The Kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart on Cannel 4 Last Night

[persianlady]

I watched this programme last night about this girl in America being kidnapped. The police had given up on her, convinced she was dead. Her family however would not give up.. They are Mormons, and their faith and the faith and support of their extended family kept them going. She was found after 9 months because her family refused to give up on her. I could not help thinking about the similarities to the Madeleine McCann case, and can only hope that they will eventually be reunited with Madeleine, or at least find out what happened to her. If this family had kept quiet like a lot of the public are telling the McCanns to do, they might never have got their daughter back. it was only through publicity and a member of the public spotting her and her abductors that she was found.

[sp1814]

persianlady

I watched the first hour of it last night and like you saw similarities in both cases...especially where the three brothers (father and two uncles) were questioned extensively because they were considered suspects.

Can you tell me what happened in the last half hour? How was she finally found?

[persianlady]

Cutting a long story short. Her younger sister came to her parents and said that she thought she knew who took her. This was six months or more after Elizabeth had been kidnapped. She said she did not know why she knew, she just knew. She said it was this man who had come to do a job for them at their house, fixing a skylight. He was there when they returned from school doing this job. The parents said they took it as a message from God, an answer to their prayers. They informed the police who did not take it seriously. It was only weeks later and because the parents where threatening to go public with it that they acted. They police went public with it. The information they got back from this mans family and the public lead to her being found. He was an oddball. A sexual, religious, sadistic pervert. He had some sort of psychological hold on her which prevented her from running away. She and her parents actively campaign on child protection issues now. A truly remarkable story. And a testament to the parents who would not give up on her. her extended family have written a couple of books on their ordeal. Not for profit (if you are cynical you will not believe that) but as a kind of therapy. I cannot imagine what torment the McCanns are going through if innocent (and I believe they are) But this story should give them inspiration. I hope they are aware of it.

[DSJ]

It was an amazing programme & I can remember reading all about the kidnapping in the newspapers at the time.

As to the Madeleine McCann case, I just hope that some day her parents will know what happened & whether she is alive or dead. The not knowing must be dreadful.