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Elizabeth Smart Kidnapper's Eerie Smile in New Mugshot
25 Nov
Summary
- Wanda Barzee, co-conspirator in Elizabeth Smart's 2002 kidnapping, was arrested again.
- Barzee violated sex offender registry terms by visiting two parks in May.
- Elizabeth Smart expressed concern over Barzee's justification for the violation.
Wanda Barzee, who participated in the 2002 kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart, has been arrested for violating the terms of her sex offender status. The 80-year-old Barzee appeared to smile in her updated mugshot for the Utah Sex Offender Registry, a stark contrast to her original mugshot from 2003. She was found to have violated her conditions in May by visiting two public parks, an action prohibited for registered sex offenders in Utah.
Barzee, originally sentenced to 15 years, was released in 2018 and required to register as a sex offender. Elizabeth Smart, now an advocate, shared her distress over Barzee's justification for visiting the parks: claiming she was "commanded by the Lord." Smart noted this explanation is deeply concerning, as it echoes the justification used during her own abduction.
Smart has been vocal about her concerns since Barzee's release in 2018. While thanking authorities for their swift action, Smart urged policymakers to recognize the importance of sex offender registries and release conditions for survivor safety. She concluded by affirming her refusal to live in fear, despite this recent unsettling development.
