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American Morning

Interview with Elizabeth Smart's Uncle, Aunt

Aired March 13, 2003 - 07:08   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now on to family reaction to Elizabeth Smart's homecoming. Let's check in with two of her relatives, her Uncle David Smart and an aunt, Cynthia Smart Owens.
Thank you very much for being with us this morning. I know one of your family members said last night if you have any questions at all of whether miracles do exist, they do.

Has the joy of this news sunk in yet, David?

DAVID SMART, ELIZABETH SMART'S UNCLE: You know, it didn't really sink in until last night when I was able to hug Elizabeth and just tell her how much we loved her and cared about her. And even the first time, I had to go back and hug her again just as a reality check that she is back. And it almost feels like we've been tied up into a little cage, and that door finally flung open. And seeing Elizabeth and just the relief that she's back home now with her family is just overwhelming.

ZAHN: How did she look to you, David?

SMART: She looked very good and in good health. I know that Elizabeth is a very strong individual. And that with all that she's been through that we have absolutely no idea of what's she's been through, but we know that with a lot of love and prayer and support, we'll be able to help her through whatever it is.

ZAHN: Cynthia, did you have a chance to talk with her, too?

CYNTHIA SMART OWENS, ELIZABETH SMART'S AUNT: Yes.

ZAHN: And what did you talk about?

OWENS: Well, it was sweet. Edward was -- it wasn't so much us talking individually, but Edward was -- and Lois were showing her the volumes and volumes of e-mails that had been received. They had saved them carefully in binders that are about this thick, and there are at least 15 of them that they have in a nice bookshelf in their front room with a light. And it was just wonderful to be able to show her all of the love that people have expressed and the prayers that have been given.

And then Edward went on to tell her how much the family has been working to try and bring her home, and we let her know how much we loved her and how much faith we have in her strength and how proud we are of her. ZAHN: David, I know you said it must be very difficult to understand what she has endured over the last eight-and-a-half months or so. A family spokesperson said last night, who also witnessed the reunion, that she talked about camping a lot, and perhaps being taken out to San Diego. Can you confirm any of that for us this morning?

SMART: I can't. I didn't start asking those types of questions. We did mention horses, and her eyes lit up, and she was very excited and wanted to get out and go on the horses. But as for the camping, we did not talk to her about that. We just wanted to let her know that we were there to give her support and the love that she needs to get through this ordeal.

OWENS: Although I actually did talk to her, because she has a little bit of a sunburn, and she said that she had been camping.

ZAHN: She did say that? Cynthia, I know anybody following this story admires the great strength your family has shown throughout this tremendous challenge. And I know just recently I interviewed Elizabeth's parents, and they said in spite of what investigators told them about the odds of finding her alive they never gave up. And they said, in fact, they set the table for her for dinner every single night. How difficult was it for them to maintain a sense of hope when they'd look at the statistics that were quite the opposite of what you witnessed yesterday?

OWENS: It's had to quantify, but it definitely nagged at them every day and I'm sure every minute of every day. It was a struggle to get through, and they've done it. And there is still a struggle ahead to survive everything and to be able to heal, but they're very strong and very loving.

ZAHN: And, David, a final thought this morning of what it meant to your family to have the support of the community as this search dragged on for many, many months.

SMART: I'll tell you, last night -- well, a couple of hours ago actually I just couldn't sleep, and I went down on the search center computer and just started reading all of the e-mails, and there were just thousands of e-mails that had come in from all around the world. And just to hear all of the prayers that have been answered and what a miracle this is, it was just overwhelming. And I just broke down in tears with the reality that she's back and that this nightmare -- one chapter of this nightmare is over, and now to the healing that needs to start taking place is just -- it's incredible.

ZAHN: Well, we wish your family the best of luck as Elizabeth tries to find her life once again. And thank you for sharing your miracle with us this morning.

OWENS: Thank you.

SMART: Thank you.

