Elizabeth Smart in South Bend to share her story

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- An Evening with Elizabeth Smart will be held Wednesday evening at the Century Center. Before the event, she spoke exclusively with ABC57.

Elizabeth Smart was in the headlines in 2002 when she was abducted from her home in Salt Lake City. Her story made headlines again when she was found 9 months later.

She had been kidnapped by a couple who threatened to kill her and her family if she tried to escape.

Now, she uses her story to raise awareness for child abuse and human trafficking.

"I used to think that what happened to me was unique. I used to think I was the only person who had ever really experienced them and that was a pretty narrow view and at the same time I think it's not that surprising because you didn't hear people speaking out about being sexually abused. You didn't hear people speaking about being raped. You didn't hear about people getting kidnapped," Smart said.

Smart's captors were identified as Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee.

Both were found guilty on charges related to Smart's kidnapping and sentenced to federal prison.