Brian David Mitchell’s Life Sentence Continues Amid New Developments

Over two decades after the harrowing abduction of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart, one of her captors, Brian David Mitchell, remains incarcerated for life, while his accomplice and estranged wife, Wanda Barzee, continues to navigate the complexities of parole, facing a new violation in May 2025. Smart, now an author and victims’ rights advocate, recently shared her experience in a January 2026 Netflix documentary, bringing renewed attention to the enduring impact of the 2002 kidnapping that shocked the nation and the ongoing status of her abductors.

The Abduction That Gripped a Nation

The ordeal began in the early morning hours of June 5, 2002, when Brian David Mitchell, a self-proclaimed prophet, broke into the Smart family’s Salt Lake City home. Armed with a knife, he abducted Elizabeth from her bedroom, forcing her to march three miles through the woods to a makeshift camp where Wanda Barzee, his wife, was waiting. Elizabeth was subjected to unimaginable abuse, including daily rapes and being tethered to a tree, for the next nine months. Barzee, far from being a passive observer, encouraged Mitchell’s actions and was fully aware of the horrific conditions Elizabeth endured, as Elizabeth later recounted to CBS This Morning.

Mitchell and Barzee had a complicated history. They met in the mid-1980s at a counseling session, both having experienced personal struggles. Mitchell’s second marriage was dissolving amidst abuse allegations, while Barzee was ending an abusive marriage and losing custody of her children, according to The New Yorker. They married within nine months, initially active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, by the mid-1990s, Mitchell’s beliefs radicalized; he quit his job, stopped paying taxes, and began living off the land, convinced he was a prophet destined to have seven wives. The couple distanced themselves from the Mormon church, adopting religious robes and panhandling to survive.

Mitchell’s initial contact with the Smart family was deceptively innocuous. In November 2001, Elizabeth’s mother, Lois Smart, encountered Mitchell panhandling in Salt Lake City and, in an act of kindness common for her Mormon family, offered him $5 and roofing work on their home. Mitchell returned months later, but with sinister intent, cutting a hole in the kitchen window screen before entering Elizabeth’s bedroom.

Attempts at Further Abductions and the Breakthrough

During Elizabeth’s captivity, Mitchell attempted to abduct other young girls, illustrating the escalating danger he posed. In July 2002, just seven weeks after taking Elizabeth, he tried to kidnap her 18-year-old cousin, Jessica Wright, by cutting through her bedroom window screen, mirroring the Smart abduction. However, the family dog’s barking foiled his plan. Elizabeth later revealed in her 2018 book, When There’s Hope: Healing, Moving Forward, and Never Giving Up, that Mitchell also targeted another young girl in El Cajon, California, befriending her Mormon family with the intention of making her his ‘next wife.’ His plan was thwarted when a man’s snoring in the home startled him, causing him to abandon the attempt. Elizabeth noted that this mundane sound inadvertently saved the girl’s life.

The breakthrough in Elizabeth’s case came in October 2002 when her younger sister, Mary Katherine, who had been the sole witness to the abduction, recalled that the kidnapper’s voice belonged to ‘Immanuel,’ the man who had worked on their roof. This crucial detail allowed authorities to create a police sketch of Mitchell, which was publicly released in February 2003. Mitchell’s sister recognized him and provided photos, leading to his profile being featured on ‘America’s Most Wanted.’

The widespread publicity proved instrumental. On March 12, 2003, two separate couples who had seen the program spotted Mitchell walking in Sandy, Utah, with two females. Despite Elizabeth being disguised in a gray wig and sunglasses and giving a fake name, she was ultimately identified by authorities at the police station. She was reunited with her family, while Mitchell and Barzee were arrested on suspicion of aggravated kidnapping, as reported by The New York Times.

Legal Battles and Sentences

The path to justice for Elizabeth Smart was protracted, marked by years of delays, mental evaluations, and competency hearings for both Mitchell and Barzee. It took nearly eight years for the pair to face trial. In November 2009, Wanda Barzee reached a plea deal with prosecutors, pleading guilty to kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor. As part of her agreement, she committed to cooperating in the case against Mitchell, from whom she had filed for divorce in November 2004. In exchange for her cooperation, Barzee was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, according to The New York Times. In court, she offered an apology to Elizabeth, stating, ‘I am so sorry, Elizabeth, for all the pain and suffering I have caused you and your family. It is my hope that you will be able to find it in your heart to forgive me.’

