Asymmetrical Information

I'm thrilled - like everybody else. But I'm also bothered. She's 15 - she is reportedly in good physical and mental health. It's hard to fathom that she hasn't had opportunities to escape over the last nine months. Hell, she could have just started running across the Burger King parking lot today screaming "I'm Elizabeth Smart" and everybody in the area would have instantly come to her aid, and probably saved us the expense of a trial too.

What kind of power did this guy have over her?

The power of compelling all in his presence to concentrate on deciphering what exactly his "deal" was. The guy looks like Rip Van Winkle.

According to the CNN report, the kidnapper had an accomplice, so that there was one of
them watching her at all times.

I haven't seen any reports on what happened to her while she was with this man. She is just a kid, though. There's no telling what kind of psychological damage she's suffered. She may have been afraid to even try to escape. Or he may have convinced her that she shouldn't escape for some reason. There's no telling. I'm not sure I want to know what her captivity was like...

I'm glad she's alive and has been found. I'm sure her recovery is just beginning, though.

Bolie IV

I have to say, I find this a bit "fishy." Perhaps Elizabeth Smart was not "abducted" but went willingly. On the other hand perhaps it was an SLA/Patty Hearst type of thing in that they spent months brainwashing her until she complied with their wishes.

Either way, she's got to be one screwed up kid and I hope they give her lots of help now that she's been "found."

Don't forget that he allegedly abducted her from her home, and new the family. He could have kept her from attempting an escape by threatening harm to her family if she were to try.

I'm probably going to get jumped on for mentioning this, but did you notice that the suspect found out about Elizabeth because her mother brought him home after he panhandled some change from her? Seems people need to learn a little more common sense. If you want to give bums some change, do it if you must, but don't bring them to your home to do some work, especially if you have children around -- for example, a pretty young teenage daughter. That's just stupid.

Well, it certainly wasn't a good idea to bring this guy around the house. But I would call it naive, rather than stupid. The Smarts are obviously quite well off, and their religious beliefs quite explicitly require the rich to give to the poor. In addition to the New Testament injunctions to feed, clothe, and care for the needy, here's a quote from the Book of Mormon (Mosiah 4:16-18): "And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor... and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish... Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer... But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent...."

I'm pretty sure this doesn't mean Mormons are required to bring suspicious-looking characters around the house. But I do think the Smarts were acting out of an excess of charity. Those who believe in God might wonder if their good intentions have anything to do with Elizabeth's safe return. Those who don't can just be glad with the rest of us that she's safe home.

I hadn't been following the story, but from the repots on the radio yesterday I had thoughts along the same line as Kate's. Teenage daughter runs off with the handyman, sister makes up a story to cover. It's Utah, so probably Mormon - maybe she's rebelling against an overly strict(to a teenager)religious upbringing.

Now that I'm getting more up to speed on the details though, that doesn't seem to fit. The sister seems too young, the guy too creepy, the second female kidnapper doesn't add up. There probably are a number of plausible explanations why she didn't escape, some of them mentioned above. I'm starting to feel a little guilty about my earlier cynicism.

Ah, I never feel sorry about cynicism...it serves me well.

I understand you're point, however, it doesn't seem right that she went willingly, but not much about the story does. If you look at it as I have been, there are all sorts of aspects that don't really make sense. However, look at it from a non-cynical perspective, and there are an equal number of items which make you go, "Hmmmm..."

And either way, I still hold by my previous statement, no matter what really happened, this girl is going to need MAJOR therapy.

Mark J -- You're in good company with that sentiment. John Walsh was on Larry King Live last night and said substantially the same thing. He said that if you want to be compassionate, help out financially, or in some other way, but don't bring someone into your home, particularly when you have young children around. Yes, it sounds horrible, but I think you and Walsh are right. Parents have to be very aware of who has access to their children.

Comments are Closed.