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SALT LAKE CITY -- Elizabeth Smart was in the courtroom Friday as a federal court jury found her kidnapper, Brian David Mitchell, guilty.
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A jury found a rambling street preacher guilty Friday of the 2002 kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart in a case that has tugged at hearts around the nation ever since the Utah teenager was snatched from her bedroom and resurfaced nine months later.She showed little emotion other than a slight smile, then exchanged a smile with her mother as the verdict was read. Elizabeth later hugged prosecutors in the courtroom.
The Smarts commented on the verdict and the trial for the first time since the trial began Friday afternoon.
After prosecutors, defense attorneys and jurors exited the court, Elizabeth Smart -- who took no questions -- spoke.
"First of all, I'd like to say thank you to everyone who had put so much work into my case. Today is a wonderful day and I'm so thrilled to be here and I'm so thrilled with the verdict," she said. "But not only that, I'm so thrilled to stand before the people of America today and give hope to other victims who have not spoken out about what's happened to them. I hope that not only is this an example that justice can be served in America, but that is it possible to move on after something terrible has happened and that we can speak out and we will be heard."
Elizabeth said she wants to be an example to other victims of abuse that they can come forward. She also said she is excited to go back to France and finish her mission for the LDS Church.
Elizabeth's mother Lois then spoke about moving on from the long ordeal.
"As mothers, women, daughters we can go forward," she said. These things don't have to happen to us. There is a way to put those people behind us and we can move forward with our lives."
Ed Smart, Elizabeth's father, said his family is grateful to the jury for their decision and is proud of his daughter's courage.
"As a father I was so grateful for her to be able to say what she had to say and move forward with her life, and that is what she is doing."
I think there is a significant problem at the state hospital. Something that needs to be looked at.
–- Ed Smart
Ed Smart also spoke about the Utah State Hospital and how unhappy he and his family were with the hospital's diagnoses of Mitchell.
"I think there is a significant problem at the state hospital, something that needs to be looked at," Smart said. "We have to learn from our mistakes, and some mistakes were definitely made in the last eight years."
He went on to say that Mitchell has left a "trail of misery behind him" and that there are many people with mental disabilities, but "Mitchell is not one of them. He is a liar. He is a predator and he is a sex offender."
Smart said he and his family are grateful for those who came forward to testify and that, "Today is a wonderful day. It's so great to be here to see this justice served."
He also spoke about what this case has meant to the cause of missing children in the United States, about lessons learned regarding efforts by law enforcement and the public in terms of prevention and finding missing children -- and the need for more funding.
Ultimately, "Our system works," he said. "She is home she is well and the system works."
The Smart family sees the verdict as the end of an eight-year ordeal and are happy with the outcome.
Mitchell is scheduled to be sentenced on May 25, 2011. He faces up to life in prison.
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Story compiled with contributions from John Daley and the DMC News Division.
