Elizabeth Smart, whose story of survival has echoed across the years, has recently had to address a chilling echo of her past. Wanda Barzee, one of Smart's kidnappers, was taken back into custody for breaching parole by venturing into areas she's prohibited from due to her sex offender status. Barzee, now 79, was arrested on May 1 after she was spotted at Liberty Park and Sugar House Park, both of which are off-limits under the terms of her sex-offender registry status. According to KUTV, Barzee claimed she had been "commanded by the Lord" to visit the sites, a justification that harks back to the harrowing narrative of Smart's abduction back in 2002.
In her response, Smart didn't hold back, she firmly chose to call attention to the significance of parole violation arrests and their impact on survivor safety. "I feel like I've been vocal about my concerns since Barzee’s initial release, and this incident confirms exactly why," Smart said in a video message posted by the Elizabeth Smart Foundation. She also expressed that Barzee's supposed divine commands are deeply concerning as they mirror the motives behind her kidnapping. Smart also offered appreciation for Salt Lake City Police's quick response, a detail she highlighted as crucial for reassuring survivors, as obtained by KSLTV.
Smart's ordeal began in 2002 when she was taken from her home at the age of 14 by Barzee and her husband, Brian David Mitchell, and it lasted an abysmal nine months. Barzee, who eventually received a 15-year sentence after pleading guilty and was mentally ill to state and federal charges, was released in 2018 after serving her full sentence, despite Smart's vocal opposition. Her recent arrest serves as a stark reminder of the past for Smart and others who have endured similar traumas. "My case received so much attention ... the sad truth is most survivors never see their perpetrators arrested, let alone convicted," Smart said, outlining what she sees as a discrepancy in the justice system, as mentioned by East Idaho News.
