Brian David Mitchell is the man convicted of kidnapping 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart from her Salt Lake City home in 2002 and holding her captive for nine months. He received two consecutive life sentences in federal prison without the possibility of parole and remains incarcerated today.
The 2002 Kidnapping That Shocked America
On the night of June 5, 2002, Brian David Mitchell entered the Smart family home in Salt Lake City, Utah, and dragged 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart from her bedroom at knifepoint. Her 9-year-old sister, Mary Katherine Smart, witnessed the abduction and pretended to be asleep as Mitchell threatened her older sister. The case quickly became one of the most closely followed kidnapping investigations in American history. Mitchell, a homeless street preacher who called himself “Emmanuel,” had previously worked on the Smart family’s home construction project a year before the abduction. This connection would later prove crucial in identifying him as the perpetrator.
The Nine Months of Captivity
Mitchell brought Elizabeth Smart to a mountainside camp where his wife, Wanda Barzee, was waiting. The sexual abuse began that same day and continued throughout her nine months in captivity. Smart was chained by the ankle to a tree, raped nearly every day, and forced to consume alcohol and look at pornography. Mitchell forced her into a self-styled polygamous marriage and declared her his “wife.” He threatened to kill her, her family, and anyone who tried to rescue her. Smart later testified that Mitchell was driven by his desire for sex, drugs, and alcohol, not by any sincere religious beliefs. Despite an exhaustive nationwide manhunt with thousands of volunteers, the couple evaded capture by concealing Smart behind a veil and ankle-length robes.
The Rescue and Identification
The breakthrough in the case came when Mary Katherine Smart suddenly remembered whose voice she had heard that night. She recalled a drifter known as “Immanuel” who had once worked at their home. Police released a sketch that appeared on “America’s Most Wanted.” On March 12, 2003, passersby spotted Smart walking down a street in Sandy, Utah, just five miles from her home, accompanied by Mitchell and Barzee. She was wearing a dark wig and a veil. Police officers apprehended the couple, and Smart was reunited with her family after nine months of captivity. In the years since her rescue, Smart has become an outspoken activist for child safety and survivors of sexual abuse. Now 38, she married Matthew Gilmour in 2012 and has three children. She founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation in 2011 and has authored two books: “My Story” in 2013 and “Where There’s Hope: Healing, Moving Forward and Never Giving Up” in 2018.Quick Bio: Brian David Mitchell
The Competency Controversy
The legal proceedings against Brian David Mitchell were significantly delayed by debates over his mental competency. A state judge initially found him mentally incompetent to stand trial in 2005 and refused to order involuntary medication. Federal prosecutors later stepped in, arguing that Mitchell was feigning mental illness to avoid prosecution. Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Michael Welner from New York University School of Medicine evaluated Mitchell for the prosecution. Dr. Welner interviewed Mitchell for hours and spoke with dozens of witnesses, including Elizabeth Smart. The evaluation involved peer review from experts at Harvard Medical School and The Forensic Panel. Dr. Welner diagnosed Mitchell with antisocial personality disorder, pedophilia, psychopathy, and alcohol abuse but no severe mental illness. He concluded that Mitchell was “malingering” or faking mental illness. Another psychiatrist, Dr. Noel C. Gardner, testified that he had initially believed Mitchell genuinely held his religious ideas but came to believe the religious cloak was a disguise. In 2009, U.S. District Judge Dale A. Kimball ruled Mitchell competent to stand trial.
The Trial and Conviction
In November 2010, Brian David Mitchell stood trial in federal court in Salt Lake City. His defense did not dispute that he kidnapped Smart but argued he was not guilty by reason of insanity. During the trial, Mitchell frequently interrupted proceedings with rambling songs and outbursts. He was routinely removed from the courtroom after loudly singing hymns and Christmas carols. Elizabeth Smart delivered powerful testimony about her nine months of captivity, describing it as “nine months of hell.” She testified about the daily rapes, the threats, and how Mitchell used alcohol and drugs to lower her resistance. The prosecution presented evidence that Mitchell had planned to kidnap Smart’s cousin Olivia Wright as his “next wife” and had a plan to kidnap seven young girls as his wives. On December 10, 2010, a federal jury convicted Mitchell of interstate kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor across state lines for sexual activity. He faced up to life in prison without parole.
