There is something called the Stockholm syndrome which was  a study done that showed that victims identify with their capturors. It is a normal reaction to extreme emotional duress, and when one's lifeline is tied to the person who imprisons you, it is not an abnormal reaction..

THis child is in for much needed pyschological treatment..

What about Patty Hearst and the SLA.  After she was abducted, did she get brainwashed into the cult or did she believe in them to begin with?  Who really knows other than the people involved.  I wouldn't venture a guess.  

What we need to remember is that Ms. Smart is only 15 and still a kid.  Kids don't always see the whole picture, so I would give her a break and not ask too many questions because it doesn't matter.  What matters is that the two adults were involved with keeping her away from her family, with or without her permission.  I have a problem with that!

Ferangi noted this first in this thread. It's a weird thing, but exists.  The victim really does begin to identify with the kidnappers.  I wasn't sure about the Patty Hearst thing while it was going on.  I followed it pretty closely at the time, with the series of articles being published in the Rolling Stone.  As I recall she fired several shots (in the air?) during a bank robbery and was convicted on one of the charges out of that.  She said she was afraid she would be shot, but it's more complex than that.

The girl did have opportunities to get away.  Hard to figure why she didn't.  But there really doesn't appear to be any evidence of rebellious or trouble teen there.

I think all anyone can do is speculate, for there isn't enough information for any cut and dry answers.  I do agree that there are things that makes one wonder about what really went on.

I do want to come to the little girls defense though.  Everyone's reactions are different in every different scenario and situation put before them.  Fear for some leaves them as stunned as a deer hit with headlights, while others run or fight right onto deaths door.  Lord only knows right now what was said and done to her to make her comply with their demands and many can only imagine how they would react if put in her shoes.  

Lauren

is she wanted to be there.
Have you checked out the photos of her with her family, she looks sad..like she is missing them.
She doesn't make sense. The only thing I am happy is for the family...they have her back even though she is not right.

Shaye

It is not the SLIGHTEST importance whether this girl attempted to escape when she had chances to, or not.  You MUST remember that she was subject to all kinds of emotional duress over the course of 9 months.  She might even have STARTED OUT viewing this as an exciting adventure outside of her rigid household, it just does NOT matter.  She WAS and she IS, the VICTIM of a terrible crime.  She was undoubtedly controlled and brainwashed over the course of these events.  The Stockholm syndrome is a known and legitimate phenomena experienced by people in this type of situation.   Based on the "official" non-responses to the question when it was asked, it is almost certainly a VERY safe assumption that she was subject to some type of sexual abuse as well as emotional abuse.  It is VERY possible that she then begins to acquiesce to the demands of her captors, and even does whatever she must to conform to their wishes, as the captors are here only means of survival, at that point.

Do not assume that the way you would act, as a free-thinking, and freely mobile individual is how you would act in the situation that she was put in.   It is known to be an invalid assumption.