Vanessa Richardson

In front of the mall, she was stopped by a slender, soft-spoken panhandler with big, gray eyes. The beggar was clean-cut and polite, but clearly malnourished. Lois took pity on him and reached into her pocketbook. The man asked her about her faith, and she said she was Mormon. He said he was a preacher for Salt Lake's homeless. Impressed, Lois asked the panhandler his name. He replied, Emmanuel.

In front of the mall, she was stopped by a slender, soft-spoken panhandler with big, gray eyes. The beggar was clean-cut and polite, but clearly malnourished. Lois took pity on him and reached into her pocketbook. The man asked her about her faith, and she said she was Mormon. He said he was a preacher for Salt Lake's homeless. Impressed, Lois asked the panhandler his name. He replied, Emmanuel.

She handed him $5 and set off down the street with her two young daughters, 9-year-old Mary Catherine and 14-year-old Elizabeth. Mitchell tagged behind the smarts for a moment, carrying on the conversation with Lois, but locking his eyes on young Elizabeth. He was fascinated by her. Her innocence was apparent. Suddenly, Mitchell knew... This child was to be the first of his new wives.

She handed him $5 and set off down the street with her two young daughters, 9-year-old Mary Catherine and 14-year-old Elizabeth. Mitchell tagged behind the smarts for a moment, carrying on the conversation with Lois, but locking his eyes on young Elizabeth. He was fascinated by her. Her innocence was apparent. Suddenly, Mitchell knew... This child was to be the first of his new wives.

She would be his gift to Wanda, the new daughter he'd promised over a decade ago. Then, as if prompted by God, Lois made Mitchell an offer, a job. Her husband couldn't pay much, but they needed some help with a leaky roof. If he was interested, the work would take about a week. Mitchell eagerly accepted. As the smart ladies said their goodbyes, Mitchell's thoughts raced to concoct a plan.

She would be his gift to Wanda, the new daughter he'd promised over a decade ago. Then, as if prompted by God, Lois made Mitchell an offer, a job. Her husband couldn't pay much, but they needed some help with a leaky roof. If he was interested, the work would take about a week. Mitchell eagerly accepted. As the smart ladies said their goodbyes, Mitchell's thoughts raced to concoct a plan.

He watched them cross State Street and kept his gaze on Elizabeth as she faded from view. When he was sure she was gone, he raced to his wife. His voice trembled as he shared his divine news. He found her. He found Wanda's new baby. The only thing left to do was bring her home. It was a brisk October morning in 2001.

He watched them cross State Street and kept his gaze on Elizabeth as she faded from view. When he was sure she was gone, he raced to his wife. His voice trembled as he shared his divine news. He found her. He found Wanda's new baby. The only thing left to do was bring her home. It was a brisk October morning in 2001.

48-year-old Brian David Mitchell slowed his breathing as he approached the Smart family home. The 6,600-square-foot monstrosity boasted affluence. This house and its surrounding Federal Heights neighborhood were represented everything he and Wanda loathed about materialistic Mormon families. But the homeless preacher ignored his ire.

48-year-old Brian David Mitchell slowed his breathing as he approached the Smart family home. The 6,600-square-foot monstrosity boasted affluence. This house and its surrounding Federal Heights neighborhood were represented everything he and Wanda loathed about materialistic Mormon families. But the homeless preacher ignored his ire.

He had more important worries today as he knocked on the front door. When it opened, a handsome mortgage broker in his mid-40s, Ed Smart, and his wife Lois welcomed Mitchell inside. Just then, the Smart's daughters, 14-year-old Elizabeth and 9-year-old Mary Catherine, scurried by. Mitchell extended an eager good morning to the girls.

He had more important worries today as he knocked on the front door. When it opened, a handsome mortgage broker in his mid-40s, Ed Smart, and his wife Lois welcomed Mitchell inside. Just then, the Smart's daughters, 14-year-old Elizabeth and 9-year-old Mary Catherine, scurried by. Mitchell extended an eager good morning to the girls.

They offered polite smirks and shuffled up to their shared bedroom. Mitchell clocked their course upstairs and down the hall. He'd met Lois, Mary Catherine, and Elizabeth earlier that week while panhandling. Lois had taken pity on him and offered him work at the house, which he enthusiastically accepted. But during their interaction, it was Elizabeth, the pretty one, who piqued his interest.

They offered polite smirks and shuffled up to their shared bedroom. Mitchell clocked their course upstairs and down the hall. He'd met Lois, Mary Catherine, and Elizabeth earlier that week while panhandling. Lois had taken pity on him and offered him work at the house, which he enthusiastically accepted. But during their interaction, it was Elizabeth, the pretty one, who piqued his interest.

To him, she would make the perfect virginal bride. Ed inadvertently interrupted Mitchell's stare by suggesting they patch some worn shingles on the leaky roof before clearing the yard of autumn leaves. When the day's work ended, Ed handed Mitchell $50. He asked the panhandler to return the next day, and Mitchell agreed. But it would be 15 months before he found himself inside the smart home again.

To him, she would make the perfect virginal bride. Ed inadvertently interrupted Mitchell's stare by suggesting they patch some worn shingles on the leaky roof before clearing the yard of autumn leaves. When the day's work ended, Ed handed Mitchell $50. He asked the panhandler to return the next day, and Mitchell agreed. But it would be 15 months before he found himself inside the smart home again.

Mitchell raced back to his makeshift camp in the Wasatch Hills. There, his wife Wanda desperately tried to follow as he frothed at the mouth, ranting about plans of abduction. He insisted they bring Elizabeth home to the woods. The beautiful girl would be his new bride and Wanda's true sister-wife. Wanda was well-versed in her husband's prophecy.

Mitchell raced back to his makeshift camp in the Wasatch Hills. There, his wife Wanda desperately tried to follow as he frothed at the mouth, ranting about plans of abduction. He insisted they bring Elizabeth home to the woods. The beautiful girl would be his new bride and Wanda's true sister-wife. Wanda was well-versed in her husband's prophecy.

After all, she'd transcribed 27 pages of his dogmatic rambling in fine calligraphy. She knew God planned for Mitchell to marry seven young and comely virgin brides, but Wanda always assumed these sister wives would be raised as her new daughters. Having been estranged from her own children for the better part of a decade, Wanda was once thrilled at the prospect of a new family.

After all, she'd transcribed 27 pages of his dogmatic rambling in fine calligraphy. She knew God planned for Mitchell to marry seven young and comely virgin brides, but Wanda always assumed these sister wives would be raised as her new daughters. Having been estranged from her own children for the better part of a decade, Wanda was once thrilled at the prospect of a new family.