The Life Sentence
On May 25, 2011, U.S. District Judge Dale A. Kimball sentenced Brian David Mitchell to two consecutive life terms in federal prison without the possibility of parole. Elizabeth Smart confronted Mitchell in court, saying, “I know exactly what you did. I know you know what you did was wrong. You did it with full knowledge.” She added, “I also want you to know that I have a wonderful life now, that no matter what you do you will never affect me again.” Her father, Ed Smart, told Mitchell he had put Elizabeth through “nine months of psychological hell.” Federal prosecutors argued that a life sentence was necessary to protect the public from further crimes, noting Mitchell’s refusal to acknowledge the wrongfulness of his conduct. U.S. Attorney for Utah Carlie Christensen called the sentence “an appropriate, just, and long-overdue result for this community, the Smart family, and most importantly, Elizabeth.” Mitchell waived all appeals and has never been eligible for release.
Current Incarceration Status
As of 2026, Brian David Mitchell remains incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution Lewisburg, a medium-security prison in central Pennsylvania. He is 72 years old. Mitchell was previously housed at USP Terre Haute, a high-security federal penitentiary in Indiana, where he had been held for years. In 2025, Mitchell was assaulted at least twice while in custody at Terre Haute. The first attack occurred on May 26, 2025, in the recreation yard, followed by a subsequent attack in a protective or special confinement unit. Following those incidents, Mitchell was routed through the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City. In October 2025, he was transferred to FCI Lewisburg, where officials confirmed he is currently housed. Mitchell is serving life without the possibility of parole and has no release date.
The Netflix Documentary Renewed Public Interest
The Netflix documentary “Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart,” which premiered on January 21, 2026, has renewed public interest in the case. The documentary features interviews with Smart, family members, and others, as well as never-before-seen material. Smart, now 38, revisits her experience and explains her decision to speak publicly about what happened. She told Netflix, “I wanted to have some ownership over my story.” The documentary explores the psychological and emotional toll on Smart and her family, the relentless media attention, and the community’s tireless search for answers. Smart hopes the documentary shows that “even after terrible things happen, you can still have a wonderful life.”
Accomplice Wanda Barzee
Mitchell’s accomplice, Wanda Barzee, his wife of nearly two decades, pleaded guilty in 2009 to federal charges of kidnapping and interstate transport in exchange for a 15-year prison sentence. She testified against Mitchell during his trial, describing how she had believed his religious revelations and obediently complied when he said God wanted him to “take a young girl by force.” Barzee was released from prison in September 2018. However, she was arrested again in 2025 for allegedly violating the terms of her status as a sex offender, according to Netflix.
Conclusion
Brian David Mitchell is serving life in federal prison without the possibility of parole for the 2002 kidnapping and sexual abuse of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart. His case remains a landmark example of complex competency determinations in federal court, as prosecutors successfully argued that Mitchell was faking mental illness to avoid prosecution. Elizabeth Smart has rebuilt her life as an advocate for child safety and sexual abuse survivors, demonstrating resilience in the face of unimaginable trauma. The Netflix documentary “Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart” continues to bring attention to the case, ensuring that Mitchell’s crimes and Smart’s survival remain in the public consciousness. He is 72 years old and remains in federal custody at FCI Lewisburg in Pennsylvania.1. Where is Brian David Mitchell now?
Brian David Mitchell remains incarcerated in federal prison. As of October 2025, the 72-year-old was transferred to the Federal Correctional Institution Lewisburg, a medium-security facility in central Pennsylvania. He had previously been housed at USP Terre Haute in Indiana but was moved after being attacked twice by other inmates in 2025 .
2. What sentence did Brian David Mitchell receive?
He received two consecutive life sentences in federal prison without the possibility of parole. The sentence was handed down on May 25, 2011, by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Kimball . Mitchell waived all appeals and is not eligible for release .
3. How did law enforcement catch Brian David Mitchell?
Elizabeth Smart was found walking in Sandy, Utah, on March 12, 2003. Two separate couples recognized Mitchell from widespread media coverage, including a composite sketch released in February 2003 and an appearance on “America’s Most Wanted.” Mitchell’s own stepson also identified him after seeing the sketch, and Smart’s younger sister, Mary Katherine, had previously remembered his voice as “Immanuel,” a handyman who had worked on their roof .
4. Who was Brian David Mitchell before the kidnapping?
Mitchell was a homeless street preacher who called himself “Emmanuel” or “Immanuel.” He and his wife, Wanda Barzee, frequently panhandled and preached in Salt Lake City. He had briefly worked as a handyman for the Smart family in November 2001, which gave him familiarity with their home. He was known for wearing long white robes and likening himself to a prophet .
5. What happened to Wanda Barzee, Mitchell’s accomplice?
Barzee, Mitchell’s wife, pleaded guilty in a separate federal case in exchange for a 15-year prison sentence. She was released from federal custody in September 2018, a decision Elizabeth Smart later said left her “surprised and disappointed” .
