Wanda Barzee, who partnered with her husband to kidnap and hold then fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Smart captive, told police it was God’s plan to go to a community park after being ordered not to.
On April 9th, Wanda violated the conditions of her release as a sex offender by visiting two parks in Salt Lake City.
Wanda’s reason:
The 79-year-old told police “she was commanded to by the Lord” to visit Liberty Park as per an affidavit filed in Salt Lake City District Court and obtained by PEOPLE.
She said that she was again “commanded” to visit Sugarhouse Park as well while speaking with officers from the Salt Lake City Police Department. Wanda also allegedly told officers that she sat on benches and fed ducks during her trips to the park.
The affidavit notes that because Barzee is a convicted felon who kidnapped a person under the age of 18, she is “prohibited from going to any community parks.”
A judge ruled that the arresting officer was justified in taking Barzee into custody without a warrant. Judge Amber Mettler signed off on releasing Barzee from custody later that same day.
What’s next for Wanda?
Since this is her first violation as a sex offender, Barzee is charged with a class A misdemeanor.
This can result in a sentence of up to 364 days in prison. Any further violations could land her a felony charge.
Since Wanda was released the day she was arrested for violating parole, let’s hope this doesn’t happen again … especially knowing she’s mentally ill with a history of abusing a child.
In case you missed the Elizabeth Smart saga …
Wanda and her husband, Brian David Mitchell, held Elizabeth captive. The teen was both physically and sexually abused after she was abducted from her bedroom at knifepoint by Brian.
Elizabeth was sexually abused on a near-daily basis over those nine months. On the first night in captivity, she was forced to marry Mitchell.
It was Elizabeth’s sister who identified Brian David Mitchell as one of the kidnappers. She heard his voice the night of the abduction. The Smarts had briefly hired Brian to do handiwork around the family’s home.
Sketches and then actual photos of Mitchell and Barzee then ran on the popular television program America’s Most Wanted. By the time the show aired, Smart had started to appear in public with Mitchell and Barzee. She was often heavily disguised by her captors.
Still it was months before someone recognized Mitchell and contacted authorities. That tip resulted in Elizabeth Smart’s rescue on March 12, 2003. She then returned home for the first time since she was taken from her bedroom on June 5, 2002.
