The woman who helped her husband kidnap a 14-year-old girl and hold her for nine months in 2002 has been released from prison.
Wanda Barzee, who was convicted for aiding Brian David Mitchell in the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart, was released from a Utah state prison on Wednesday after 15 years jail, TMZ reported.
Barzee allegedly stood with her husband while he raped Smart, according to testimony from the victim.
Authorities reportedly said she was not ready to be released back into the community, but Utah law states an inmate cannot be held past their sentence.
Smart has claimed she was told Barzee did not comply with treatment program requirements during her time in prison.
The state parole board said Barzee ‘refused to meet with the psychologist and the evaluations had not been completed’.
Despite her non compliance, because she had completed the length of her sentence, Barzee could not be stopped from leaving prison.
Barzee was only pleaded guilty in 2010, but was unexpectedly credited for time served by the Utah Board of Pardons and parole during her sentence, meaning she was eligible to be released in 2018, as opposed to 2024, CNN reported.
Mitchell was sentenced to life behind bars in Arizona.
The 72-year-old will be prohibited from contacting Smart for the five years of her supervised release, after which time Smart, now a child safety activist, can file for a protection order.
Smart posted a pointed message on her Instagram account after her kidnapper walked out of prison gates a free woman.
‘May we all remain vigilant in watching over our families, friends, and community from anyone who would seek to hurt or take advantage,’ she wrote, without invoking Barzee’s name.
‘I truly believe life is meant to be happy and beautiful, and no matter what happens that will remain my goal for me and for my family.’
Smart was taken from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah by Mitchell who knew her because he had been hired by her family to do handiwork at their home.
For nine months, the religion-obsessed couple kept Smart tied up in the woods where Mitchell subjected her to daily rapes and death threats.
She was eventually rescued when a stranger saw the three of them in the street and recognized the pair from an episode of America’s Most Wanted.
Wanda Barzee (pictured) has been released from prison after spending 15 years behind bars for aiding her husband in the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart in 2002