Elizabeth Smart's kidnapper gets life sentence. Justice, 9 years later.

In a fitting end to National Missing Children's day, Elizabeth Smart's kidnapper was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. Now 23, Smart was just 14-years-old when she was taken from her bedroom at knifepoint by Brian David Mitchell. Over the next 9 months he would take her as his second wife and sexually abuse her daily.
Before his sentencing, Smart got to speak to her captor once last time. Here is the statement she made in court, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

"I don't have very much to say to you. I know exactly what you did. I know that you know what you did was wrong. You did it with a full knowledge. I also want you to know that I have a wonderful life now, that no matter what you do will it affect me again. You took away nine months of my life that can never be returned, but in this life or next, you will have to be held responsible for those actions, and I hope you are ready for when that time comes."

Mitchell didn't react and chanted a spiritual mantra as she spoke. He was then handed down the maximum sentence of life.

Last year, Smart testified against Mitchell in his federal trial, opening up about the physical torture and relentless sexual assaults she endured. It's hard to imagine what kind of strength Smart and her family had to muster to revisit those horrors. But her bravery ensured one more child torturer would be locked up forever.

The US Department of Justice estimates about 800,000 kids go missing in a given year. Within that group, 58,000 kids are kidnapped by a non-parent and potential sexual predator. But the number of those found safely is swelling thanks to education, Amber Alerts and viral media campaigns. Websites, Facebook pages and twitter campaigns have expanded community outreach and shrunken lead time when a child goes missing. Educating kids on self-protection has also made an impact. In up to 82 percent of cases children escaped potential abduction on their own, according to a study by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Mitchell may be locked up for life, but he's not the only child predator. For safety tips for your kids and a list of missing children nationwide, go to missingkids.com.

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