The Netflix documentary Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart (streaming now as of January 21, 2026) has reignited public interest in the 2002 abduction that shocked the nation.

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Directed by Benedict Sanderson, the film features Elizabeth Smart’s own testimony, family interviews, and exclusive footage from the nine-month ordeal. Here’s an update on the key figures involved, 24 years later.

Elizabeth Smart (now 38): The survivor has transformed her trauma into advocacy. Married to Matthew Gilmour since 2012, she is a mother of three and runs the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, focused on child safety, sexual violence prevention, and survivor support.

She has testified before Congress, helped advance laws like the AMBER Alert and Adam Walsh Act, authored books including My Story (2013), and speaks publicly about resilience, shame, and healing. In recent interviews for the doc, she emphasizes open conversations with her children about safety and empowerment, crediting her family—especially her sister—as her anchor.

Mary Katherine Smart (Elizabeth’s younger sister): At 9 years old, she was the sole eyewitness to the abduction, pretending to sleep while Brian David Mitchell threatened Elizabeth.

Months later, her memory of his voice and prior sightings (as a handyman) cracked the case after seeing him on America’s Most Wanted. Now living privately, Mary Katherine is a special education teacher who earned a master’s in applied behavior analysis. She rarely appears publicly but has spoken about enjoying work with children and pursuing certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

Brian David Mitchell (the primary kidnapper): Convicted in 2010 of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor for sexual activity, he was sentenced to life without parole in federal prison. He remains incarcerated, having been transferred in October 2025 from USP Terre Haute (Indiana) to FCI Lewisburg (Pennsylvania) after reported assaults in custody. Mitchell, now in his 70s, claimed religious delusions during the crime.

Wanda Barzee (Mitchell’s then-wife and accomplice): She pleaded guilty in 2009 to kidnapping charges, receiving a 15-year sentence but was released in 2018 after credit for time served.

As a registered sex offender, she faces lifelong restrictions. In May 2025, she was arrested in Salt Lake City for allegedly violating terms by entering prohibited parks; she was released pending prosecution and remains under monitoring.

The documentary highlights how the case spurred national changes in child abduction response and survivor support. Elizabeth Smart’s message remains one of hope: “There are happy endings.”

Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart is now streaming on Netflix.