ZAHN: David Smart and Cynthia Smart Owens.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.







Aired March 13, 2003 - 07:08   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now on to family reaction to Elizabeth Smart's homecoming. Let's check in with two of her relatives, her Uncle David Smart and an aunt, Cynthia Smart Owens.
Thank you very much for being with us this morning. I know one of your family members said last night if you have any questions at all of whether miracles do exist, they do.

Has the joy of this news sunk in yet, David?

DAVID SMART, ELIZABETH SMART'S UNCLE: You know, it didn't really sink in until last night when I was able to hug Elizabeth and just tell her how much we loved her and cared about her. And even the first time, I had to go back and hug her again just as a reality check that she is back. And it almost feels like we've been tied up into a little cage, and that door finally flung open. And seeing Elizabeth and just the relief that she's back home now with her family is just overwhelming.

ZAHN: How did she look to you, David?

SMART: She looked very good and in good health. I know that Elizabeth is a very strong individual. And that with all that she's been through that we have absolutely no idea of what's she's been through, but we know that with a lot of love and prayer and support, we'll be able to help her through whatever it is.

ZAHN: Cynthia, did you have a chance to talk with her, too?

CYNTHIA SMART OWENS, ELIZABETH SMART'S AUNT: Yes.

ZAHN: And what did you talk about?

OWENS: Well, it was sweet. Edward was -- it wasn't so much us talking individually, but Edward was -- and Lois were showing her the volumes and volumes of e-mails that had been received. They had saved them carefully in binders that are about this thick, and there are at least 15 of them that they have in a nice bookshelf in their front room with a light. And it was just wonderful to be able to show her all of the love that people have expressed and the prayers that have been given.

And then Edward went on to tell her how much the family has been working to try and bring her home, and we let her know how much we loved her and how much faith we have in her strength and how proud we are of her. ZAHN: David, I know you said it must be very difficult to understand what she has endured over the last eight-and-a-half months or so. A family spokesperson said last night, who also witnessed the reunion, that she talked about camping a lot, and perhaps being taken out to San Diego. Can you confirm any of that for us this morning?

SMART: I can't. I didn't start asking those types of questions. We did mention horses, and her eyes lit up, and she was very excited and wanted to get out and go on the horses. But as for the camping, we did not talk to her about that. We just wanted to let her know that we were there to give her support and the love that she needs to get through this ordeal.

OWENS: Although I actually did talk to her, because she has a little bit of a sunburn, and she said that she had been camping.

ZAHN: She did say that? Cynthia, I know anybody following this story admires the great strength your family has shown throughout this tremendous challenge. And I know just recently I interviewed Elizabeth's parents, and they said in spite of what investigators told them about the odds of finding her alive they never gave up. And they said, in fact, they set the table for her for dinner every single night. How difficult was it for them to maintain a sense of hope when they'd look at the statistics that were quite the opposite of what you witnessed yesterday?

OWENS: It's had to quantify, but it definitely nagged at them every day and I'm sure every minute of every day. It was a struggle to get through, and they've done it. And there is still a struggle ahead to survive everything and to be able to heal, but they're very strong and very loving.

ZAHN: And, David, a final thought this morning of what it meant to your family to have the support of the community as this search dragged on for many, many months.

SMART: I'll tell you, last night -- well, a couple of hours ago actually I just couldn't sleep, and I went down on the search center computer and just started reading all of the e-mails, and there were just thousands of e-mails that had come in from all around the world. And just to hear all of the prayers that have been answered and what a miracle this is, it was just overwhelming. And I just broke down in tears with the reality that she's back and that this nightmare -- one chapter of this nightmare is over, and now to the healing that needs to start taking place is just -- it's incredible.

ZAHN: Well, we wish your family the best of luck as Elizabeth tries to find her life once again. And thank you for sharing your miracle with us this morning.

OWENS: Thank you.

SMART: Thank you.

ZAHN: David Smart and Cynthia Smart Owens.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.