Her kidnapping and rescue were big national stories almost 10 years ago, and a survivor shared her story Wednesday night, in the Fox Cities. Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her bedroom, at her Utah home, in 2002. She spoke at Fox Valley Technical College, in her first visit to Wisconsin.
Smart said everyone has their trials and hard times, and the choice to let it overwhelm them, for their rest of their lives, or to overcome it. That might be difficult to move on, but it can be done.
Smart is now 25, and she’s an advocate for missing children. “Because I’ve been so blessed to come back, and be at home with a great family, and be able to move forward with my life, I feel like right now is a wonderful opportunity to speak out and try to make a difference for all the other children who are still out there.
She said that anyone can make a difference in cases such as hers, noting that three people spotted her on March 12, 2003, and that led to her rescue.
Smart also spoke at a national training conference for responders to missing person cases. Fox Valley Tech hosted that event in downtown Appleton.
WHBY
