ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Elizabeth Smart

Elizabeth Smart is a woman who was kidnapped when she was a little girl. Someone took her from her bedroom at night while she was sleeping. This was very scary for Elizabeth and her family.

Elizabeth was missing for a long time and nobody knew where she was. Her parents and many people in her community looked for her tirelessly. They made posters with her picture on them and searched everywhere they could think of.

One day, the police found Elizabeth and rescued her from her kidnappers. They took her to a hospital to make sure she was okay. She was very skinny and weak because she hadn't been able to eat or drink very much while she was being held captive.

Elizabeth's kidnappers were put in jail because what they did was wrong. After Elizabeth was rescued, she went back home to her family and friends who were so happy to have her back.

Elizabeth became very brave and decided to share her story to help other kids who have been kidnapped or hurt. She wants everyone to know that it's okay to speak up if something bad happens to them, and that there are always people who want to help.