Elizabeth Smart “Looking Forward” to Partnership with ABC

Elizabeth Smart says she is “looking forward” to becoming an ABC News contributor. Smart, who survived being kidnapped, raped and held captive for 9 months, will appear on ABC’s numerous news programs to discuss child abduction and missing person cases. She is expected to begin within the next several weeks.

"We expect that she can add some insightful, invaluable perspective of what families are going through and bring stories to life for viewers. Her contributions will be very much focused on the looking-forward aspect of these situations," said ABC spokeswoman Julie Townsend.

"I am committed to giving back and getting involved where I can make the greatest difference through child advocacy work. Partnering with ABC provides a powerful tool to help me accomplish this. I look forward to working to create awareness for and helping bring other missing children home as well as helping to prevent others from experiencing what I went through,” Smart, 23, said in a statement.

Smart was 14 when she was kidnapped from her family’s Salt Lake City home on June 5, 2002 by street preacher Brian David Mitchell. She was found 9 months later on March 12, 2003. Mitchell sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor across state lines for sex.

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