Wanda Barzee, kidnapper of Elizabeth Smart, charged after claiming she was ‘commanded by God’ to enter public park illegally

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Wanda Barzee, the woman convicted of kidnapping then 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart with her husband in 2002, was arrested and booked into jail on May 1, according to court records. She was charged today, May 9, for the alleged crime.

On May 1, Barzee, 79, was booked into jail for allegedly violating Sex Offender Registry requirements by visiting parks in Salt Lake City. Brent Weisberg, spokesperson for the Salt Lake City Police Department, said detectives arrested her at her home without incident.

She was officially charged today, May 9, in Salt Lake County with two counts of violation by sex offender of protected area (class A misdemeanor).

Documents say she told police she went to Liberty Park to feed ducks in early April because “she was commanded to by the Lord.” Barzee allegedly also admitted to visiting Sugarhouse Park.

Barzee became a registered sex offender after she was convicted for her involvement in the kidnapping and rape of Smart. She served 15 years in prison before being released in 2018.

At the time of her release, Elizabeth Smart asked the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole not to release her, saying she was a danger, but officials said Barzee had served her sentence and there was nothing to keep her in prison. She was on probation for five years after her release and was required to participate in a mental health program.

According to Utah law, registered child sex offenders are prohibited from going to areas where children congregate — such as parks and schools. Offenders convicted of violating this law are subject to a class A misdemeanor charge, which can be punished with up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

In a three minute long video posted to the Foundation’s Instagram page, Elizabeth Smart addresses the recent arrest of Barzee and the justification that Barzee used, which Smart says is a reminder of her past and a warning of the risk Barzee poses to the community.

Here is the full statement from the Elizabeth Smart Foundation:

We are deeply troubled by Wanda Barzee’s recent actions. She entered public parks in Salt Lake City, which she is legally barred from due to her status as a registered sex offender. Barzee’s justification that she was “commanded by the Lord” is a reminder of her past and a warning of the risk she poses to the community.

This incident highlights how crucial it is to enforce the sex offender registry, monitor release conditions, and evaluate individuals convicted of crimes like Barzee’s. It also emphasizes exactly why we must listen to and center survivors in our legal process.

We want to thank the Salt Lake City Police Department, and Chief Redd, for their responsible handling of this incident. Their professionalism, attentiveness, and trauma-informed approach speak to their commitment to survivor-centered practices.

At the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, we believe in a future where all survivors of sexual violence are heard, believed, and supported—and where systems are built not just around legal technicalities, but around true justice. Many survivors live without justice for the harm done to them, and their perpetrators are never arrested. We often say for survivors of sexual violence and exploitation, we have more of a legal system than a justice system.

But, we also believe in the possibility of change.

We are building that change by promoting survivor-informed policies, expanding education and prevention programs, and working with law enforcement, communities, and survivors to create a safer, more compassionate world.

Elizabeth Smart has continually expressed concern over Wanda Barzee’s release. Barzee’s violation affirms the need for ongoing reforms to protect survivors and prevent further trauma. At the same time, it reminds us that solutions are possible when communities, leaders, and institutions come together with a shared commitment to do better.

We urge policymakers, justice officials, and the public to take incidents like this seriously—especially in cases that are not as widely publicized as Elizabeth Smart’s. There is an urgent, broad need for reform.

Survivors deserve to live without fear. They deserve to thrive. Together, we can build systems that not only protect them but also uplift them.

Elizabeth often remembers advice that her mother gave her after she was rescued. She said, “Don’t you let them steal one more second of your life. Not one more second! You be happy. You move on.” Elizabeth is pleased to report that she is indeed happy, and lives a fulfilling life with her family, and does not live in fear of her captors.