The Chilling Saga: Where Elizabeth Smart's Kidnappers Are Now (2025 Update)

The abduction of Elizabeth Smart in 2002 remains one of the most high-profile and disturbing criminal cases in modern American history, a nine-month ordeal that captivated and horrified the nation. While Elizabeth Smart has bravely moved forward to become an advocate for survivors, the two individuals responsible for her torment—Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee—continue to serve their sentences, though their paths and current legal statuses remain a subject of intense public scrutiny.

As of late 2025, the legal status of both kidnappers has seen recent developments, particularly for Wanda Barzee, whose freedom was short-lived following her 2018 release. The latest information reveals a critical violation of her post-release conditions, bringing the case back into the headlines and underscoring the enduring trauma inflicted by the pair.

The Kidnappers' Full Profiles and Biographies

Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee were a married couple at the time of the kidnapping, linked by a shared extremist religious ideology that Mitchell used to justify his heinous crimes. Their biographies reveal a history of instability, homelessness, and bizarre religious fanaticism that culminated in the abduction of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart.

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Brian David Mitchell (Emmanuel)

• Full Name: Brian David Mitchell
• Aliases: Emmanuel, The Prophet Emmanuel
• Date of Birth: October 18, 1953
• Age (as of 2025): 72
• Occupation: Former street preacher, drifter, and handyman (briefly employed by the Smart family)
• Role in Kidnapping: The primary abductor, rapist, and perpetrator of the crimes. He claimed to have received a "revelation" commanding him to take Elizabeth Smart as a "plural wife."
• Conviction: Kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor across state lines for the purpose of sexual abuse (Federal Court).
• Sentence: Life in federal prison without the possibility of parole.
• Current Status (2025): Serving his life sentence in a federal correctional institution. Recent reports indicate he was transferred from a facility in Indiana, though his current specific location is not publicly confirmed.

Wanda Eileen Barzee (Hephzibah)

• Full Name: Wanda Eileen Barzee (also known as Wanda Mitchell)
• Date of Birth: September 6, 1946
• Age (as of 2025): 79
• Occupation: Homemaker, drifter, and follower of Brian David Mitchell's extremist ideology.
• Role in Kidnapping: Mitchell's accomplice and wife. She assisted in the physical abduction, the nine-month captivity, and the abuse of Elizabeth Smart.
• Conviction: Kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor (Federal Court) and aggravated kidnapping (State Court).
• Sentence: 15 years in federal prison and a concurrent 15 years in state prison. She received credit for time served in a mental health facility.
• Release Date: September 19, 2018 (earlier than anticipated due to a recalculation of her sentence).
• Current Status (2025): Arrested and formally charged in May 2025 for violating her sex offender registration conditions.

The Abduction and Nine-Month Ordeal

The crime that shocked the nation began in the early morning hours of June 5, 2002. Elizabeth Smart, then 14 years old, was taken at knifepoint from her bedroom in her family's Federal Heights home in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The kidnapper, Brian David Mitchell, was a former street preacher who had done odd jobs for the Smart family just months prior. Elizabeth's younger sister, Mary Katherine Smart, witnessed the abduction but pretended to be asleep, an act of presence of mind that would prove crucial later.

For nine agonizing months, Elizabeth was held captive in various remote campsites in the canyons near Salt Lake City and later taken to California. She was subjected to repeated sexual assault and psychological abuse by Mitchell, with Wanda Barzee's assistance. The captors forced Elizabeth to wear a disguise, including a veil and robe, and gave her the new name "Hephzibah."

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The break in the case came in March 2003 when Mary Katherine Smart, after seeing a police sketch of Mitchell, finally realized the identity of the kidnapper. On March 12, 2003, Mitchell, Barzee, and Elizabeth—still in disguise—were spotted by citizens in Sandy, Utah, and subsequently recovered by police. Elizabeth was safely returned to her family, ending the search that had dominated national news.

Brian David Mitchell's Permanent Imprisonment

Brian David Mitchell, the central figure in the kidnapping and sexual abuse, was deemed mentally competent to stand trial after years of legal wrangling over his sanity. His trial finally took place in a federal court, where he was convicted of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor.

Mitchell’s defense argued that his actions were the result of a severe mental illness, specifically a delusional disorder, pointing to his extremist religious writings and his belief that he was a prophet. However, the jury ultimately rejected the insanity defense. He was sentenced to two life terms in federal prison, ensuring he will never be released. This sentence provides a measure of permanent closure and justice for the Smart family and the public.

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Mitchell’s life behind bars is characterized by the isolation required for high-security inmates. The recent report of his transfer from the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, to another facility is a standard administrative procedure for long-term federal inmates, but it serves as a reminder of his ongoing incarceration and the permanent consequences of his actions. The federal system ensures that this dangerous predator, who inflicted immense psychological and physical harm, remains locked away for the rest of his natural life.

Wanda Barzee's 2025 Arrest for Parole Violation

Wanda Barzee's journey after the kidnapping took a different legal route. After pleading guilty to her role in the crime, she was released from prison in September 2018, five years earlier than her original sentence. Her early release was a result of a miscalculation of her time served by the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, which angered Elizabeth Smart and her family.

Upon release, Barzee was placed on federal supervision and was required to register as a sex offender. The conditions of her release strictly prohibited her from being in areas where children congregate, such as schools and parks.

The May 2025 Violation

In a significant and recent development, Wanda Barzee, at the age of 79, was arrested on May 1, 2025, in Salt Lake City. She was formally charged with violating the conditions of her sex offender registration.

• The Violation: Barzee was accused of visiting two protected areas, specifically two public parks in the Salt Lake City area, which is a direct violation of her sex offender status.
• The Claim: When questioned by authorities, Barzee reportedly claimed that she was "commanded by the Lord" to visit the parks, echoing the same delusional religious rhetoric that Mitchell used to rationalize the original kidnapping.
• The Charge: She was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail under the name Wanda Mitchell and formally charged with being a sex offender in a protected area, a serious offense that could result in her return to prison.

This May 2025 incident highlights the ongoing risk and the lack of rehabilitation for individuals with deep-seated delusional disorders who commit crimes. For Elizabeth Smart and her family, the news of Barzee's arrest for a sex offender violation is a painful reminder of the past, but also a confirmation that the justice system is actively monitoring her post-release behavior. The outcome of her current legal proceedings will determine if she is returned to custody to serve the remainder of her sentence.

The Lasting Legacy and Societal Impact

The Elizabeth Smart kidnapping case spurred significant changes in law enforcement and public awareness regarding child abductions. The case is a cornerstone in the study of Stockholm Syndrome, psychological abuse, and the failure of initial police sketches to identify a known suspect.

Elizabeth Smart herself has become a powerful advocate, founding the Elizabeth Smart Foundation and successfully lobbying for the passage of the "Elizabeth Smart Act" in Utah, which focuses on better sex offender registration and notification laws. Her work directly addresses the vulnerabilities exploited by individuals like Mitchell and Barzee, turning her personal tragedy into a force for legislative and societal protection for other children and survivors. The enduring public interest in the current status of her kidnappers, particularly the fresh details of Wanda Barzee's 2025 arrest, underscores the need for continuous vigilance and robust sex offender monitoring programs.