Brian David Mitchell’s trial commenced in November 2010. His defense team attempted to argue he was not guilty by reason of insanity, but he was ultimately found competent to stand trial, as reported by The Seattle Times. In December 2010, a jury convicted Mitchell of kidnapping and transporting a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual activity. He received a life sentence with no possibility of parole, ensuring he would remain behind bars indefinitely.

Wanda Barzee’s Release and Ongoing Parole Challenges

Despite her 15-year federal sentence, Wanda Barzee was released from prison on September 19, 2018, receiving credit for time served in federal prison, a state hospital, and jail. This decision by the Utah parole board, which reversed an earlier denial, came as a shock to Elizabeth Smart. She publicly expressed her ‘surprise and disappointment,’ stating, ‘It is incomprehensible how someone who has not cooperated with her mental health evaluations or risk assessments and someone who did not show up to her own parole hearing can be released into our community.’ Elizabeth urged the parole board to reconsider, asserting, ‘I do believe she’s a threat. I believe that she is a danger and a threat to any vulnerable person in our community, which is why our community should be worried.’

Following her release, Barzee began five years of federal supervised release, initially residing in a halfway house before moving to an apartment in Salt Lake City, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. Elizabeth Smart, however, maintained her resolve not to let Barzee’s freedom diminish her own happiness, telling People in September 2024, ‘I’m not gonna let these people or this woman stop me from living the life that I want to live, and that’s how I still feel.’ Most recently, in May 2025, Barzee was arrested for violating her parole conditions. She allegedly visited parks in Salt Lake City, a prohibited activity for her as a registered sex offender. She was later released on judicial orders, indicating continued legal oversight.

Brian David Mitchell’s Continued Incarceration

While Barzee has experienced periods of freedom, Brian David Mitchell’s fate is sealed. He has been serving his life sentence with no possibility of parole since his 2010 conviction. Mitchell was initially an inmate at the United States Penitentiary, Terre Haute, a high-security federal prison in Indiana. However, in October 2025, he was transferred to the Federal Correctional Institution-Lewisburg in Pennsylvania after being the victim of at least two attacks while in custody, as reported by Indiana Public Media.

Elizabeth Smart has expressed that she does not dwell on Mitchell, telling People in September 2024, ‘They’re not people that I think of regularly.’ However, she remains steadfast in her belief that he should never be released. ‘I just think no matter what, if he got out, he would be a danger if not to me than to another young girl,’ she stated. ‘I think he will always pose a threat.’

Elizabeth Smart: A Legacy of Advocacy

In the more than two decades since her rescue, Elizabeth Smart has transformed her traumatic experience into a powerful platform for advocacy and healing. After graduating from Brigham Young University, she married Matthew Gilmour in 2012, and they are now parents to three children. Smart founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation in 2011, dedicated to ending sexual assault and victimization and supporting survivors. Her story has inspired numerous made-for-TV movies, and she published her memoir in 2013. Smart has become a prominent voice for victims’ rights, advocating for systems like the AMBER Alert and speaking openly about her ordeal. Her recent Netflix documentary, Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart, released in January 2026, serves as a testament to her enduring commitment to sharing her story and offering hope to others, emphasizing that ‘hope knowing that life is only going to get better’ was what sustained her during captivity.

The differing legal outcomes for Mitchell and Barzee, despite their shared culpability in Elizabeth Smart’s abduction and abuse, underscore the complexities of the justice system in addressing mental health, cooperation, and public safety concerns. Mitchell’s permanent incarceration reflects the severity of his crimes and his perceived ongoing threat, while Barzee’s supervised release, despite public outcry and recent violations, highlights the challenges parole boards face in balancing rehabilitation with community protection, especially when survivors like Elizabeth Smart voice strong objections.