Vanessa Richardson

So the next time Mitchell announced he was heading into the city for provisions, Wanda insisted she and Elizabeth join him. Mitchell eventually caved on one condition. The wives had to wear veils. Wanda stitched veils of thick cotton onto canvas headdresses. The head covers shrouded anything above the eyebrows, and the veils hid everything below the eyes.

So the next time Mitchell announced he was heading into the city for provisions, Wanda insisted she and Elizabeth join him. Mitchell eventually caved on one condition. The wives had to wear veils. Wanda stitched veils of thick cotton onto canvas headdresses. The head covers shrouded anything above the eyebrows, and the veils hid everything below the eyes.

When they wore them, both Wanda and Elizabeth were unrecognizable. Pleased with the costumes, they hiked down to town. But at the base of the mountain, Mitchell stopped to remind his hostage that he had no problem killing her. He'd kill her whole family if she gave him reason, and Wanda confirmed. He'll do it, and you won't be able to stop him. He is Emmanuel.

When they wore them, both Wanda and Elizabeth were unrecognizable. Pleased with the costumes, they hiked down to town. But at the base of the mountain, Mitchell stopped to remind his hostage that he had no problem killing her. He'd kill her whole family if she gave him reason, and Wanda confirmed. He'll do it, and you won't be able to stop him. He is Emmanuel.

Mitchell led the girls through town in search of food and drink. He caught wind of a party. Wanda had no interest, but Mitchell put his foot down. There would be free food and free booze, and they couldn't afford to pass that up. By morning, Mitchell was so wasted, he couldn't make it back up to camp. So Wanda decided they would buy time at the library. It was a good hideout, too.

Mitchell led the girls through town in search of food and drink. He caught wind of a party. Wanda had no interest, but Mitchell put his foot down. There would be free food and free booze, and they couldn't afford to pass that up. By morning, Mitchell was so wasted, he couldn't make it back up to camp. So Wanda decided they would buy time at the library. It was a good hideout, too.

Until the trio was approached by a casually dressed man. As he drew close, he pulled out a badge. The man was a homicide detective and had a few questions. Wanda's eyes darted to Mitchell, but he stayed cool. The officer said he'd received several phone calls suggesting the veiled girl could be a child reported as missing. He asked Elizabeth to remove her veil so he could see her face.

Until the trio was approached by a casually dressed man. As he drew close, he pulled out a badge. The man was a homicide detective and had a few questions. Wanda's eyes darted to Mitchell, but he stayed cool. The officer said he'd received several phone calls suggesting the veiled girl could be a child reported as missing. He asked Elizabeth to remove her veil so he could see her face.

At that moment, Wanda felt Elizabeth light up with hope. Her own breath, however, grew tight with panic. She clamped her nails down on Elizabeth's leg and dug into her thigh. Mitchell was sober enough to think on his feet. He claimed that Elizabeth was his daughter. He told the officer that only her family could see her face, as she was pure and needed to be protected from the sin in men's eyes.

At that moment, Wanda felt Elizabeth light up with hope. Her own breath, however, grew tight with panic. She clamped her nails down on Elizabeth's leg and dug into her thigh. Mitchell was sober enough to think on his feet. He claimed that Elizabeth was his daughter. He told the officer that only her family could see her face, as she was pure and needed to be protected from the sin in men's eyes.

All the while, Elizabeth stared at her potential rescuer, wanting so badly to rip off her veil and reveal her identity. but she was too scared Mitchell and Wanda would go after her family, so she remained still and silent. And eventually, Mitchell convinced the officer to continue on his way. It was too close a call. On the way back to base camp, Mitchell plotted a move.

All the while, Elizabeth stared at her potential rescuer, wanting so badly to rip off her veil and reveal her identity. but she was too scared Mitchell and Wanda would go after her family, so she remained still and silent. And eventually, Mitchell convinced the officer to continue on his way. It was too close a call. On the way back to base camp, Mitchell plotted a move.

It was too dangerous to stay near Salt Lake, and with winter on the horizon, it would be too cold to stay on the mountain. They had to move somewhere warm and sunny. Suddenly, he knew where to take the girl. San Diego, California. Fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Smart was taken at knife point from her childhood home in Salt Lake City.

It was too dangerous to stay near Salt Lake, and with winter on the horizon, it would be too cold to stay on the mountain. They had to move somewhere warm and sunny. Suddenly, he knew where to take the girl. San Diego, California. Fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Smart was taken at knife point from her childhood home in Salt Lake City.

Her kidnapper, Brian David Mitchell, brought her to a camp in the woods, where he and his wife, Wanda Barzee, raped, beat, starved, and humiliated the child to the extreme. To Elizabeth, Wanda was more of a monster than Mitchell. Wanda knew the depth of the girl's suffering, but never lifted a finger to help.

Her kidnapper, Brian David Mitchell, brought her to a camp in the woods, where he and his wife, Wanda Barzee, raped, beat, starved, and humiliated the child to the extreme. To Elizabeth, Wanda was more of a monster than Mitchell. Wanda knew the depth of the girl's suffering, but never lifted a finger to help.

Elizabeth wondered how another woman, a mother even, could stand by and let this abuse happen. As winter approached, Mitchell decided it was time to leave Utah. They loaded onto a bus and rode 800 miles to a campsite in San Diego County. But this move was by no means a fresh start. By the time the trio arrived, Wanda was sick of Mitchell's neglect.

Elizabeth wondered how another woman, a mother even, could stand by and let this abuse happen. As winter approached, Mitchell decided it was time to leave Utah. They loaded onto a bus and rode 800 miles to a campsite in San Diego County. But this move was by no means a fresh start. By the time the trio arrived, Wanda was sick of Mitchell's neglect.

He never looked at her the way he gazed at Elizabeth. Entirely insecure, Wanda demanded some changes. She felt jilted and needed to remind her husband that the girl was only just the second wife. But Mitchell never took Wanda's concerns seriously. He let her rage simmer, constantly boiling under the surface.

He never looked at her the way he gazed at Elizabeth. Entirely insecure, Wanda demanded some changes. She felt jilted and needed to remind her husband that the girl was only just the second wife. But Mitchell never took Wanda's concerns seriously. He let her rage simmer, constantly boiling under the surface.