In June 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart was taken from her bedroom in the middle of the night — a crime so brazen it shattered any illusion of safety at home.

An intruder cut through a window screen, entered her room, and threatened her life before leading her into the dark. What followed was a nine-month captivity that unfolded in plain sight, while the nation searched and her family refused to give up hope.

How does someone disappear — yet remain so close to civilization?
How did she survive?
And what ultimately led to her recovery?

In this episode, we break down the timeline of Elizabeth Smart’s abduction, the investigation that gripped America, and the resilience that turned a story of terror into one of survival.