Brian David Mitchell
| Brian David Mitchell | |
|---|---|
| Born: | October 18, 1953 (secondary sources) Salt Lake City, Utah
|
| Charges: | Kidnapping (18 U.S.C. § 1201) and unlawful transportation of a minor across state lines with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity (18 U.S.C. § 2423) |
| Sentence: | Two consecutive life terms in federal prison without the possibility of parole |
| Released: | None, life without parole |
| Facility: | |
| Status: | Incarcerated (life without parole); held at FCI Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, since October 2025 |
Brian David Mitchell, an American man born on October 18, 1953, was convicted in federal court for the June 5, 2002 kidnapping of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart from her Salt Lake City, Utah, home. A former handyman and self-styled street preacher who called himself "Emmanuel," Mitchell abducted Smart at knifepoint. With his wife and accomplice Wanda Barzee, he held her captive for about nine months in Utah and California until her recovery on March 12, 2003. A federal jury found him guilty of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor across state lines on December 10, 2010. On May 25, 2011, U.S. District Judge Dale A. Kimball sentenced him to life in prison without parole.
Early Life and Career
Brian David Mitchell was born on October 18, 1953, in Salt Lake City, Utah, according to secondary reference sources. Raised in the Salt Lake City area, sources describe him as having a troubled adolescence, which resulted in him being sent to live with his grandmother around age 16 following a family conflict. Mitchell was married multiple times, and his third wife, Wanda Eileen Barzee, became his accomplice in the Smart kidnapping.
A former member of the LDS Church, Mitchell later became a street preacher and self-proclaimed prophet. He used the name "Emmanuel" (also spelled "Immanuel") and authored a manifesto titled "The Book of Immanuel David Isaiah." He worked as an itinerant handyman. In late 2001, the Smart family briefly hired him for odd jobs at their home, giving him the opportunity to become familiar with the household.
Criminal Case
On June 5, 2002, Mitchell entered the Salt Lake City home of Ed and Lois Smart and abducted 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart at knifepoint from the bedroom she shared with her younger sister. Mitchell and Wanda Barzee held Smart captive for roughly nine months. She was held first at an encampment in the foothills outside Salt Lake City and later moved to San Diego County, California. Smart later testified that she was tethered by a cable and repeatedly raped during her captivity.
On March 12, 2003, passersby in Sandy, Utah, recognized Mitchell and Barzee walking with Smart and alerted the police, resulting in her recovery. Because Mitchell was repeatedly found incompetent to stand trial, state proceedings against him stalled. A federal grand jury in the District of Utah eventually indicted him in March 2008 on kidnapping and unlawful transportation charges.
Trial and Sentencing
After U.S. District Judge Dale A. Kimball ruled him competent in early 2010, Mitchell's federal trial began in November 2010. He raised an insanity defense, which the jury rejected. On December 10, 2010, a federal jury in Salt Lake City found Mitchell guilty of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor across state lines.[1]
On May 25, 2011, Judge Kimball sentenced Mitchell to two life terms in federal prison without the possibility of parole.[2] Elizabeth Smart addressed him at the sentencing. The federal proceedings are documented under the case name United States v. Brian David Mitchell, No. 2:08-cr-00125-DAK, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah.[3]
Incarceration
After serving pretrial time in the Salt Lake County Jail, Mitchell was transferred in late August/September 2011 to his first Bureau of Prisons facility, USP Tucson (high-security), a high-security federal penitentiary in Arizona.[4]
He was later moved to USP Terre Haute, a high-security penitentiary in Indiana, a transfer reported to have occurred by or before March 2023. In 2025, Mitchell was assaulted at least twice in custody at Terre Haute. The incidents included a May 26, 2025 attack in the recreation yard and a subsequent attack in a protective/special confinement unit. Following those attacks, he was routed through the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City. In October 2025, Mitchell was transferred to FCI Lewisburg, a medium-security facility in central Pennsylvania, where officials confirmed he is currently housed and reported to be 72 years old.[5]
Release and Aftermath
Mitchell is serving life without parole and is not eligible for release. His accomplice, Wanda Barzee, pleaded guilty, received a 15-year federal sentence, and was released in September 2018.
Elizabeth Smart survived and went on to become a prominent child-safety advocate and author who has spoken publicly about the case. Mitchell's 2025 in-custody assaults and his subsequent transfer to FCI Lewisburg drew renewed news coverage of his incarceration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What did Brian David Mitchell do?
On June 5, 2002, Mitchell kidnapped 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart at knifepoint from her Salt Lake City home. With his wife Wanda Barzee, he held her captive for about nine months in Utah and California and repeatedly raped her, until she was recovered on March 12, 2003. A federal jury convicted him of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor across state lines.
Q: How long is Brian David Mitchell's sentence?
On May 25, 2011, U.S. District Judge Dale A. Kimball sentenced him to two life terms in federal prison without the possibility of parole.
Q: Where is Brian David Mitchell incarcerated?
As of October 2025 he is held at FCI Lewisburg (medium security) in central Pennsylvania. He was previously at USP Tucson (his first BOP facility, from 2011) and then USP Terre Haute in Indiana, from which he was transferred after being assaulted in custody in 2025.
Q: When will Brian David Mitchell be released?
Never. He is serving life without the possibility of parole and has no release date.
Q: Who was Brian David Mitchell's accomplice?
His wife, Wanda Barzee, who pleaded guilty, served a 15-year federal sentence, and was released in September 2018.
See also
References
- ↑ "Brian David Mitchell sentenced to life in prison for Elizabeth Smart kidnapping". '. Retrieved .
- ↑ "Mitchell Sentenced to Life in Prison in Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping Case". '. Retrieved .
- ↑ "United States v. Brian David Mitchell, No. 2:08-cr-00125". '. Retrieved .
- ↑ "Elizabeth Smart kidnapper Brian David Mitchell leaves Utah for federal prison". '. Retrieved .
- ↑ "Elizabeth Smart kidnapper moved from federal prison in Indiana after attacks in custody". '. Retrieved .