The Search For Elizabeth Smart

On March 12, 2003, nine months and a week after being kidnapped from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah, Elizabeth Smart was found with her captors, Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee. At the time of her kidnapping, Elizabeth was 14 years old.  Now, after those long nine months, "She's more like a young woman instead of a girl." says the Smart family's ward bishop, Dave Hamblin. 1

The World book encyclopedia states that kidnapping is "the act of seizing and holding a person against their will." Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped at knifepoint from her bedroom on June 5, 2002 by Brian David Mitchell. She was threatened with death to her and her family to make her march into the hills to a campsite four miles from her home. Over the next few weeks, 850 searches were unsuccessfully carried out so close to where Elizabeth was being held that she could hear her name being called.  The lack of response on her part was due to being hidden in holes covered with boards, and to keep her from running away, sometimes she was tied to a tree by her ankles. Her family isn't sure of all the details of her abduction, but Ed Smart is sure that "she's been through hell".2

Throughout the nine months Elizabeth was missing, she had been transported to many different places across the country. She spent the first few months at the campsite near her home, and often walked around in Salt Lake City unnoticed due to various disguises. From October until March, they lived in a suburb of San Diego, called Lakeside, camping in hills there. In February, Elizabeth was left alone when Mitchell spent six days in jail, yet she did not attempt to get away. They left the suburb mid-March and proceeded back to Salt Lake City by bus and hitchhiking. On March 11, 2003, they were questioned in Las Vegas because of complaints about them. They were released when the police found no violations and returned on their way. The next day they were recognized and arrested.3

When Elizabeth was questioned on March 12, she answered that her name was Augustine Marshall. On top of that, when she was brought in, she got upset, and asked, "What's going to happen to them? Are they going to be okay?" (People Magazine, March 31, 2003). Since she has been returned home, her silence has definitely told a story of its own. "It is clear she has been through major trauma." (Cynthia Smart Owens, 2003). Elizabeth's family thinks she was brainwashed, and at some point, it IS clear that she became somehow attached to her kidnappers. When a captive forms some sort of bond with their captor or captors, it is often called Stockholm syndrome.4

"The Stockholm syndrome is an emotional attachment, a bond of interdependence between captive and captor that develops when someone threatens your life, deliberates and doesn't kill you." (Symonds, 1980). Interviews with four Swedes who became attached to their captors in 1973 revealed this mental disorder, and that even they couldn't explain it, but that they seemed to gain some association with the people who held them hostage. The first sign of Stockholm syndrome is that the captive begins to gain an unconscious idea that cooperation will keep them from being harmed. After that, they realize that they could be harmed more from their attempted release than actually staying with their captors. The attachment grows with the extension of their captivity. The more time they spend with their captors, the more they are revealed to be a human being with their own problems, thoughts and goals. Depending on the situation, and the length of their captivity, they start to pretend the situation is not happening and pass the time with daydreams of being rescued, or long useless tasks. Also depending on the relationship with the captor, they may not allow themselves to think that their captor is actually at fault for the situation.5

Brian David Mitchell, who calls himself Emmanuel, held Elizabeth for nine months, wanting to make her his wife, after he was told by God to have seven wives. Mitchell grew up in a dysfunctional environment, and his father, Shirl Mitchell says, "Brian was neglected and on the loose." His first marriage lasted four years, and he had two children from that marriage that ended up in foster care. His second marriage also resulted in two children, and a divorce in the early 80's. Soon after that, he met his current wife, Wanda Barzee, also divorced, who had been hospitalized for a mental breakdown. After a short time, he started to believe himself a prophet and Barzee helped him to persuade other people of his power. "Everybody in life was sinners except for them." (LouRee Gayler, Barzee's daughter, 27). He has been noted as displaying inappropriate behavior, as LouRee said he was abusive, kissed her inappropriately, and fed her her rabbit for dinner sometime in the three years she lived with them, telling her it was chicken.6

Mitchell wasn't the only suspect in the search for Elizabeth. Near the start of the investigation, another person who did some housework for the Smarts was thought to be a suspect. Richard Albert Ricci had a long criminal record, and he died in prison of a brain hemorrhage on August 30, 2002 resulting in death and quite a hole in the case. An investigator of the case told the Smarts that they were "99 percent sure it was Ricci, he acted alone, and Elizabeth is dead." 7

Brian David Mitchell first met Lois Smart on the street in November 2001. Lois saw him preaching and helped him out by giving him $5 and a day's work fixing the roof of their house. The Smart family was usually very helpful to others in need. Seven months later, on June 5, 2002, he cut a hole in the kitchen screen of their house and in front of her sister, Mary Katherine Smart, Elizabeth was taken at knifepoint. Seven weeks after the initial Smart abduction, Elizabeth's cousin Jessica was almost kidnapped in the same way. At that point, the Smart's were sure Elizabeth was still alive. Her uncle, David Smart was sure Mitchell and Barzee were "trying to get a companion for Elizabeth." In October of 2003, Mary Katherine came forth with the realization of who kidnapped her sister. Out of nowhere, she came to her parents and said, "I think I might know who did this." It wasn't until February 3 that a sketch of Mitchell was shown on TV, but that brought forth his sister with other photos of him, which were shown later in February on America's Most Wanted. On March 1, on another episode more photos were released, and on March 12, two couples spotted Mitchell, Barzee, and Elizabeth out on the street, recognized them, and called 911. Elizabeth was wearing sunglasses, a gray wig, and said to the police, "I know you think I'm that Elizabeth Smart girl who ran away, but I'm not".8

The hearing for Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee was held Wednesday March 19. Both of them appeared by video and were appointed lawyers as they could not afford them on their own. They appeared separately, and were only visible from the shoulders up. Mitchell was questioned if his name was Brian David Mitchell, and answered, "That is the name that the world calls me by, yes." while his wife just confirmed her own name. (Vancouver Sun, March 20, 2003). The couple was charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, and aggravated burglary. On top of those charges, they were charged with attempted aggravated kidnapping for also trying to kidnap Elizabeth's cousin Jessica. David Yokom, a District Attorney stated that "We are not dealing with just a religious zealot, we are dealing with a predatory sex offender." They have still not gone to trial, but Mitchell and his wife could end up spending the rest of their lives in prison, as that is the maximum punishment for kidnapping under federal law. Currently their bail is set for 10 million dollars US.9

The odds were very slim that Elizabeth would ever return safely, but she has. A year ago this month Elizabeth was kidnapped, but throughout those long nine months, her parents didn't give up. She is back, but not yet back to normal. She has been through a lot and it will take time for her to adjust to life at home. Experts say she will likely require lengthy counseling to overcome the lingering influence of her abductors. (People Magazine, March 31, 2003) Her parents aren't rushing toward counseling yet, although they are sure "at some point that is going to be needed."10

Bibliography11

Books:12

World Book Encyclopedia. (Vol 11)  Chicago: World Book Inc.  (2000)13

Magazines:14

Henetz, Patty.  “Smart abduction suspects appear in court by video.” Vancouver Sun, March 20, 2003.15

Johnson, Dirk and Christenson, Elise.  “Finding Elizabeth.” Newsweek, March 24, 2003.16

Tresniowski Alex et al.  “The Miracle Girl.”  People Weekly, March 31, 2003.  P. 44-51.17

Web Sites:18

“Elizabeth Smart Found Alive.” (April 29, 2003)19

Brusca, Rev. Fr. Charles T. et al.  “The Stockholm Syndrome.”  The Peace Encyclopedia.    (June 4, 2003)20