Thaindian News

By Meena Kar
Salt Lake City, May 22, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Wanda Barzee, the woman who had pleaded guilty in front of the court of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart seven years ago and then unlawfully transporting the minor to another state has been ultimately sentenced after much delay. Wanda Barzee has been sentenced to 15 years in jail and the judge announced that her seven years in jail would be credited. The U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball also announced that 64-year-old Wanda Barzee will serve the term at the Federal Medical Center Carswell, in Texas. Reports claim that apart from serving her prison term, Wanda Barzee has agreed to testify against Brian David Mitchell, her now-estranged husband in the state and federal cases that are pending.

The decision of the court on the matter of the kidnapping of then 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart was delayed after the prosecution found Wanda Barzee not fit to undergo trials at the court twice. She went for anti-psychotic treatment and towards the end of last year the Utah State Hospital declared that Wanda Barzee was fit to undergo further trials at court. She pleaded guilty in November 2009 of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of the then minor Elizabeth Smart. In February she pleaded guilty of the charge of second degree felony conspiracy of trying to kidnap the cousin Olivia Wright just six weeks after the abduction of Elizabeth Smart.

At the 30-minutes sentencing at the Salt Lake City District court, Wanda Barzee apologized for her deeds in front of Elizabeth Smart’s family. She mentioned in the court transcript that she knows the gravity and the severity of the crimes she committed and that she is sorry for inflicting pain and suffering to the Smart family.