Elizabeth Smart’s 2002 kidnapping and nine month imprisonment by Brian David Mitchell has become headline news once again thanks to a brand new true crime film.
Netflix’s newest true crime film focuses on Smart’s kidnapping and nine month ordeal in which Mitchell raped her repeatedly and forced her to marry him. She was just 14 at the time.
The documentary film, Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart, however leaves out some pretty major developments in the case, leading many to question why it wasn’t a limited docuseries instead of a film.
The true crime doc doesn’t touch particularly heavily on the Mormon church, or the fact that Elizabeth’s dad has since come out as gay and left the church entirely.
Advert
One of the biggest aspects however that the film does not touch on in sufficient detail is the tragedy of Richard Ricci, and the police failings around his death.
Ricci died in custody whilst being falsely accused of kidnapping Smart
The one witness to the kidnapping, nine year old Mary Katherine Smart, claimed she recognised the voice of the kidnapper who held a knife to her sister Elizabeth’s neck.
This led to anyone who had spent time at the house in recent months becoming a suspect, which in turn led to the questioning of Richard Ricci.
Ricci was given work by Ed Smart as he was on a list of workers provided to him by the church, however had a ‘violent criminal history’ and had gotten into a conflict with Ed over his wages.
After days of intense questioning, which is shown in footage in the Netflix doc, he ended up dying in custody of a brain haemorrhage.
Even after his death police discounted Mary Katherine’s realisation that Elizabeth had been taken by a man named Immanuel, claiming that they were fairly sure it was Ricci who had taken her. In addition to this, Mary Katherine actually said whilst he was alive that it wasn't him, but also was not believed by police.
Ricci’s innocence is brushed over in the documentary, as is his wife’s heartbreaking death
Ricci was by no means a saint. The man had past charges of attempted criminal homicide, felony burglary, and aggravated robbery. What he was not, however, is the man responsible for kidnapping Elizabeth Smart or someone with any connection to her disappearance whatsoever.
One fan posted a comment on a Reddit thread about the documentary saying: “Justice for Richard Ricci!” They also suggested that it was odd that it is barely acknowledged that his brain haemorrhage came after interrogations over a crime he didn’t commit.
Discussing a previous documentary and the overall lacking coverage of Ricci’s innocence, one Reddit post said: “I just can't shake how upsetting it is to me.
“This poor man, pleaded his innocence until he died and then didn't even have the chance to have his loved ones say goodbye to him after death. I know this happens a lot because the justice system is flawed, but It just tears me up inside.
“The police f*cked up this families lives with no repercussions. Does this upset anyone else like it does me.”
The reference to Ricci’s family was regarding his wife, Angela Ricci, who committed suicide in 2015.
Ricci's wife died of a 'broken heart'
In a fundraiser post following her death Angela’s son Trevor said: “The official cause of death was suicide, but I believe she died from a broken heart.
“He was convicted by the police and the public, and was intensely interrogated, all the while trying to tell anyone who would listen that he was innocent. Our lives changed drastically from the moment he was falsely accused.”
Angela eventually sued and won $150,000 over his death and wrongful accusation, but according to her son ‘since the day Richard Ricci died, my mother’s broken heart never healed.’
Whilst the documentary rightfully focuses most of its energy on Elizabeth’s traumatic experiences, the lack of focus on Ricci’s innocence is disappointing.
Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart is available to stream on Netflix now.
Topics: Documentaries, Film, Netflix, TV and Film, True Crime
Michael Slavin