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Elizabeth Smart's Kidnapper Arrested for Violating Sex-Offender Restrictions

Wanda Barzee, 79, accused of visiting Salt Lake City parks despite legal prohibitions, was briefly jailed and released under judicial orders.

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Wanda Barzee enters Judge Judith Atherton's court for a competency hearing, in Salt Lake City, on Feb. 8, 2010.
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Overview

  • Wanda Barzee, convicted for her role in Elizabeth Smart's 2002 abduction, was arrested on May 1 for entering Liberty Park and Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City.
  • Utah law prohibits registered child sex offenders from visiting areas where children gather, including parks, which Barzee allegedly violated in April.
  • Barzee admitted to police that she visited the parks to sit on benches and feed ducks, claiming she was 'commanded by the Lord.'
  • Barzee was booked into Salt Lake County Metro Jail but has since been released on judicial orders as law enforcement continues monitoring her compliance.
  • Elizabeth Smart, now a child safety advocate, previously warned Barzee remains a danger to vulnerable individuals and criticized her 2018 release from prison.