Elizabeth Smart’s two kidnappers, Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee, ended up with very different legal outcomes: he is serving life in federal prison with no possibility of parole, while she has been released and is living under supervision in the community.

Quick Scoop

  • Brian David Mitchell
    • Convicted in federal court in 2010 of kidnapping and transporting a minor across state lines for sexual purposes.
* Sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole and is currently held in a high‑security federal facility (reported as USP Terre Haute, though he has been moved for safety at times).

* He remains incarcerated as of early 2026, with no prospect of release.
  • Wanda Barzee
    • Pleaded guilty in 2009 to federal and state charges related to Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapping.
* Received concurrent federal and state sentences; time already served in federal custody was later credited toward her state term, which significantly shortened her remaining time.

* Released from Utah state prison in September 2018, which Elizabeth Smart publicly opposed, saying Barzee had encouraged Mitchell’s abuse and still concerned her as a potential threat.

* Lives under strict supervision conditions (parole/probation‑style rules, including restrictions such as registering as a sex offender and avoiding contact with Smart), and has had further law‑enforcement contact noted in recent local coverage.

In short: Mitchell will spend the rest of his life behind bars, while Barzee is out of prison but monitored and widely viewed with ongoing public concern.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.