Elizabeth Smart — Credit: Veneta Rizvic / KOMUnews (Flickr), CC BY 2.0 · CC BY 2.0
On June 5, 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Ann Smart was abducted at knifepoint from the bedroom she shared with her nine-year-old sister, Mary Katherine, in the Federal Heights neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah. The abductor was later identified as Brian David Mitchell, a self-styled religious preacher who had previously worked briefly for the Smart family as a handyman under the name "Emmanuel." Mary Katherine, who feigned sleep during the abduction, provided police with an imperfect description of the intruder, and a cut window screen was the primary physical evidence at the scene.
A large volunteer search effort, coordinated with the Laura Recovery Center and involving up to 2,000 volunteers a day, failed to locate Smart. Police investigated numerous persons of interest, including Richard Ricci, a Smart family handyman with a criminal record who died of a brain hemorrhage in August 2002 without being charged in the case. Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee, held Smart at a rudimentary campsite outside Salt Lake City, where Mitchell subjected her to repeated sexual assault, forced a purported marriage ceremony, and imposed threats, deprivation, and forced use of alcohol and drugs. Barzee assisted in facilitating the abuse. Smart was made to accompany the couple in public on multiple occasions while concealed under robes and veils, including an encounter at the Salt Lake City Public Library where a detective was dissuaded from investigating further after Mitchell claimed religious objections to revealing her face. In September 2002, the group relocated to San Diego County, California, before returning to Utah in early 2003.
In October 2002, Mary Katherine recalled that the abductor's voice matched that of "Emmanuel," the family's former handyman. Police released a composite sketch in February 2003, which was recognized by Mitchell's relatives, leading to the distribution of his photograph. On March 12, 2003, Mitchell, Barzee, and Smart—disguised in a wig and veil—were spotted in Sandy, Utah, by members of the public who alerted police. Officers located and questioned the group; Smart initially gave a false name before being identified and rescued. Mitchell and Barzee were arrested at the scene.
Both were charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, and aggravated burglary. Barzee was later declared competent following court-ordered evaluation and forcible medication proceedings, and she pleaded guilty, receiving concurrent 15-year state and federal sentences in 2009; she was released in September 2018 after credit for time served. Mitchell's competency to stand trial was disputed for years amid conflicting psychological evaluations; he was ultimately found competent in March 2010. His federal trial began in November 2010, and the defense acknowledged his responsibility for the acts but argued insanity. A jury rejected the insanity defense and convicted him in December 2010 of kidnapping and transporting a minor across state lines with intent to engage in sexual activity. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in 2011 and remains incarcerated. Following her rescue, Smart became a public advocate for missing persons and victims of sexual assault.
Federal Heights neighborhood, Salt Lake City, Utah
Case status
solved
Case timeline
2001-10
Elizabeth's mother hires a man calling himself "Emmanuel" (later identified as Brian David Mitchell) to do a few hours of yard and roof work at the Smart home.
2002-06-05
Elizabeth Smart is abducted at knifepoint from her bedroom in Salt Lake City by Brian David Mitchell; her sister Mary Katherine witnesses the abduction while feigning sleep.
2002-06-06
A $250,000 reward is announced for Elizabeth's safe return; Ed and Lois Smart make a televised appeal.
2002-06-14
Richard Ricci, a former Smart family handyman, is arrested on an unrelated parole violation and considered a person of interest.
2002-08-30
Richard Ricci dies of a brain hemorrhage without being charged in the Smart case.
2002-09
Mitchell, Barzee, and Smart relocate from Salt Lake City to San Diego County, California.
2002-10-12
Mary Katherine recalls that the abductor's voice matches that of the man known as "Immanuel."
2003-02-03
A composite sketch of the suspect, based on family descriptions, is released to the media.
2003-02-12
Mitchell is arrested in El Cajon, California, for breaking into a church but is not recognized as the wanted suspect.
2003-02-16
Mitchell's relatives identify him to police as the man in the composite sketch.
2003-03-12
Elizabeth Smart is found alive in Sandy, Utah, and Mitchell and Barzee are arrested.
2003-03-18
Mitchell and Barzee are charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, and aggravated burglary.
2009-11-17
Wanda Barzee is sentenced to 15 years for her role in the kidnapping.
2010-03-01
Mitchell is ruled competent to stand trial.
2010-12-10
Mitchell is convicted of kidnapping and transporting a minor across state lines with intent to engage in sexual activity.
2011-05-25
Mitchell is sentenced to life in federal prison without possibility of parole.
2018-09-19
Barzee is released from prison after nine years, having been granted credit for previously uncredited time served.
Best coverage
Titles and descriptions are the creators’ own and may not reflect current legal status; see the dossier above for sourced case facts.
VIDEO
Crime Weekly / 1 hr 11 min
Our Interview With Elizabeth Smart
VIDEO
Crime Weekly / 1 hr 59 min
Elizabeth Smart | A Prophet in Prison (Part 4)
VIDEO
Kendall Rae / 1 min
The Kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart
VIDEO
Kendall Rae / 1 min
Family Devastated by the Disappearance of Elizabeth Smart
People
Elizabeth Smart
VICTIM
Abducted at age 14 from her home and held captive for approximately nine months, during which she was repeatedly sexually assaulted.
Brian David Mitchell
CONVICTED
Convicted in December 2010 of kidnapping and transporting a minor across state lines with intent to engage in sexual activity; sentenced to life without parole in 2011.
Wanda Barzee
CONVICTED
Pleaded guilty and was sentenced to concurrent 15-year state and federal terms for her role in the abduction; released in 2018 after credit for time served.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Archival records
portrait public figure
Elizabeth Smart
Credit: Veneta Rizvic / KOMUnews (Flickr), CC BY 2.0 · CC BY 2.0 · Source
Fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Smart was abducted at knifepoint from her Salt Lake City bedroom in June 2002 by Brian David Mitchell and held captive for about nine months, during which he repeatedly raped her, before she was located alive in Sandy, Utah, in March 2003.
Where did the kidnapping happen?
Federal Heights neighborhood, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Who was convicted?
Brian David Mitchell (Convicted in December 2010 of kidnapping and transporting a minor across state lines with intent to engage in sexual activity; sentenced to life without parole in 2011.) and Wanda Barzee (Pleaded guilty and was sentenced to concurrent 15-year state and federal terms for her role in the abduction; released in 2018 after credit for time served.).
