Vanessa Richardson

To this day, the debate continues over what Patty's experience with the SLA really was like. Bill Harris claims that while Patty was never a full convert to the SLA's cause, it was her decision to stay with the group. He maintains that she was treated well and that her version of events came from a need to protect herself at trial.

Whatever the truth is, the fact remains that Patty didn't choose to be kidnapped. The SLA put their own so-called noble causes ahead of a young woman's life. And because of that, Patty Hearst's life was changed forever. Up next, another kidnapping story that dominated the headlines, and a moment from this week in 2003 that signaled a turning point in the infamous case of Elizabeth Smart.

Whatever the truth is, the fact remains that Patty didn't choose to be kidnapped. The SLA put their own so-called noble causes ahead of a young woman's life. And because of that, Patty Hearst's life was changed forever. Up next, another kidnapping story that dominated the headlines, and a moment from this week in 2003 that signaled a turning point in the infamous case of Elizabeth Smart.

Whatever the truth is, the fact remains that Patty didn't choose to be kidnapped. The SLA put their own so-called noble causes ahead of a young woman's life. And because of that, Patty Hearst's life was changed forever. Up next, another kidnapping story that dominated the headlines, and a moment from this week in 2003 that signaled a turning point in the infamous case of Elizabeth Smart.

On February 3rd, 2003, Ed and Lois Smart called a press conference in their hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah. About seven months earlier, their 14-year-old daughter Elizabeth had been abducted from the Smart's home in the middle of the night. Since then, the investigation had gone nowhere. But Ed and Lois felt like the police weren't doing everything they could to find Elizabeth.

On February 3rd, 2003, Ed and Lois Smart called a press conference in their hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah. About seven months earlier, their 14-year-old daughter Elizabeth had been abducted from the Smart's home in the middle of the night. Since then, the investigation had gone nowhere. But Ed and Lois felt like the police weren't doing everything they could to find Elizabeth.

On February 3rd, 2003, Ed and Lois Smart called a press conference in their hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah. About seven months earlier, their 14-year-old daughter Elizabeth had been abducted from the Smart's home in the middle of the night. Since then, the investigation had gone nowhere. But Ed and Lois felt like the police weren't doing everything they could to find Elizabeth.

There was a crucial piece of information the authorities hadn't shared with the public. And if they wouldn't, the smarts would. During their press conference, Ed and Lois displayed a sketch of a middle-aged man. He had short, wavy hair, hollow cheekbones, and light-colored, almost haunting eyes. According to them, this was the man who'd taken their daughter.

There was a crucial piece of information the authorities hadn't shared with the public. And if they wouldn't, the smarts would. During their press conference, Ed and Lois displayed a sketch of a middle-aged man. He had short, wavy hair, hollow cheekbones, and light-colored, almost haunting eyes. According to them, this was the man who'd taken their daughter.

There was a crucial piece of information the authorities hadn't shared with the public. And if they wouldn't, the smarts would. During their press conference, Ed and Lois displayed a sketch of a middle-aged man. He had short, wavy hair, hollow cheekbones, and light-colored, almost haunting eyes. According to them, this was the man who'd taken their daughter.

The kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart had a huge impact on the Salt Lake City community and the entire nation. It was the sort of thing that just didn't seem possible. The Smarts were a big, tight-knit religious family who lived in an affluent neighborhood. Elizabeth's parents, Ed and Lois, had six kids, two girls and four boys. The Smarts practiced Mormonism, which was common where they lived.

The kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart had a huge impact on the Salt Lake City community and the entire nation. It was the sort of thing that just didn't seem possible. The Smarts were a big, tight-knit religious family who lived in an affluent neighborhood. Elizabeth's parents, Ed and Lois, had six kids, two girls and four boys. The Smarts practiced Mormonism, which was common where they lived.

The kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart had a huge impact on the Salt Lake City community and the entire nation. It was the sort of thing that just didn't seem possible. The Smarts were a big, tight-knit religious family who lived in an affluent neighborhood. Elizabeth's parents, Ed and Lois, had six kids, two girls and four boys. The Smarts practiced Mormonism, which was common where they lived.

About half the population of Salt Lake City was Mormon. That meant a lot of people, including Elizabeth and her family, felt like they lived in a safe, like-minded community bubble. But bubbles are notoriously easy to burst. The night of June 4th, 2002, Lois Smart was feeling a bit distracted. She burned some potatoes while cooking and opened a kitchen window to air it out.

About half the population of Salt Lake City was Mormon. That meant a lot of people, including Elizabeth and her family, felt like they lived in a safe, like-minded community bubble. But bubbles are notoriously easy to burst. The night of June 4th, 2002, Lois Smart was feeling a bit distracted. She burned some potatoes while cooking and opened a kitchen window to air it out.

About half the population of Salt Lake City was Mormon. That meant a lot of people, including Elizabeth and her family, felt like they lived in a safe, like-minded community bubble. But bubbles are notoriously easy to burst. The night of June 4th, 2002, Lois Smart was feeling a bit distracted. She burned some potatoes while cooking and opened a kitchen window to air it out.

When the family went to sleep, she forgot to shut the window. That night, 14-year-old Elizabeth and her 9-year-old sister, Mary Catherine, read the book Ella Enchanted in the bed they shared together. After a while, they drifted off to sleep. When Elizabeth woke up, it was still dark. She was disoriented but instantly knew what had woken her. There was a cold knife pressed against her throat.

When the family went to sleep, she forgot to shut the window. That night, 14-year-old Elizabeth and her 9-year-old sister, Mary Catherine, read the book Ella Enchanted in the bed they shared together. After a while, they drifted off to sleep. When Elizabeth woke up, it was still dark. She was disoriented but instantly knew what had woken her. There was a cold knife pressed against her throat.

When the family went to sleep, she forgot to shut the window. That night, 14-year-old Elizabeth and her 9-year-old sister, Mary Catherine, read the book Ella Enchanted in the bed they shared together. After a while, they drifted off to sleep. When Elizabeth woke up, it was still dark. She was disoriented but instantly knew what had woken her. There was a cold knife pressed against her throat.

A male voice told Elizabeth to get out of bed and threatened to kill her and her family if she tried anything. Elizabeth could feel her sister sleeping next to her and was terrified of what the man would do to Mary Catherine if Elizabeth screamed. So she let the intruder lead her out of her room, then through the front door and into the night.