Wanda Barzee, one of the two people responsible for abducting then 14-year-old, Elizabeth Smart in 2002 was released from prison Wednesday and she reportedly spent her first night free in Salt Lake City having a religious episode.
Barzee, 72, was released from Draper Prison around 8 a.m and before the night was over, someone sharing her hotel called the cops on her. According to TMZ, a guest staying in a nearby room says Darzee went on a religious tirade. The guests say she spent her night screaming religious scriptures and praising Joesph Smith, the founder of Mormonism.
Officers say they were not able to contact the guest who made the complaint, so they did not send a unit to investigate. ⠀⠀
Darzee has spent the last 15 years in prison for her role in kidnapping Smart from her bed at knifepoint.
After Barzee’s release, Smart reacted on Instagram saying, “Without [a] doubt the past few weeks have been a rollercoaster of emotion … May we all remain vigilant in watching over our families, friends, and community from anyone who would seek to hurt or take advantage.”
Barzee and her husband, Brian David Mitchell abducted Smart and kept her captive for nearly nine months. During this time, Smart was sexually abused repeatedly in the presence of Barzee. The teenager was often starved and forced to eat garbage.
Barzee pled guilty to being an accomplice and testified against her husband who is serving two life sentences.
Though Barzee was expected to remain in prison until 2024, the parole board ruled that the time she spent in jail, federal prison, and the Utah State Hospital prior to her conviction would also count towards her sentence. This meant she had fulfilled her maximum 15-year sentence.
Prior to Barzee’s release, Smart said she was “surprised and disappointed” about the decision to free the kidnapper.
“It 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.”
Smart has since devoted her life and career to helping victims of sexual assault and kidnapping. Before the ruling, she spoke at a press conference urging authorities to reconsider freeing Barzee.
“Wanda Barzee saw me as her slave. She called me her ‘handmaiden’ and she never hesitated to let her displeasure with me be known,” recalled Smart.
“I do believe she is a threat. She is a woman who had six children and yet could co-conspire to kidnap a 14-year-old girl, and not only sit next to her while [I was] being raped, but encouraged her husband to continue raping me,” Smart painfully remembers.
“I would urge the powers that be, and anyone who works under them, to really, strongly reconsider this situation, to look at all the facts, look at her mental status, and see if they really and honestly truly feel like she is no longer a threat and that she is ready to be released.”
During her testimony, Smart referred to Barzee as “the most evil woman she had ever met.”
Darzee will be on supervised parole for 5 years.
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