Here's Where Elizabeth Smart's Kidnapper Is Today

May 2024 · 5 minute read

Wanda Barzee used to be sentenced to fifteen years in jail for aiding in the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart. What's she doing now?

Mustafa Gatollari - Author

The tale of Elizabeth Smart is a tragically disturbing story of the mental effects of kidnapping, religious zealotry, sadism, pedophilia, and youth trauma. Which is why the young girl's skill not to most effective live to tell the tale her harrowing, nine-month ordeal, but pop out the opposite side dedicated to helping other victims is not anything wanting miraculous.

Smart used to be abducted by Brian David Mitchell and his spouse, Wanda Barzee, who is now out of jail.

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Where is Wanda Barzee and what is she doing now?

The twisted boulevard preacher's wife was once sentenced to fifteen years in jail for her part within the kidnapping of Smart. Barzee aided Mitchell in maintaining Smart as a hostage. The 14-year-old was tied to bushes with chains, which have been secured through a padlock, and raped repeatedly through Mitchell. Barzee had six youngsters herself, who shared horror stories of their formative years and her "parenting."

Barzee's youngest daughter, LouRee Gayler, stated in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that she was unknowingly served her pet rabbit, Peaches, for dinner whilst her mom and second husband, David Brian Mithchell, smiled whilst observing her devour it. When she went to look Peaches the following morning and noticed the empty cage, she asked Barzee where her pet was. Barzee answered: "You had it for dinner last night."

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Gayler mentioned that she was in such desperate want for affection that she would steadily depart her family to spend time together with her dog and percentage a meals bowl with the animal. Gayler's older brother, Derrick Thompson, had penned an autobiography about his adolescence referred to as Raised by Wolves, where he also echoed Gayler's sentiments, pronouncing that he opted to stick outdoors and shoot animals with his pellet gun to feed himself than be together with his mother and father.

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Judging from the Amazon user reviews from individuals who've read the book, it appears that Thompson is, someway, repeating his people' cycle of abuse: "This book was the most...narcissistic...self-serving literature that I have ever read. I did feel for the writer concerning the abuse that he suffered, but then he goes....bragging about how HE hurt people; specifically those poor girls that had feelings for him. Bragging about sexual encounters [and] breaking girls hearts. Just terrible."

Think about this… This country has thousands of children detained at this very second simply for crossing the border. So many kids separated from their families… Yet, Wanda Barzee, who assisted within the kidnapping and rape of Elizabeth Smart is being set loose. WTAF!!!!

— ❤️🧡💛ᗰia💚💙💜 (@mommamia1217) September 19, 2018 Source: Twitter

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One sister, who handiest wanted to be known as "Andrea," stated that she would be pressured into "brainwashing" sessions together with her mother. She went on to say, "I think the media portrayed my mother as being a victim of Brian David Mitchell, and I think one of the reasons I wanted to come on this show is to kind of expose her for the monster she is."

Shortly after being launched from jail, Barzee had reportedly moved as regards to an elementary school, which drew rapid attention from quite a lot of media outlets. Elizabeth Smart commented on Barzee's released, and used the protection surrounding Barzee's liberate to talk about coverage of children, "Every possible caution and protection should be taken when it comes to protecting our children."

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Source: Twitter

Smart persisted, "Whether a person is deemed a current threat or if they have a history of child abuse, neglect, sexual violence, etc., prudent measures should be taken, including housing them as far away as possible from schools, families and community centers."

Barzee's legal professional, Scott Williams has said that "There is no credible evidence that she is a danger to the community," according to questions as as to whether or not she may just acclimating to society.

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'I Am Elizabeth Smart' is a dramatization of the stunning events surrounding Smart's kidnapping.

Barzee's persona in the movie is depicted by way of Deirdre Lovejoy (Blacklist, Raising Dion, The Wire), and the character is portrayed as being intensely devoted to Mitchell to the point of perverse zealotry.

Barzee used to be at first supposed to serve till 2024, however her attorney was once able to get her credit score for time already served toward her sentence.

Is no person making the relationship that this is a tender blonde lady who went lacking in Salt Lake City, which is the similar town Elizabeth Smart was abducted from and stored for Nine months by means of Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee (Wanda was once simply launched from jail and now lives in SLC) https://t.co/Om07Ip9A1F

— jos (@ventdweller) June 23, 2019 Source: Twitter

Currently, I Am Elizabeth Smart is not streaming on primary products and services like Netflix, Prime Video, or Hulu, however you'll watch it with a TV provider subscription, like fuboTV or any package that includes Lifetime.

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