Wanda Barzee waived her right to a preliminary hearing Thursday on charges tied to alleged visits to Salt Lake City parks where registered sex offenders are barred. The 80-year-old appeared with her attorney and told the judge she understood her rights before agreeing to skip the hearing. Her attorney said a settlement in the case is likely.
Barzee faces two Class A misdemeanor counts of being a sex offender in a protected area, according to KSL. Prosecutors allege she visited Liberty Park and Sugar House Park despite restrictions imposed after her 2018 release from federal prison. Her attorney, Scott Williams, said he advised her to waive the hearing in part because a settlement is likely, the outlet reported.
During the proceeding, Barzee acknowledged visiting the parks to sit on benches and feed ducks, saying she had been commanded to do so by the Lord, per KSL's reporting. She is barred from community parks under conditions imposed after her release, according to Fox 13. Her next hearing, a pretrial conference, was scheduled for January 15, 2027.
A Separate Rule for Feeding Wildlife
The alleged sex-offender restriction is distinct from the city’s general park rules: Salt Lake City says birds and other animals on city property may be fed only appropriate food at designated locations, according to the Salt Lake City Public Lands Department.
The Arrest and Charges
News outlets described different stages of the case. NBC News reported that Barzee was arrested in Salt Lake City on one count of violating Utah sex-offender restrictions after allegedly visiting at least two parks. Deseret News reported that she was formally charged with two separate counts of being a sex offender in a protected area, each a Class A misdemeanor. Court TV reported that the arrest followed investigators learning Barzee had visited Liberty Park, with a second alleged park visit cited as a further probation violation.
Barzee pleaded guilty in federal court in 2009 to kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor, a plea tied directly to the 2002 abduction of then-14-year-old Elizabeth Smart from her family's home. She was sentenced to 15 years and spent nearly nine years in prison before her release on September 19, 2018, after receiving credit for time served, according to KSL's earlier reporting. Her co-conspirator, David Brian Mitchell, held Smart captive alongside Barzee for months and is serving a life sentence in prison.
Smart Was Rescued in 2003 After Months in Captivity
Smart was rescued by police on March 12, 2003, according to Gephardt Daily, closing out an ordeal that began when Barzee and Mitchell took her from her bedroom and subjected her to sexual abuse during her captivity, as documented in the Court TV report by Lauren Silver. The case remains one of the most closely watched kidnapping prosecutions in Utah history, and Barzee's repeated brushes with sex-offender restrictions since her release have kept it in the headlines.
After Barzee's 2025 arrest on the park-related violations, the Elizabeth Smart Foundation issued a statement saying it was deeply troubled by her actions, per the Court TV account. The foundation said enforcement of the sex offender registry, monitoring of release conditions, and evaluation of people convicted of crimes like Barzee's remain crucial. The foundation also said Smart is happy, lives a fulfilling life with her family, and does not live in fear of her captors.
Barzee remains out of custody as the case moves toward its next court date. With her attorney signaling that a settlement is likely, the January hearing before Judge Thaddeus May could determine whether the park charges are resolved without a trial.
