Why did the 2002 Salt Lake City kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart become one of the most unforgettable abduction cases in modern true crime history? How did a crime that began in the upscale Federal Heights neighborhood turn into a national manhunt, a controversial early focus on the wrong suspect, and a years-long fight for justice after Elizabeth was finally found alive?

In this episode, hosts Adrienne Barker and Joseph Lobosco revisit The Kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart — the abduction of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart from her family’s home in Salt Lake City, Utah, her nine months of captivity under Brian David Mitchell (who called himself “Emmanuel”) and Wanda Barzee, and the legal road that followed, shaped by delayed proceedings, competency battles, and public outrage over sentencing and release decisions.

⚠️ Content warning: This episode includes discussions of child abduction, sexual assault, and psychological coercion. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know needs support, help may be available via the Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.

Tune in to hear:

June 5, 2002 – Elizabeth Smart abducted from her Salt Lake City bedroom: An intruder enters the Smart home through a window after cutting a screen, and Elizabeth’s 9-year-old sister Mary Catherine becomes the only eyewitness — too terrified to immediately raise the alarm.

June 2002 – National manhunt and a massive community search: Police, the FBI, and volunteers scour neighborhoods, foothills, and canyons as the reward reportedly surges to $250,000 within days; when burned remains are found nearby, the family endures a terrifying moment before learning it is not Elizabeth.

Summer 2002 – Early tunnel vision on handyman Richard Ricci: Investigators focus heavily on Richard Ricci, a handyman who worked in the Smart home; he is jailed on unrelated matters, denies involvement, and later dies in custody on August 30, 2002 — with later reporting indicating he was not responsible, raising hard questions about investigative tunnel vision.

2002–2003 – Captivity under Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee: While the public searches, Elizabeth is held by Mitchell (a drifter and self-styled religious prophet) and Barzee; she is allegedly isolated through threats, abuse, and religious control, and kept disguised in layered clothing with robes and a veil while being moved in public — including travel beyond Utah and time in the San Diego area.

Breakthrough lead – Mary Catherine recognizes “Emmanuel”: Months after the abduction, Mary Catherine tells her parents she believes the voice she heard belonged to “Emmanuel,” a man who previously worked at their home; frustrated with the pace, the family goes public with a sketch, tips pour in, and “Emmanuel” is identified as Brian David Mitchell.

March 12, 2003 – Rescue after nine months: Multiple people report seeing a man, a woman, and a girl in disguise in a Salt Lake City suburb; police detain the group, Elizabeth initially denies her identity, but officers separate her from the adults and she is ultimately identified and reunited with her family. Mitchell and Barzee are arrested.

2003–2010 – The long, controversial road to court: The legal process drags for years amid battles over mental competency, repeatedly postponing Elizabeth’s day in court and fueling public anger.

November 17, 2009 – Wanda Barzee pleads guilty: Barzee pleads guilty in federal court to charges including kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor, with authorities framing the plea as a way to reduce the burden on Elizabeth by...