Elizabeth Smart Testifies About Her Abduction

For the first time since she was abducted from her home when she was 14 years old, Elizabeth Smart has spoken publicly about her ordeal, testifying at a competency hearing in federal court. Smart said she was repeatedly raped daily by Brian David Mitchell and kept chained by a cable around her leg.

Smart, now 21, said Mitchell threatened to kill her if she called out or tried to escape.

Smart's testimony came during a hearing in federal court to determine if Mitchell is competent to face kidnapping charges. Mitchell and his ex-wife and co-defendant, Wanda Barzee, have both been ruled incompetent to stand trial in state court.

Evil, Wicked, Manipulative

During her testimony Smart described Mitchell as "evil, wicked, manipulative," she replied. "Sneaky, slimy, selfish, greedy. Not religious, not spiritual, not close to God."

On June 4, 2002, Smart said Mitchell woke her in her bedroom with a knife pushed against her throat and threatened to kill her and her family if she didn't come with him.

He took her to a remote camp in a canyon in the mountains behind her family's Salt Lake City home. On the same night she was abducted, Mitchell "married" her in a bizarre wedding ceremony, claiming she was a "plural wife."

Raped Daily Repeatedly

He then raped her, which he did three or four times a day throughout her captivity. The only time the rapes subsided was when Barzee complained about Mitchell's relationship with Smart.

"There wasn't an actual 24-hour time period that he wasn't able to rape me," Smart said.

Mitchell used a 10-foot cable bolted to her leg and tethered to a line stretched between two trees to keep her captive in the early days. Smart said Mitchell threatened to kill her if she yelled or tried to get away.

Moved to San Diego

During the winter of 2002, Mitchell moved their camp to the hills outside San Diego, California, surviving on food that Mitchell would steal.

"Any time that I showed resistance or hesitation he turned to me and said, 'The Lord says you have to do this, you have to experience the lowest form of humanity to experience the highest,' " Smart told the judge.

Smart decided to use religion to manipulate Mitchell to take them back to the Salt Lake area, where she was found in March 2003 walking down a street in Sandy, Utah with Mitchell and Barzee.

"California, I felt that was so far away. I felt that no one would ever find me," she testified. "Even if it took 20 years to find me I thought the chances would be better in Salt Lake."

Wanted to Face Mitchell

She told Mitchell that she thought God was calling them back to Salt Lake City, and he agreed to return there.

As he has done in the past, Mitchell disrupted the hearing by singing a Mormon hymn. U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball ordered him moved to a holding cell where he watched via video feed.

Smart had asked prosecutors if Mitchell could be muzzled rather than removed from court because she wanted to face him.

During her testimony, Smart addressed her opinion of his competency saying she believe Mitchell only had his religious "revelations" when he wanted something. She said he believed Mitchell knew he could be punished for kidnapping and he understood how the court system works.

Very Capable, Intelligent

He instructed her to use an alias, Augustine Marshall, and explained what to say if ever questioned by police. She said Mitchell bragged about getting away with previous accusations of sexual abuse.

She said Mitchell never appeared confused or out of control during the nine months that she was held captive.

"He was a very capable, intelligent human being," Smart said.

See Also:
Elizabeth Smart Says She Was Raped Daily
Elizabeth Smart, Abducted in 2002 in Utah, Speaks Publicly of Her Ordeal for the First Time

Background:
The Elizabeth Smart Case

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