Vanessa Richardson

But now that the day had arrived, she was wounded by Mitchell's desire for new spouses. She even wrote in her diary about it. In the end, however, she talked herself into accepting Mitchell's decree as an Abrahamic test. Mitchell always said a time would come when Wanda would have to make sacrifices to prove her devotion to God, just as Abraham had to when God demanded he kill his only son.

But now that the day had arrived, she was wounded by Mitchell's desire for new spouses. She even wrote in her diary about it. In the end, however, she talked herself into accepting Mitchell's decree as an Abrahamic test. Mitchell always said a time would come when Wanda would have to make sacrifices to prove her devotion to God, just as Abraham had to when God demanded he kill his only son.

And while Wanda had no desire to share her marital bed with another woman, she'd given up on thinking for herself some time ago. It was easier to endure God's test and obey her prophet husband. That was the deal she made in exchange for her husband's love and protection. Not that he was much of a protector.

And while Wanda had no desire to share her marital bed with another woman, she'd given up on thinking for herself some time ago. It was easier to endure God's test and obey her prophet husband. That was the deal she made in exchange for her husband's love and protection. Not that he was much of a protector.

They lived in a jerry-rigged teepee in the wild, urinated in buckets, and begged for scraps of food. But Wanda made every effort to keep up her end of the bargain because she couldn't bear to be on her own again. While it might be hard to understand why Wanda would continue to follow Mitchell, it's important to remember her past.

They lived in a jerry-rigged teepee in the wild, urinated in buckets, and begged for scraps of food. But Wanda made every effort to keep up her end of the bargain because she couldn't bear to be on her own again. While it might be hard to understand why Wanda would continue to follow Mitchell, it's important to remember her past.

She was sexually abused by her father and routinely beaten by her first husband. By the time she met her second husband, her fears of being used, hurt, abused, or abandoned guided her every move. Mitchell was Wanda's safety, and she clung to him no matter what.

She was sexually abused by her father and routinely beaten by her first husband. By the time she met her second husband, her fears of being used, hurt, abused, or abandoned guided her every move. Mitchell was Wanda's safety, and she clung to him no matter what.

Before we continue with Wanda's psychology, I'm not a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist, but I have done a lot of research for this show. According to her article, Terror, Love, and Brainwashing, social psychologist and cult expert Dr. Alexandra Stain said, People run to a safe haven when they're afraid.

Before we continue with Wanda's psychology, I'm not a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist, but I have done a lot of research for this show. According to her article, Terror, Love, and Brainwashing, social psychologist and cult expert Dr. Alexandra Stain said, People run to a safe haven when they're afraid.

If the brainwasher has been successful, the recruit, now having had fear instilled by the brainwasher, runs to the only safe haven available, the brainwasher himself. This creates a trauma bond that is difficult to break so long as the person remains isolated from alternate safe havens. The person goes into a freeze mode and is unable to think clearly,

If the brainwasher has been successful, the recruit, now having had fear instilled by the brainwasher, runs to the only safe haven available, the brainwasher himself. This creates a trauma bond that is difficult to break so long as the person remains isolated from alternate safe havens. The person goes into a freeze mode and is unable to think clearly,

This explains why perfectly intelligent people can find themselves unable to rationally view a brainwasher. The lack of alternate information and true havens undermine a follower's cognitive processes on matters regarding the brainwasher. Wanda Barzee didn't seem to have a will of her own anymore. Mitchell's prophetic delusions became Wanda's safe haven, her reality.

This explains why perfectly intelligent people can find themselves unable to rationally view a brainwasher. The lack of alternate information and true havens undermine a follower's cognitive processes on matters regarding the brainwasher. Wanda Barzee didn't seem to have a will of her own anymore. Mitchell's prophetic delusions became Wanda's safe haven, her reality.

So when he insisted she help him kidnap Elizabeth Smart, Wanda complied. It's unclear why they waited so long to put their plan in motion, but about a year and a half after he worked for the Smarts, on June 5, 2002, 49-year-old Mitchell was ready to do the deed. He left 56-year-old Wanda to prepare the camp while he retrieved his new bride.

So when he insisted she help him kidnap Elizabeth Smart, Wanda complied. It's unclear why they waited so long to put their plan in motion, but about a year and a half after he worked for the Smarts, on June 5, 2002, 49-year-old Mitchell was ready to do the deed. He left 56-year-old Wanda to prepare the camp while he retrieved his new bride.

It took hours to make it down the mountain, but once he found himself outside the Smarts' home, it didn't take long for him to discover a way in. Earlier that evening, Lois Smart had burned dinner. To clear the smoke, she opened a narrow window off the patio, but she neglected to close it before going to bed. The cracked window presented an open invitation to Mitchell.

It took hours to make it down the mountain, but once he found himself outside the Smarts' home, it didn't take long for him to discover a way in. Earlier that evening, Lois Smart had burned dinner. To clear the smoke, she opened a narrow window off the patio, but she neglected to close it before going to bed. The cracked window presented an open invitation to Mitchell.

He used his pocket knife to cut the screen and slipped into the house. Once inside, he tread carefully so as not to wake the sleeping Smarts. He kept thinking, if God wanted him to take the girl, he would allow it. With the exception of the light creaks of the floorboards under his feet, the house remained silent. He crept upstairs. In the darkness, he slithered down the hall undetected.

He used his pocket knife to cut the screen and slipped into the house. Once inside, he tread carefully so as not to wake the sleeping Smarts. He kept thinking, if God wanted him to take the girl, he would allow it. With the exception of the light creaks of the floorboards under his feet, the house remained silent. He crept upstairs. In the darkness, he slithered down the hall undetected.