Ed Smart

Elizabeth Smart Announces Her Engagement, Planning Summer Wedding


Posted on Jan 20, 2012 @ 02:30PM - 10 comments

By Debbie Emery - Radar Reporter

A decade after she was kidnapped from her bedroom, Elizabeth Smart has announced that she is engaged.

The groom-to-be has not yet been named, but a spokesperson for 24-year-old Smart said the couple are planning a summer wedding, reported the Washington Post.

Luckily, the father-of-the-bride-to-be has already given his glowing approval!

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Elizabeth Smart Kidnapper Gets Life In Prison


Posted on May 25, 2011 @ 06:04PM - Add a comment

By Alexis Tereszcuk
Radar Staff Reporter

Elizabeth Smart kidnapper Brian David Mitchell has been sentenced to life in prison.

Smart, 23, was in the Salt Lake City courtroom Wednesday with her mother Lois, sister Mary Katherine and father Ed Smart. Mitchell had waived his right to be present in the courtroom.  There is no parole in the federal system, but Mitchell will be incarcerated outside of Utah because there is no federal prison in the state.

Elizabeth addressed the court and Mitchell, saying, “I don’t have very much to say to you.  I know exactly what you did. I know that you know what you did was wrong. You did it with a full knowledge. I also want you to know that I have a wonderful life now, that no matter what you do it will never affect me again. You took away nine months of my life that can never be returned, but in this life or next, you will have to be held responsible for those actions, and I hope you are ready for when that time comes."

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Elizabeth Smart To Publicly Address Kidnapper For First Time Wednesday


Posted on May 25, 2011 @ 04:00AM - Add a comment

By Adam S. Levy
Radar Staff Writer

For the first time, Elizabeth Smart will publicly speak to Brian David Mitchell -- the  man who kidnapped, raped and imprisoned her -- during his sentencing in a Salt Lake City courtroom on Wednesday.

Mitchell, 57, kidnapped the then-14-year-old Smart on June 5, 2002 from her Salt Lake City home at knife point in the middle of the night, and eventually took her to San Diego. Smart was rescued nine months after her kidnapping, when she was spotted in Sandy, Utah.

SHOCKING PHOTOS: Elizabeth Smart Evidence In Kidnapping Case

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Elizabeth Smart's Relief: 'This Is A Wonderful Day'


Posted on Dec 10, 2010 @ 02:55PM - 7 comments

With her parents and sister by her side, a clearly relieved Elizabeth Smart smiled as she addressed reporters outside the court where her kidnapper Brian David Mitchell was found guilty of kidnapping on Friday.

"I would like to say thank you to everyone ... this is a wonderful day and I am so thrilled to be here and so thrilled with the verdict," the 23-year-old said after the verdict was delivered. 

With her parents and sister by her side, a clearly relieved Elizabeth Smart smiled as she addressed reporters outside the court where her kidnapper Brian David Mitchell was found guilty of kidnapping on Friday.

"I would like to say thank you to everyone ... this is a wonderful day and I am so thrilled to be here and so thrilled with the verdict," the 23-year-old said after the verdict was delivered. 

SHOCKING PHOTOS: Elizabeth Smart Evidence In Kidnapping Case

"I hope that this is not only an example that justice can be served in America, but that it is possible to move on after something terrible has happened, and that we can speak out and we will be heard.

"Thank you to everyone for everyone’s prayers and support."

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Elizabeth Smart's Kidnapper Found Guilty


Posted on Dec 10, 2010 @ 02:40PM - 17 comments

A jury in Salt Lake City, Utah found Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapper, Brian David Mitchell, guilty on Friday of interstate kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity.

The jury deliberated for five hours before they reached the verdict.

Smart was in the courtroom with her sister, Mary Katherine, and parents Ed and Lois, as she had been every day of the trial since her testimony. The family smiled when the verdict was read.

A jury in Salt Lake City, Utah found Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapper, Brian David Mitchell, guilty on Friday of interstate kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity.

The jury deliberated for five hours before they reached the verdict.

Smart was in the courtroom with her sister, Mary Katherine, and parents Ed and Lois, as she had been every day of the trial since her testimony. The family smiled when the verdict was read.

