A widely smiling woman, dressed in a pink jumper, who is famously known as America’s most notorious female kidnapper, recently appeared in a new police mugshot following her arrest for violating the terms of her license.
Wanda Barzee, now 80 years old, displayed a cheerful expression as officials updated her details on the Utah Sex Offender Registry. This cheerful demeanor starkly contrasts with the shocked appearance she had in a 2003 photo when she and her husband, Brian David Mitchell, were imprisoned for kidnapping 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart.
This isn’t the first time Barzee has shown contentment upon being placed in custody again. Despite serving only 15 years for her involvement in Smart’s nine-month abduction before being released in 2018, she was required to register as a sex offender.
In May, Barzee breached the registry regulations by visiting two parks, which are off-limits to convicted sex offenders under Utah state law, resulting in a potential return to prison. Smart swiftly responded to Barzee’s arrest, expressing her disagreement with Barzee’s claim that she visited the parks due to being “commanded by the Lord,” a rationale that Smart rejected.
Smart emphasized the importance of taking such violations seriously to ensure survivor safety and urged lawmakers and officials to remember the critical public safety reasons behind sex offender registries and release conditions.
Despite her traumatic past, Smart, now 37, has become a prominent advocate for women’s and children’s safety. She has shared her story through various mediums, including books and documentaries, aiming to break the silence surrounding abuse and educate others on consent and intimacy.
Meanwhile, Mitchell, who is serving a life sentence without parole since his 2010 conviction, was recently transferred from a US penitentiary after being involved in attacks while in custody. He survived multiple assaults in “protected” units designated for individuals at higher risk of violence.
