Where Are Elizabeth Smart Kidnappers Now? Netflix Documentary Revisited

Would you recognize a monster living in plain sight? Netflix’s latest documentary, 'Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart', takes viewers back to the chilling June 2002 night that paralyzed a nation. As the 14-year-old girl's survival story reaches a new generation, many are asking a critical question: what happened to those responsible for the nine-month nightmare?

Elizabeth Smart Kidnappers Now: The Fate of Mitchell and Barzee

According to official court records, Brian David Mitchell remains behind bars, serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Mitchell, a self-proclaimed prophet, was convicted of kidnapping and transporting a minor across state lines for illegal sexual purposes. His wife and accomplice, Wanda Barzee, has followed a different legal path. Despite her role in the abduction and abuse, Barzee was released from prison in September 2018 after the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole determined her federal and state sentences had been served.

The Investigation and Rescue of Elizabeth Smart

The breakthrough in the case came from Mary Katherine Smart, Elizabeth’s younger sister. Only 9 years old at the time, she eventually realized that the man who broke into their home was 'Immanuel,' a laborer the family had hired for yard work. This realization led to the public distribution of Mitchell's photos. On March 12, 2003, alert citizens spotted the group in Sandy, Utah, leading to Elizabeth’s safe recovery and the immediate arrest of her captors.