The Oprah Winfrey Show aired the show, “Elizabeth Smart: The Story That Captured the Nation,” Sept. 10, 2008. Smart discussed the emotional ordeal she experienced when she was abducted from her home and how she is determined to thrive after such a terrifying experience.
During the show, Elizabeth discussed her abduction and how she feels Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Ileen Barzee, the couple who were charged for her kidnapping but were ruled unfit to stand trial, in her opinion, are actually competent. She also mentioned she is determined not to let this horrific incident steal any more valuable time from her life.
Smart also talked about the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's publication, "You're Not Alone: The Journey from Abduction to Empowerment," which was written by Smart and other survivors of child abduction. The publication aims to help other child abduction survivors cope with their own experiences and begin their journeys toward a better future.
Oprah Winfrey held up a copy of the publication and placed a link to the journal on her web site, along with other DOJ resources aimed at helping victims and loved ones move beyond the abduction and to empowerment.