Shocking cases of women found alive after years missing

Elizabeth Smart (centre) pictured with her parents and President Bush shortly after her release in 2003. Credit: Reuters

Three American women who all went missing separately around a decade ago have been found alive together at a house in Ohio near where they had last been seen.

Recently there have been several notable cases of women who escaped or were found years after going missing.

Jaycee Lee Dugard

  • Abducted: 1991

  • Found: 2009

Jaycee Lee Dugard was 11-years-old when she was abducted in California in 1991.

She was held for 18 years in the back garden of Phillip and Nancy Garrido, 170 miles from where she went missing.

Phillip Garrido was given a 431-year sentence after being found guilty of kidnap and rape.

Oprah Winfrey and Jaycee Lee Dugard pictured in New York in 2012. Credit: Empics

Natascha Kampusch

  • Abducted: 1998

  • Escaped: 2006

Natascha Kampusch was aged 10 when she was kidnapped and held in a windowless basement in Vienna for eight years.

She escaped from her captor's garden in 2006, running to a neighbour who called police.

Wolfgang Priklopil committed suicide following a police chase after Kampusch escaped.

Garage with access (L) to the dungeon of the kidnapped Natascha Kampusch in Strasshof near Vienna, Austria. Credit: Police
Access to the dungeon of the kidnapped Natascha Kampusch in Strasshof near Vienna, Austria. Credit: Police
Natascha Kampusch seen at the premiere for a film about her kidnapping. Credit: Police

Elisabeth Fritzl

  • Missing: 1984

  • Found: 2008

Josef Fritzl was 73 when he was convicted of imprisoning and raping his daughter in a cellar in Amstetten, Austria.

Elisabeth was held captive for 24 years, during which time she gave birth to seven children. One son died and three were raised upstairs by Fritzl and his wife. Three more children lived their whole lives inside the cellar until they were freed.

Elisabeth Fritzl was 42 when she was released from this house after 24 years.
Josef Fritzl after his arrest. Credit: Police

Elizabeth Smart

  • Abducted: June 2002

  • Found: March 2003

Elizabeth Smart was 14 when she was abducted from her bedroom in Utah and held in captivity for nine months.

Now a journalist and activist, Smart said she was tied up, regularly raped and threatened with death by her kidnapper.

She was rescued after a motorist spotted her walking the streets with the attacker and his wife.

Brian David Mitchell was given two life sentences after being convicted of kidnap and rape.

Elizabeth Smart (centre) pictured with her parents and President Bush shortly after her release in 2003. Credit: Reuters
Brian David Mitchell pictured in court in 2003. Credit: Reuters