Elizabeth Smart Urges Nancy Guthrie's Family: 'Don't Give Up Hope'
As the heartwrenching story of Nancy Guthrie and her abduction continues, members of Guthrie’s family (including Today host Savannah Guthrie) and the public at large start to worry about the outcome of the police and FBI investigation. Nancy first went missing on January 31, and as we near March, Nancy has still not been located despite authorities working around the clock. Even with recent rewards being offered to the public for anyone who can provide information that leads to Nancy’s location and her abductors’ arrest, the search for Nancy has taken on a more melancholy tone.
However, one person being vocal about holding out hope that Nancy will be located and alive is Elizabeth Smart. Now 38 years old, Smart was once abducted as a teenager from her childhood home, and that kicked off a very public nationwide search. Given the outcome of her trying ordeal, she encourages people “never give up” as it applies to the search for Nancy.
Elizabeth Smart Says, “We Can Never Give Up”
On a February 26th episode of the Ladygang podcast, hosts Keltie Knight, Jac Vanek, and Becca Tobin spoke with Elizabeth about her take on the Guthrie investigation. Elizabeth was clear in stating:
“I know what law enforcement will tell you if a person disappears and they're not found within the first 24 to 48 hours, the chances of their survival drop down to almost zero percent. It's almost like they're dead. But I just always feel like we can't give up because if that was the mentality around my case, then I wouldn't be here today.”
Smart also shared on the podcast:
“So, even though every passing day feels like we're losing more and more hope, or it seems like it's less likely that she'll be found, I think we just have to remind ourselves that we can never give up. Someone does know something,"
You can check out the nearly 30-minute podcast episode from the Ladygang below.
Remembering What Happened to Elizabeth Smart
Relying on facts from CNN, back in 2002, Americans were stunned to learn about the abduction of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart from her Utah childhood home. Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Eileen Barzee took her from her bedroom on June 5, and her younger sister, Mary Katherine, was the only witness. Mitchell also attempted to kidnap the Smarts’ cousin, Jessica Wright, in July, but thankfully was unsuccessful.
Elizabeth would ultimately remain a kidnapping victim of Mitchell and Barzee for months until she was found well and alive on March 12, 2003. Her harrowing story of survival was detailed in the Netflix documentaryKidnapped: Elizabeth Smart, which came out just this year.