Vanessa Richardson

Based on what we know about Mitchell, it seems very likely that he truly believed he was communicating with heavenly prophets. If this is the case, the voices he heard might have been hallucinations. This would be consistent with his eventual diagnosis of a delusional disorder. But Wanda had no idea her husband might be schizophrenic, so she felt compelled to do what the prophets said.

Based on what we know about Mitchell, it seems very likely that he truly believed he was communicating with heavenly prophets. If this is the case, the voices he heard might have been hallucinations. This would be consistent with his eventual diagnosis of a delusional disorder. But Wanda had no idea her husband might be schizophrenic, so she felt compelled to do what the prophets said.

After all, she was the perpetual follower. She let go of almost everything. The only thing she insisted on keeping was her favorite dusty old baby doll. By 1993, they'd sold all their belongings and changed their names to David and Elida. Mitchell chose his new name to honor the Old Testament's King David, who he believed was Jesus' ancestor.

After all, she was the perpetual follower. She let go of almost everything. The only thing she insisted on keeping was her favorite dusty old baby doll. By 1993, they'd sold all their belongings and changed their names to David and Elida. Mitchell chose his new name to honor the Old Testament's King David, who he believed was Jesus' ancestor.

And Elida meant eternity of God, which to them seemed a right fit for Wanda. In 1995, they shunned modern apartment living entirely. Instead, they scraped up enough money to purchase a rusty trailer. Wanda and Mitchell rattled across Utah, calling on family, but the visits were fraught with tension. They'd accuse relatives of being too materialistic or hurl insulting epithets.

And Elida meant eternity of God, which to them seemed a right fit for Wanda. In 1995, they shunned modern apartment living entirely. Instead, they scraped up enough money to purchase a rusty trailer. Wanda and Mitchell rattled across Utah, calling on family, but the visits were fraught with tension. They'd accuse relatives of being too materialistic or hurl insulting epithets.

Needless to say, they quickly wore out their welcome. So they set out in the trailer to crisscross the country. They headed to Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Alaska. Wherever they went, Mitchell introduced himself as a preacher. On street corners or in parks, he spun nonsensical, radical gobbledygook, mostly on deaf ears.

Needless to say, they quickly wore out their welcome. So they set out in the trailer to crisscross the country. They headed to Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Alaska. Wherever they went, Mitchell introduced himself as a preacher. On street corners or in parks, he spun nonsensical, radical gobbledygook, mostly on deaf ears.

Sometimes they panhandled for loose change or food, but they never earned enough. Eventually, the camper was repossessed. By the end of 1995, 50-year-old Wanda and 42-year-old Mitchell were truly homeless. They shacked up at shelters or camped along roadsides. In 1997, the couple hitchhiked home to Salt Lake City. They wandered downtown looking for shelter, but couldn't find anything.

Sometimes they panhandled for loose change or food, but they never earned enough. Eventually, the camper was repossessed. By the end of 1995, 50-year-old Wanda and 42-year-old Mitchell were truly homeless. They shacked up at shelters or camped along roadsides. In 1997, the couple hitchhiked home to Salt Lake City. They wandered downtown looking for shelter, but couldn't find anything.

So they called the only person they could think to take them in, someone they hadn't seen in three years, Wanda's mother, Dora. It didn't take long for Dora to realize that her brilliant daughter was long gone. The Wanda she knew and loved had been replaced by a lost soul. There was nothing in her eyes. No love, no want. Her dissociative behaviors had taken over.

So they called the only person they could think to take them in, someone they hadn't seen in three years, Wanda's mother, Dora. It didn't take long for Dora to realize that her brilliant daughter was long gone. The Wanda she knew and loved had been replaced by a lost soul. There was nothing in her eyes. No love, no want. Her dissociative behaviors had taken over.

To Dora, there was only one part of her baby girl she recognized anymore. The follower. Wanda had experienced multiple complex traumas throughout her life. The sexual abuse by her father as a young girl, the physical abuse by her first husband, the emotional loss of her children. It all began to add up and eclipse or reveal the truest parts of her.

To Dora, there was only one part of her baby girl she recognized anymore. The follower. Wanda had experienced multiple complex traumas throughout her life. The sexual abuse by her father as a young girl, the physical abuse by her first husband, the emotional loss of her children. It all began to add up and eclipse or reveal the truest parts of her.

For Wanda, checking out seemed the only way to escape the emotions set off by her distressing past. She was happy to be a follower to Mitchell. She filled the role of disciple to a self-styled prophet.

For Wanda, checking out seemed the only way to escape the emotions set off by her distressing past. She was happy to be a follower to Mitchell. She filled the role of disciple to a self-styled prophet.

According to a study by Italy's Del Ponte Hospital and the University of Insubria, although dissociative symptoms are a defense mechanism against stress associated with traumatic events, they also may arise as a way to diminish the emotional responses triggered by traumatic memories, even after a long period from the traumatic event.

According to a study by Italy's Del Ponte Hospital and the University of Insubria, although dissociative symptoms are a defense mechanism against stress associated with traumatic events, they also may arise as a way to diminish the emotional responses triggered by traumatic memories, even after a long period from the traumatic event.

Thus, thoughts are disconnected from emotions, and some behaviors can become automatic. Wanda disconnected her thoughts from her emotions almost entirely. The result? An emptiness that caused her to disappear behind robotic behaviors. Dora tried to warn her daughter that Mitchell had gone off the rails, but Wanda couldn't see it.

Thus, thoughts are disconnected from emotions, and some behaviors can become automatic. Wanda disconnected her thoughts from her emotions almost entirely. The result? An emptiness that caused her to disappear behind robotic behaviors. Dora tried to warn her daughter that Mitchell had gone off the rails, but Wanda couldn't see it.