ELIZABETH SMART’s TERROR AS COP BLEW RESCUE ATTEMPT

description

Courageous ELIZABETH SMART continued her testimony as she revealed how her terrifying captivity could have ended much sooner if only a detective had realized WHO she really was.

During the resumption of her shocking testimony on Day Two, Elizabeth Smart told a court how an encounter with a Salt Lake City detective nearly saved her from abductors Brian David Mitchell and his wife Wanda Barzee.

RadarOnline.com reports that Mitchell plotted to kidnap Elizabeth’s cousin as well.

A homicide detective encountered Elizabeth and her sex-crazed captors, Mitchell and Barzee in the city library several months after she was abducted at knife-point from her home June 2002.

The suspicious detective approached Elizabeth and Barzee, who were wearing Islamic-style veils and robes and sitting at a table.   Mitchell was off using the bathroom.

"The man introduced himself as a homicide detective," Elizabeth told the packed court house.

"He wanted me to remove the veil so he could see my face."

But Barzee’s nails clenched her leg, a move Elizabeth interpreted as a warning  — not to say or do anything. 

As The ENQUIRER reported yesterday after repeated rapes, Smart testified that the accused forced her to remove every last vestige of her identity including toe polish remnants.

When Mitchell returned, he told the detective that looking under her veil was not allowed in their religion.  AND that Elizabeth was his daughter.

The detective "asked if he could be part of our religion for a day" so he could take a peek under the veil and   report the girl was NOT Elizabeth Smart, she said.

But her captor Mitchell refused and the detective left.

Elizabeth recalled, "I felt like hope was walking out the door- I was so mad at myself that I didn’t say anything.

"I was mad at myself for not taking the chance.

"I felt like it was so close."

LEARN the details of the OTHER kidnap attempt @RadarOnline.com

SEE PREVIOUS ENQUIRER COVERAGE BELOW