A man posing as a police officer approached her walking home from school. Ten days later, she used his own cell phone to secretly call for help.
The Abduction
On September 6, 2006, 14-year-old Elizabeth Shoaf was walking home from school in Lugoff, South Carolina, when she was approached by a man impersonating a police officer. He was Vinson Filyaw, 36, who was at the time wanted for the rape of his ex-girlfriend's 12-year-old daughter. Filyaw took Shoaf to a hand-dug underground bunker near his trailer home, roughly 15 feet deep and equipped with a hand-dug bathroom and makeshift shelving. He restrained her and subjected her to repeated sexual assault over the following days, at one point tying an explosive device around her neck and threatening her life if she tried to escape.
A Search Close to Home
Despite an extensive search involving detectives and volunteers combing the surrounding forest, investigators were unable to locate Shoaf, even though she was being held less than a mile from her own house. Her mother, Madeline, has described standing outside in the dark night after night during the search, praying for her daughter's safe return.
Building Trust
Over the course of her captivity, Shoaf made a deliberate effort to engage Filyaw in conversation about his interests, gradually gaining enough of his trust that he allowed her to use his cell phone, initially just to play games.
The Escape
After ten days, Shoaf used the phone to secretly contact her mother, describing her location well enough for police to locate the bunker using cell tower data. When Filyaw saw a news report identifying him as a suspect, Shoaf convinced him to flee the bunker; once he did, she was able to leave and call out for help until she was found. Filyaw was captured about five miles away.
Conviction
Filyaw pleaded guilty to kidnapping, possession of an incendiary device, impersonating a police officer, and ten counts of criminal sexual conduct, and was sentenced to 421 years in prison on September 19, 2007. He died in prison in May 2021, at age 51; no cause of death was made public.
Life After
Shoaf has spoken publicly about her experience in the years since, working as a dental assistant and partnering with local law enforcement to educate parents and children about personal safety, describing her survival as something she wants to use to help protect others.
FAQ
How long was Elizabeth Shoaf held captive?
Ten days, from September 6 to September 16, 2006.
How was she rescued?
She secretly used her captor's own cell phone to contact her mother, who relayed her location to police.
What happened to Vinson Filyaw?
He was sentenced to 421 years in prison and died in custody in 2021.