The family of 15-year old Trisha Autry knows something of the heartache the Smart family is currently experiencing.
It's been almost two years since the teenager disappeared from her home in Cache County.
New Specialist Coco Warner talked with Tricia's mother JoAnn today, and got her perspective on the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping.
JoAnn Autry/Trisha's mother: "MY INITIAL REACTION WAS ONE OF HORROR, BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING."
JoAnn Autry was at home when she first heard the news that 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart had been kidnapped.
Nearly two years ago on the morning of June 24th, she awoke to find her own 15-year-old daughter missing. Eleven months later, the remains of Trisha's body were found buried at a Cache County wildlife reserve. The suspect, 29-year-old Cody Nielsen, is currently in jail on unrelated rape charges, awaiting trial for Trisha's murder.
JoAnn recently established the Trisha Autry Foundation. Its purpose is to help families with missing children and educate the public on how they can protect their own children.
JoAnn recommends you educate yourself, your kids, and for the worst case scenario, make sure you have information about your kids.
JoAnn Autry: "YOU'RE CALLED ON TO REMEMBER WHERE PROMINENT MARKING ARE ON THEIR BODY-- WHERE ARE THEIR BIRTHMARKS, WHERE ARE THEIR SCARS? AND I KNOW IT TOOK US FIVE HOURS AS A FAMILY SITTING DOWN AND TRYING TO REMEMBER WHICH ARM TRISHA'S BIRTHMARK WAS ON."
And what would she say to the Smart family?
JoAnn Autry/Trisha's mother: "ONE THING I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO IS TO HOLD ON TO HOPE, IS THAT YOU DON'T GIVE UP HOPE UNTIL THERE'S PROOF THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK."
Hope that in the case of Elizabeth Smart, it will be a happier ending.
There is a status hearing scheduled this coming Monday in Logan in the case of Trisha Autry's murder.
June 6, 2002
