returned to Utah. This time, during a trip to the city, a random woman recognized not the girl, but the kidnapper. All thanks to the published portrait. The man and his wife were detained, and Elizabeth was released. Although the kidnapper’s trial started in 2003, it was only in 2009 that a breakthrough occurred, and in 2010 Brain was sentenced to life in prison and his wife to 15 years. Today, Elizabeth is a wife and mother and is active in child safety issues. You can follow her adventures on Instagram.

Sexual violence is any unwanted sexual contact. According to UNICEF data, approximately 15 million teenagers between 15 and 19 years of age have experienced this type of violence around the world, but only 1 percent of teenagers seek help from a professional. Research shows that 80 percent Rape victims develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If you are a victim of sexual violence, you can get help by calling, for example, the “Blue Line” Telephone Clinic – 22 668 70 00 (7 days a week, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.) or via the 24-hour hotline of the Women’s Rights Center – 600 070 717.