BYU-Idaho Radio · Elizabeth Smart's publicist tells his side of the story in his new book
In 2003, at only 30 years old, Chris Thomas was thrown into the national and world spotlight as he updated the world about the abduction and search for 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart. Over the months of searching for her, he became a spokesman for the Smart family until Elizabeth was found 9-and-a-half months later.
Thomas always knew he had an interesting side of the story to tell since he worked so close with the Smart family. He recently released a book telling that story called “Unexpected: The Backstory of Finding Elizabeth Smart and Growing Up in the Culture of an American Religion.”
“Elizabeth’s cousin started an internship with my PR firm a couple of weeks before Elizabeth was abducted and we had some other connections as well. It was almost as though my firm, my partners and I, were meant to work with the family,” Thomas said.
Thomas grew close to the Smart family and still maintains that relationship with them today. Thomas opens his book with the day he saw Elizabeth for the first time. He calls that moment a life-changing experience.
“She looked at me, and although I had seen her at the police station I hadn’t introduced myself, and (she) gave me kind of a strange look,” Thomas said. “Ed Smart caught it and said ‘You don’t know who this is, do you? I consider Chris a brother and you should too.’”
Thomas’ book explains how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its culture played a role in the Elizabeth Smart case. Thomas hopes that those not familiar with the faith and culture are able to be informed and gain a deeper understanding of it through his book.
The main message he hopes people take away after reading his book is that they are slower to judge and quicker to serve.
You can find Thomas’ book online or in-store at places like Deseret Book, Barnes and Noble, and Walmart.