Elizabeth Smart says her kidnapper’s recent arrest validates her concern for survivors

SALT LAKE CITY — After one of her kidnappers was arrested again recently, Elizabeth Smart was not shy in sharing her views on the matter, both in terms of her own experience and for survivors everywhere.

On Thursday, the Elizabeth Smart Foundation posted a video of Smart sharing her thoughts in her own words. She began by thanking her community for their continued support. Then, she quickly cut to the chase.

“As I’m sure may of you heard, Wanda Barzee was recently arrested for entering a public park in Salt Lake City — a place where she is legally barred from going because she is a registered sex offender,” she said. “Her justification was that she was commanded by the lord, which unfortunately is very familiar to me and is probably the most concerning thing because that’s how they justified kidnapping me.”

In partnership with her husband, Barzee was found guilty of the 2002 kidnapping in both 2009 and 2010 for federal and state charges. Her husband, Brian David Mitchell, was sentenced to life in prison. Barzee was given 15 years.

Barzee was released from prison by the Utah State Board of Pardons in 2018 — a move that Smart sharply objected to, even though Barzee had technically served her entire sentence.

“I feel like I’ve been vocal about my concerns since Barzee’s initial release,” Smart said Thursday. “And this incident confirms exactly why.”

Smart thanked the Salt Lake City Police Department and its chief, Brian Redd, for handling the situation quickly, professionally, and with a trauma-informed approach, which she said meant a great deal to her personally.

“When authorities take these situations, these violations, seriously, it sends a very powerful message that survivors’ safety matters,” she said. “My case received so much attention, but the sad truth is that most survivors never see their perpetrators arrested, let alone convicted. For many survivors of sexual violence, we have more of a legal system than a justice system.”

Smart said the incident highlights the justice system’s need to center its focus on survivors, because they understand the risks that others may overlook.

In a more formal statement, the Elizabeth Smart Foundation — an advocate for survivors and resource for sexual violence prevention — echoed Smart’s sentiments, focusing on the change that is possible:

We are deeply troubled by Wanda Barzee’s recent actions. She entered public parks in Salt Lake City, which she is legally barred from due to her status as a registered sex offender. Barzee’s justification that she was “commanded by the Lord” is a reminder of her past and a warning of the risk she poses to the community.

This incident highlights how crucial it is to enforce the sex offender registry, monitor release conditions, and evaluate individuals convicted of crimes like Barzee’s. It also emphasizes exactly why we must listen to and center survivors in our legal process.

We want to thank the Salt Lake City Police Department, and Chief Redd, for their responsible handling of this incident. Their professionalism, attentiveness, and trauma-informed approach speak to their commitment to survivor-centered practices.

At the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, we believe in a future where all survivors of sexual violence are heard, believed, and supported—and where systems are built not just around legal technicalities, but around true justice. Many survivors live without justice for the harm done to them, and their perpetrators are never arrested. We often say for survivors of sexual violence and exploitation, we have more of a legal system than a justice system.

But, we also believe in the possibility of change.

We are building that change by promoting survivor-informed policies, expanding education and prevention programs, and working with law enforcement, communities, and survivors to create a safer, more compassionate world.

Elizabeth Smart has continually expressed concern over Wanda Barzee’s release. Barzee’s violation affirms the need for ongoing reforms to protect survivors and prevent further trauma. At the same time, it reminds us that solutions are possible when communities, leaders, and institutions come together with a shared commitment to do better.

We urge policymakers, justice officials, and the public to take incidents like this seriously—especially in cases that are not as widely publicized as Elizabeth Smart’s. There is an urgent, broad need for reform.

Survivors deserve to live without fear. They deserve to thrive. Together, we can build systems that not only protect them but also uplift them.

Elizabeth often remembers advice that her mother gave her after she was rescued. She said, “Don’t you let them steal one more second of your life. Not one more second! You be happy. You move on.” Elizabeth is pleased to report that she is indeed happy, and lives a fulfilling life with her family, and does not live in fear of her captors.