Vanessa Richardson

She nudged Mitchell. When he made contact with the man, the guy asked, "'Who are you?' Mitchell ignored the stranger, but the man followed up with, "'Where you headed?' Again, Mitchell kept his head down, but then the guy said, "'Why is she wearing a gray wig?' Mitchell curtly responded that it was a religious practice and pulled the stop cord. He and Wanda quickly edged Elizabeth off the bus.

She nudged Mitchell. When he made contact with the man, the guy asked, "'Who are you?' Mitchell ignored the stranger, but the man followed up with, "'Where you headed?' Again, Mitchell kept his head down, but then the guy said, "'Why is she wearing a gray wig?' Mitchell curtly responded that it was a religious practice and pulled the stop cord. He and Wanda quickly edged Elizabeth off the bus.

When they were in the clear, Mitchell grabbed her. Shaking her, he said, "'Once I get you back to camp, you will never leave. I will not put myself in danger again. I am too important to the world.'" Just then, police sirens blipped. As the captor berated his hostage on the street, a cop car pulled up beside them. Wanda cursed and pulled Elizabeth along the sidewalk, but it was too late.

When they were in the clear, Mitchell grabbed her. Shaking her, he said, "'Once I get you back to camp, you will never leave. I will not put myself in danger again. I am too important to the world.'" Just then, police sirens blipped. As the captor berated his hostage on the street, a cop car pulled up beside them. Wanda cursed and pulled Elizabeth along the sidewalk, but it was too late.

An officer approached. The trio walked fast, heads down, but then another police car arrived, and another one. Mitchell ignored them as they called out, Sir, we need to talk to you. Please stop. We need to see your ID. Finally, the officers pulled Elizabeth from Wanda's grip. One kindly asked, What's your name? The officers' eyes assured Elizabeth she was safe.

An officer approached. The trio walked fast, heads down, but then another police car arrived, and another one. Mitchell ignored them as they called out, Sir, we need to talk to you. Please stop. We need to see your ID. Finally, the officers pulled Elizabeth from Wanda's grip. One kindly asked, What's your name? The officers' eyes assured Elizabeth she was safe.

She opened her mouth and three words trickled out. I am Elizabeth. The cops pulled Elizabeth into a rescue car and brought her back to the station where she was reunited with her father. Since she'd been taken nine months earlier, the police had undergone a wild manhunt. Finally, they had their kidnappers. Finally, Elizabeth was home.

She opened her mouth and three words trickled out. I am Elizabeth. The cops pulled Elizabeth into a rescue car and brought her back to the station where she was reunited with her father. Since she'd been taken nine months earlier, the police had undergone a wild manhunt. Finally, they had their kidnappers. Finally, Elizabeth was home.

Criminal reports were filed on March 18, 2003, in Utah State Court, charging Wanda Barzee and her co-defendant, Brian David Mitchell, with two counts each of aggravated burglary, aggravated sexual assault, and one count of aggravated kidnapping. Before proceedings could begin, the courts had to decide if Wanda was mentally competent to stand trial.

Criminal reports were filed on March 18, 2003, in Utah State Court, charging Wanda Barzee and her co-defendant, Brian David Mitchell, with two counts each of aggravated burglary, aggravated sexual assault, and one count of aggravated kidnapping. Before proceedings could begin, the courts had to decide if Wanda was mentally competent to stand trial.

They needed to determine if her delusions would persist now that she'd been separated from Mitchell. But her mental health issues extended farther back than her interactions with her husband, nearly 20 years. The evaluation showed that, even with space from Mitchell, Wanda was delusional. She was not fit to participate in court proceedings.

They needed to determine if her delusions would persist now that she'd been separated from Mitchell. But her mental health issues extended farther back than her interactions with her husband, nearly 20 years. The evaluation showed that, even with space from Mitchell, Wanda was delusional. She was not fit to participate in court proceedings.

Instead, she was ordered to spend time in treatment at a state facility. It was a long time coming. Wanda had struggled with untreated mental illness for most of her life. Even Wanda's children confirmed that her episodes had always been a taboo topic in their home. Her son Derek said that he and his siblings knew their mother was sick, but she had a lifetime of refusing help.

Instead, she was ordered to spend time in treatment at a state facility. It was a long time coming. Wanda had struggled with untreated mental illness for most of her life. Even Wanda's children confirmed that her episodes had always been a taboo topic in their home. Her son Derek said that he and his siblings knew their mother was sick, but she had a lifetime of refusing help.

While Wanda was in treatment, the legal proceedings marched forward. On March 5, 2008, she was formally charged with kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor. Wanda pled guilty in federal court. The following year, the Utah court sentenced Wanda to 15 years in federal prison. She served seven years in a federal penitentiary and was transferred to the state prison in early 2016.

While Wanda was in treatment, the legal proceedings marched forward. On March 5, 2008, she was formally charged with kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor. Wanda pled guilty in federal court. The following year, the Utah court sentenced Wanda to 15 years in federal prison. She served seven years in a federal penitentiary and was transferred to the state prison in early 2016.

But in April of that year, the state board realized they miscalculated her sentencing terms. They credited her for her time in prison and the state hospital pre-conviction, but failed to credit her for her time in federal prison. At her parole hearing on June 12, 2018, Wanda's lawyer addressed the issue, contending that her federal sentence ran concurrently with her state sentence.

But in April of that year, the state board realized they miscalculated her sentencing terms. They credited her for her time in prison and the state hospital pre-conviction, but failed to credit her for her time in federal prison. At her parole hearing on June 12, 2018, Wanda's lawyer addressed the issue, contending that her federal sentence ran concurrently with her state sentence.

Thus, the board issued a revised sentence set to end on September 19, 2018. Due to the miscalculation, Wanda was released six years earlier than anticipated. Her release was controversial, but ultimately upheld. As of this episode's release in 2021, Wanda is 75 years old. She's a registered sex offender and was last reported living near a Salt Lake City elementary school.

Thus, the board issued a revised sentence set to end on September 19, 2018. Due to the miscalculation, Wanda was released six years earlier than anticipated. Her release was controversial, but ultimately upheld. As of this episode's release in 2021, Wanda is 75 years old. She's a registered sex offender and was last reported living near a Salt Lake City elementary school.