Tom Smart and Ed Smart had very little to do with Elizabeth staying in the media.
Many people actually didn't like either one of them and used them as an excuse to think the family was involved.
Elizabeth was in the media because:
This happened to one of them. This was a good little girl... a good little LDS girl like everyone else... and that just doesn't happen.
It had been years since it had happened and it was not from their home in the middle of the night.
You had the LDS church asking for assistance, media attention, searchers, prayers etc.
If Destiny Norton had been taken from her home in the middle of the night and remained missing she would not have gotten the same attention.
Because everyone would have simply found a way to explain it away. "Drugs" or unsavory friends or something else.
With Elizabeth they TRIED to find a way to distance themselves. To blame her family and make it less likely it could happen to them.
But they couldn't. It could have just as easily have been their family and THAT is why you had 2,000 searchers and media attention.
In Elizabeth's case it was truly the religion that made the difference in her getting the media attention and searchers.
That is my opinion, having been right here and searching for Elizabeth and Destiny the whole time.
I really wish that this child recieved more attention. However, I can see why media sometimes moves on. In this case, there was absolutely no lead outside of the family. It seems most likely that something happened inside his home. There is no kidnapper on the loose. The family does not demand air time. It just happens.
We have cases like Holly Bobo where there was a LOT of media attention in the beginning. Now, the case seems to have gone cold, and there is very little attention.
I hate it when people keep comparing other cases. I see a lot of people disparage the fact that Elizabeth Smart received a lot of media attention. Her father DEMANDED media attention. That is what happens sometimes. He put himself out there. He pushed and pushed. The media attention really went down after a while when her case went cold as well. However, of course the media went wild when she was located. Who doesn't LOVE that ending? Who also doesn't LOVE how graceful she is? What about Jaycee Dugard? She also recieved a lot of media attention when found.
I never disparage other cases that acutally get media attention. I just wish there was enough time in the day to put EVERY missing person's case on the news. EVERY day, there should be a spotlight on the missing on every new station! It could be a different spotlight every day, but there should be a segment on every newstation to spotlight the missing.
This is all MHO of course!
I don't understand why any missing child is not top priority in the news. I think Elizabeth Smart's uncle was or is a photojournalist for the Deseret Morning News in Salt Lake City. Perhaps he had a lot to do with keeping her in the media.
Justthinkin-
Most people have a case that causes them to finally join or start posting at Websleuths.
I considered joining when several children went missing but ended up waiting until Kyron did.
HiHater joined back in June 2010 (profile) and simply didn't start posting until Joshua went missing in Feb 2011.
I believe this is simply "her" case. She shows she is from Texas and this is the case that finally caused her to stop lurking. Makes sense.
She was not defensive of the family or anything. I think she has just had her heart stolen by Baby Joshua like the rest of us. :seeya:
Just my opinion and if I am incorrect I trust HiHater will correct me.
(I have also seen posts get deleted for the very same question you asked, so that is why I'm not quoting your post.)