Grinning widely and clad in a pink sweater, the most infamous female kidnapper in America has been captured in a fresh police mugshot for violating the terms of her parole. Wanda Barzee, now 80, displayed a cheerful expression as authorities updated her details on the Utah Sex Offender Registry, a stark contrast to her shocked appearance in 2003 when she and her accomplice, Brian David Mitchell, were imprisoned for kidnapping 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart.
This is not the first instance where Barzee seemed pleased to be back in custody. Despite serving only 15 years for her involvement in Smart’s nine-month ordeal before her release in 2018, she was required to register as a sex offender. In May, she breached the registry’s regulations by visiting two parks, locations prohibited for convicted sex offenders under Utah law, potentially leading to her return to prison. Smart promptly reacted to her captor’s arrest, expressing her disapproval through her foundation’s Instagram page.
Barzee purportedly stated that she entered the parks due to being “commanded by the Lord,” a rationale disputed by Smart, who highlighted that it was the same excuse used during her captivity in 2002. Smart had long cautioned against Barzee’s release, deeming it “incomprehensible,” and the recent violation only solidified her beliefs.
Commending the swift actions of the authorities, Smart emphasized the importance of taking such breaches seriously, emphasizing the significance of survivor safety. She urged policymakers and officials to uphold the purpose of sex offender registries and release conditions, emphasizing their critical role in ensuring public safety.
Closing her message with a reflection on her mother’s advice following her rescue, Smart affirmed her refusal to be defined by her captivity experience, pledging to live fearlessly despite the situation. Her abduction remains a harrowing chapter in U.S. history, wherein Mitchell, posing as a preacher, abducted her from her Salt Lake City home, subjecting her to unimaginable horrors.
Now aged 37, Smart has transformed into a prominent advocate for women’s and children’s safety, sharing her story through various platforms and projects. Mitchell, sentenced to life without parole in 2010, recently faced attacks in prison, prompting his transfer from the US penitentiary in Terre Haute.
