Suspects Charged in Utah Teen's Abduction

Washington Post ^ | March 18, 2003 | Associated Press

[Bubba_Leroy]

Self-proclaimed prophet Brian Mitchell and his wife were charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated burglary Tuesday in the abduction of Elizabeth Smart.

Mitchell, a drifter whose writings promoting polygamy had raised questions about whether Elizabeth was sexually abused during her nine-month ordeal, has told his attorney that he considers the 15-year-old girl his wife and wants her to be renamed "Remnant Who Will Return."

Attorney Larry Long said Mitchell - whom he referred to as "the perpetrator" - considers the girl's nine-month disappearance a "call from God," not a kidnapping.

[Bubba_Leroy]

From the article:

Long has suggested that giving his client a light sentence could encourage kidnappers to keep their captives alive.

Mitchell's father made a similar appeal, arguing that any punishment should be tempered by the girl's survival. "There's a lot of people that kidnap little kids and murder them," said Shirl Mitchell, 83. "He took care of the girl and she came back in good health."

Actually, they have a point. Because he didn't kill her, he should get life in prison at hard labor instead of the death penalty. If he had killed her, I would say he should get burned at the stake.

[MEG33]

I think you're right...the law won't allow me to do what I'd like to the defendents.

[plain talk]

The father has no point and little of a mind left. Of course he has been through a lot. The kidnappers should get the maximum extent the law allows.

[tessalu]

No penalty can be too great for these two people. I am for the maximum. And the names that this pervert gives to himself and to others should not even be put to print. This is playing in to his hand. We should not ever stop being thankful that Elizabeth made it out alive. No amount of money can ever pay for the pain and suffering caused by the evils of these two people.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/doc_o_day/doc_o_day.shtml


MARCH 18--Utah prosecutors today filed kidnapping and sexual assault charges against Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee for their alleged roles in the abduction of Salt Lake City teenager Elizabeth Smart. According to a chilling probable cause statement included in the below criminal information, Mitchell warned Smart that he would "harm or kill her family if she did not comply with his demands and directions." According to Detective Mark Sharman, after Mitchell abducted Smart from her bedroom, the teenager, dressed in her pajamas, was "compelled at knifepoint" to walk four miles up a mountain trail to a "concealed campsite." There, Barzee directed Smart to remove her pajamas. When the teenager balked, Barzee "threatened to have Mitchell forcibly remove" the child's clothing. Barzee then aided Mitchell in the sexual assault of Smart. The married drifters were also charged with a July 2002 attempt to kidnap Jessica Wright, Smart's 18-year-old cousin. That bid, which occurred seven weeks after Smart's abduction, failed when Wright "reported seeing something come through the cut screen" of her bedroom window. Salt Lake City prosecutors will seek to have bail set at $10 million for both Mitchell and Barzee when the couple appears tomorrow for arraignment. If convicted of all the charges, the alleged kidnappers face life in prison. (7 pages)

[FirstTomato]

I am for the death penalty for these predators. The pain they caused is incredible, not only for the child but for her family.

When I was young someone tried to kidnap me. Even though the attempt was not successful, the memory still haunts me. I'm not sure I ever trusted another soul after that.

This girl will be scarred for life, and that is even with the incredible family and community love she benefits from.

People like this deserve to die.

[Saundra Duffy]

They should burn. I still say the Smart's should warn others NEVER TO INVITE HOMELESS TRASH INTO THEIR HOMES TO BE AROUND THEIR INNOCENT CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!

[Jeff Head]

From the probable Cause statement by police:

after Mitchell abducted Smart from her bedroom, the teenager, dressed in her pajamas, was "compelled at knifepoint" to walk four miles up a mountain trail to a "concealed campsite." There, Barzee directed Smart to remove her pajamas. When the teenager balked, Barzee "threatened to have Mitchell forcibly remove" the child's clothing. Barzee then aided Mitchell in the sexual assault of Smart." If this is shown to have been the case, and I believe it will be so shown, then both of these animals need to be executed IMHO. Sorry, but they can plead their case on the other side of Jordan somewhere ... probbaly sonewhere way far to the south.

Some of the other posters who have been trying to somehow blame the girl need to read this and offer up their apologies IMHO. They sexually assaulted her (in my book that's rape) and they threatened to kill her family if she didn't do as they said.

They are rabid animals that need the same kind of healing any other rabid animal gets.

