Elizabeth Smart: 'Today is the beginning of a beautiful chapter'

SALT LAKE CITY -- Nearly 10 years after Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped from her home and kept captive for nine months, her kidnapper and abuser was finally brought to justice as a federal judge sentenced Brian David Mitchell to life in prison.

"Today is the ending of a very long chapter and the beginning of a beautiful chapter," Elizabeth told reporters and a large crowd outside the Frank E. Moss Federal Courthouse.

U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball imposed the sentence Wednesday afternoon in federal court in Salt Lake City. Mitchell was convicted of interstate kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor in December following a four-week jury trial.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti told said at the sentencing hearing that on June 5, 2002 -- the day Elizabeth was kidnapped -- "her world, as she knew it, changed suddenly, violently and without warning. It changed beyond her comprehension. On that morning, for Miss Smart, the boogeyman under the bed, the monster in the closet, became real."

Elizabeth said she fully believes defendant Mitchell knew exactly what he was doing when he abducted and raped her, despite arguments by his lawyers for years that he was mentally incompetent to stand trial.

Wednesday was the first time she was able to confront her kidnapper since she was found and rescued. In court, she spoke for only about a minute, noting that she didn't have much to say him.

"I know that you know what you did is wrong," she told Mitchell during the proceedings as he sang quietly in the courtroom. "You took away nine months of my life that can never be returned."

Elizabeth said Mitchell knows exactly what he did to her, and that one day -- whether in this life or the next one -- he will be held responsible for his actions.

Mitchell could've said something to Elizabeth, but he didn't. She says she doesn't care about that.

"It didn't make a difference to me. I said what I needed to say," she said. "I heard enough during those nine months, and I don't have to hear from him ever again."

After the hearing, Elizabeth's mood was victorious. Outside the courtroom following the sentencing, she smiled from ear to ear. Over and over she said how grateful she is that this day finally happened.

"Miracles can happen, and they still do happen today," she said. "It's been a huge miracle in my life that I can be standing in front of you here today."

Elizabeth repeatedly stated she's grateful to all those people who looked for her nine years ago, those who helped find her, and those jurors who helped convict Mitchell.

"I am deeply grateful, from the bottom of my heart, to everyone that ever prayed for me, that ever searched for me, that ever put in time thinking about me, that made an effort to help bring me home," Elizabeth said.

Now she says this whole ordeal is behind her. She's looking forward to the next part of her life -- one that does not include anything to do with Brian David Mitchell.

Elizabeth has already finished her LDS mission in Paris and now wants to get involved in helping other children who are in the same situation she was in. As she spoke to reporters, she took a moment to highlight other children who are still missing today, hoping to bring to light the countless other children who -- without their safe return -- may not have futures as bright as Elizabeth's.

"One of the biggest ways to overcome any trial in life, to heal from any kind of experience, is by helping those around you," she said. "Because by lifting those around you up, you end up lifting yourself up as well."

While she'll always be Elizabeth Smart -- a victim of kidnap and abuse -- she's no longer waiting for justice.

"I'm looking at all the different possibilities and trying to decide where I can make the biggest difference, where I can have the biggest effect for good," she said.

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Story written with contributions from Alex Cabrero, Jennifer Stagg and Jennifer Dobner of the Associated Press.

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