Vanessa Richardson

She was sometimes kept in a hole with a board over it. Brian threatened her often, saying he would kill her family if she tried to run away. He withheld food and forced her to drink alcohol and look at porn. He seemed to believe wearing her down would eventually purify her. Meanwhile, the authorities were desperately trying to find Elizabeth.

She was sometimes kept in a hole with a board over it. Brian threatened her often, saying he would kill her family if she tried to run away. He withheld food and forced her to drink alcohol and look at porn. He seemed to believe wearing her down would eventually purify her. Meanwhile, the authorities were desperately trying to find Elizabeth.

She was sometimes kept in a hole with a board over it. Brian threatened her often, saying he would kill her family if she tried to run away. He withheld food and forced her to drink alcohol and look at porn. He seemed to believe wearing her down would eventually purify her. Meanwhile, the authorities were desperately trying to find Elizabeth.

In the first two weeks after she went missing, the police conducted an astounding 850 searches for her. They deployed everything at their disposal. Bloodhounds, helicopters, infrared cameras. Despite all those resources, it was her own family who came closest to finding her. During one search, Elizabeth's uncle came so close to Brian's campsite, she could hear him shouting her name.

In the first two weeks after she went missing, the police conducted an astounding 850 searches for her. They deployed everything at their disposal. Bloodhounds, helicopters, infrared cameras. Despite all those resources, it was her own family who came closest to finding her. During one search, Elizabeth's uncle came so close to Brian's campsite, she could hear him shouting her name.

In the first two weeks after she went missing, the police conducted an astounding 850 searches for her. They deployed everything at their disposal. Bloodhounds, helicopters, infrared cameras. Despite all those resources, it was her own family who came closest to finding her. During one search, Elizabeth's uncle came so close to Brian's campsite, she could hear him shouting her name.

But before Elizabeth could do anything, Brian threatened to kill her if she made any noise. The whole time, Elizabeth was only a few miles from home. It made her captivity all the more agonizing, especially when she heard her own search party looking for her. Three days after she was kidnapped, Elizabeth could hear her uncle's voice in the woods, calling her name.

But before Elizabeth could do anything, Brian threatened to kill her if she made any noise. The whole time, Elizabeth was only a few miles from home. It made her captivity all the more agonizing, especially when she heard her own search party looking for her. Three days after she was kidnapped, Elizabeth could hear her uncle's voice in the woods, calling her name.

But before Elizabeth could do anything, Brian threatened to kill her if she made any noise. The whole time, Elizabeth was only a few miles from home. It made her captivity all the more agonizing, especially when she heard her own search party looking for her. Three days after she was kidnapped, Elizabeth could hear her uncle's voice in the woods, calling her name.

Brian heard it too, and told her not to make a sound. He warned her that if anyone found their campsite, he would kill them and Elizabeth. Elizabeth kept quiet. Eventually, her uncle's voice faded into the distance. In those first few days, the police were also looking into anyone associated with the Smart family.

Brian heard it too, and told her not to make a sound. He warned her that if anyone found their campsite, he would kill them and Elizabeth. Elizabeth kept quiet. Eventually, her uncle's voice faded into the distance. In those first few days, the police were also looking into anyone associated with the Smart family.

Brian heard it too, and told her not to make a sound. He warned her that if anyone found their campsite, he would kill them and Elizabeth. Elizabeth kept quiet. Eventually, her uncle's voice faded into the distance. In those first few days, the police were also looking into anyone associated with the Smart family.

It turned out Ed and Lois frequently hired men who were down on their luck to work on their house. And less than 10 days after Elizabeth's kidnapping, they believed they were zeroing in on a suspect. Unfortunately, it wasn't Brian Mitchell. In the aftermath of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart's kidnapping in June 2002, the police zeroed in on a suspect.

It turned out Ed and Lois frequently hired men who were down on their luck to work on their house. And less than 10 days after Elizabeth's kidnapping, they believed they were zeroing in on a suspect. Unfortunately, it wasn't Brian Mitchell. In the aftermath of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart's kidnapping in June 2002, the police zeroed in on a suspect.

It turned out Ed and Lois frequently hired men who were down on their luck to work on their house. And less than 10 days after Elizabeth's kidnapping, they believed they were zeroing in on a suspect. Unfortunately, it wasn't Brian Mitchell. In the aftermath of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart's kidnapping in June 2002, the police zeroed in on a suspect.

Unfortunately, it wasn't Elizabeth's actual kidnapper, Brian Mitchell. It was one of the Smart's handymen, 48-year-old Richard Ricci, as a suspicious person because of his violent criminal background. There wasn't any evidence immediately tying him to the kidnapping, but four weeks after Elizabeth was taken, Richard was arrested for stealing from some of the families in the neighborhood.

Unfortunately, it wasn't Elizabeth's actual kidnapper, Brian Mitchell. It was one of the Smart's handymen, 48-year-old Richard Ricci, as a suspicious person because of his violent criminal background. There wasn't any evidence immediately tying him to the kidnapping, but four weeks after Elizabeth was taken, Richard was arrested for stealing from some of the families in the neighborhood.

Unfortunately, it wasn't Elizabeth's actual kidnapper, Brian Mitchell. It was one of the Smart's handymen, 48-year-old Richard Ricci, as a suspicious person because of his violent criminal background. There wasn't any evidence immediately tying him to the kidnapping, but four weeks after Elizabeth was taken, Richard was arrested for stealing from some of the families in the neighborhood.

The police also found something else when they questioned him. Apparently, he revealed he'd driven hundreds of miles around the time Elizabeth was kidnapped, but he wouldn't say why or where he went. It all sounded suspicious. The problem was, Elizabeth's little sister, Mary Catherine, had actually seen her sister's abductor, and she didn't think it was Richard.

The police also found something else when they questioned him. Apparently, he revealed he'd driven hundreds of miles around the time Elizabeth was kidnapped, but he wouldn't say why or where he went. It all sounded suspicious. The problem was, Elizabeth's little sister, Mary Catherine, had actually seen her sister's abductor, and she didn't think it was Richard.