Sorry, but with three daughters of my own, I have to say it the way it is.

Jeff

[Utah Girl]

After reading the charges, Mitchell and Barzee should both get hard labor. They deserve the death penalty, but that isn't an option any more.

And Long, Mitchell's alleged attorney? Well, he isn't, he just runs around the jail and talks to the inmates. He made all those statements without authorization.

[Utah Girl]

I just posted the whole document on this thread. Mitchell and Barzee charged.

[Utah Girl]

They are.

[cherry]

"And Long, Mitchell's alleged attorney? Well, he isn't, he just runs around the jail and talks to the inmates. He made all those statements without authorization."

who is Michells's lawyer?...this guy sounds as looney as mithcell himself...

[Squantos]

Well said....IMO they really need to put these two animals down for keeps. It makes me sick to hear all the people claim they aren't that bad as they kept her alive. Alive as long as it served their purpose. Draconian punishment will insure that most never get to make that decision on their own in the first place.

Until the deterance of punishment replaces diversion of guilt paper laws are nothing but.

Stay Safe !

[Utah Girl]

Somebody Long. just a second.

OK, David also clarified Tuesday that Larry Long, who told a Salt Lake City TV station that he would represent Mitchell, was never retained by Mitchell and was not in fact an attorney in the case... Federal public defenders, including prominent Utah defense attorney Ronald Yengich, met briefly with Mitchell, 49, and his 57-year-old wife last week at the jail. However, the attorneys left when it became clear federal charges were not immediately forthcoming.

Yengich, who contracts with the federal office, has declined to comment about his possible involvement in the case.(It looks like Mitchell doesn't have an attorney yet.).

Further down in the story. The Smart family has retained an attorney to protect Elizabeth's interests during the upcoming prosecution. The Deseret News has been asked not to release the attorney's name at this time.

Asked whether that meant the Smart family would do what it could to keep Elizabeth off the witness stand in any trial, including approving some type of plea agreement for her alleged captors, Thomas said it was difficult to speculate what would be asked of her.

The Smarts have been brushing up on victims' rights and have talked to a number of people in recent days, including "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh and Patty Hearst, Thomas said.

The Smart family, meanwhile, is speaking out against comments made by Long and Mitchell's father, Shirl Mitchell. Both men said Brian Mitchell wasn't quite the monster he had been portrayed as because he did not kill Elizabeth.

"Those comments speak for themselves," Thomas said.

[Bubba_Leroy]

There is no question that these two are human excrement that deserve to die. I will shed no tears when they leave this earth.

My initial emotional response is that they should be burned at the stake. However, after a great deal of consideration I do not think that the death penalty should be applied in this case, not because they don't deserve it but because it will only encourage other pedophile kidnappers to kill their prey.

Let's say they are executed like they deserve. The next pedophile piece of filth that snatches a child will have no reason not to kill the child. As long as the child is alive, the chances of getting caught and the chances of getting convicted after getting caught are both several times higher. Why not slit the child's throat and bury her out in the woods somewhere? Less chance of getting caught, less chance of getting convicted, and nothing to lose if he is going to fry either way.

Lock them up for the rest of their lives in solitary confinement but leave some worse punishment available for pedophile child killers.

[cherry]

I just read the charges and does it seem to you that Wanda was possibly in the house as well....both of them are charged with being in the residence but maybe that is just a formality....

Patty Hearst suggested that an attorney be appointed for ES....which is wise...

also...I hope there is a plea...I hope that this does not go to trial....

[Contra]

You have to wonder what the defense lawyer's motive is in making the strange and disturbing statements of his client public. Keep in mind that both defense and prosecution often try to shape the minds of the public (and potential jurors) prior to a trial. I can think of two possible reasons. First, the insanity defense, that this guy is just a kook. And second, perhaps that this guy's views about polygamy may play well, or at least better than expected, in Mormon-dominated Utah. This seven young wives/polygamy defense would not play well anywhere that I can think of, except perhaps in Utah (and Islamic nations). He may get a more sympathetic jury than anywhere else in the USA.

[Utah Girl]

Yes, I agree.

[Utah Girl]

I didn't even pick up on that. I just assumed that Wanda was waiting somewhere for Mitchell.

[Utah Girl]

Uh, no, no way will Mitchell get a sympathetic jury in Utah. Most of us want to have the book thrown at him.