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Elizabeth Smart's Alleged Kidnapper Is A Pedophile Says Expert In Trial


Posted on Dec 09, 2010 @ 06:39AM - 3 comments

In the final days of the trial of Brian David Mitchell, the man accused of kidnapping, raping and holding then 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart captive, an expert testified for the prosecution that Mitchell is first and foremost “a pedophile.”

Michael Welner, a New York psychiatrist who appeared for the prosecution at a cost of almost $750,000, said that Mitchell is a sadist and has narcissistic and anti-social personality disorders, with “the features of a psychopath,” according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

In the final days of the trial of Brian David Mitchell, the man accused of kidnapping, raping and holding then 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart captive, an expert testified for the prosecution that Mitchell is first and foremost “a pedophile.”

Michael Welner, a New York psychiatrist who appeared for the prosecution at a cost of almost $750,000, said that Mitchell is a sadist and has narcissistic and anti-social personality disorders, with “the features of a psychopath,” according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

SHOCKING PHOTOS: Elizabeth Smart Evidence In Kidnapping Case

“To know Brian David Mitchell is to be fooled by Brian David Mitchell,” Welner said.

In her testimony, Elizabeth spoke of the months of torture she received at the hands of Mitchell, from the daily rapes, to forced alcohol and drug use, to being forced to watch pornography and Mitchell and his wife Wanda Barzee have sex.

PHOTOS: Elizabeth Smart Leaves Courtroom

Welner said Mitchell’s “desire to degrade Smart…[which] made her experience so horrible,” emphasized his disorders.

Welner testified Wednesday that Mitchell does not have a “severe mental disease or defect,” which is required in order for the jury to find the defendant not guilty by reason of insanity.

He recounted his first meeting with Mitchell, where he refused to speak or even open his eyes until Welner played a video of Elizabeth’s March 2003 interview with another psychiatrist. He said as the video played, Mitchell then opened his eyes, pulled his chair close and began “leering” at the TV monitor.  “He was clearly pleased by her appearance in this clip, notwithstanding that [Smart] was talking about very painful and stressful experiences.”

PHOTOS: Jaycee Lee Dugar Before And After Kidnapping

Welner said that Mitchell qualifies as a psychopath by meeting 17 of 20 criteria, including manipulation, a grandiose sense of self-worth, pathological lying, lack of remorse, lack of empathy and irresponsibility.

Brian David Mitchell is on trial on federal charges of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor. He is accused of kidnapping then-14-year-old Elizabeth Smart from her Salt Lake City home in June 2002 and holding her captive for nine months. His defense attorney says he was mentally insane at the time of the kidnapping.  Mitchell faces life in prison if convicted.

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Elizabeth Smart’s Kidnapper Also Wannabe Polygamist Testifies Woman

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Elizabeth Smart’s Kidnapper Has A Psychotic Disorder Says Expert

Elizabeth Smart Storms Out Of Courtroom

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Elizabeth Smart Kidnapper 'Very Attentive' During Testimony


Posted on Dec 06, 2010 @ 02:45PM - 7 comments

Though Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapper Brian David Mitchell often watches the testimonies in the federal trial against him from a room adjacent to the court room, he usually ignores the proceedings. However, his demeanor drastically changed when his wife Wanda Barzee testified, according to the guard who was with Mitchell.

SHOCKING PHOTOS: Elizabeth Smart Evidence In Kidnapping Trial

Though Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapper Brian David Mitchell often watches the testimonies in the federal trial against him from a room adjacent to the court room, he usually ignores the proceedings. However, his demeanor drastically changed when his wife Wanda Barzee testified, according to the guard who was with Mitchell.

SHOCKING PHOTOS: Elizabeth Smart Evidence In Kidnapping Trial

“He was very attentive,” Dennis Durando, a deputy with the U.S. Marshal’s Service, said.  “He stood as close to the monitor as he possibly could and didn’t move. He was very still.”

According to Durando, Mitchell sleeps, exercises and occasionally sings in the room where he watches the trial from. Durando has escorted Mitchell to and from court for the past year.  He said Mitchell sometimes rolls up tissue paper and sticks it in his ears “as ear plugs and lays down on the bench,” to sleep during the rest of the testimony.

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Elizabeth Smart's Kidnapper Also Wannabe Polygamist, Testifies Woman


Posted on Dec 06, 2010 @ 08:50AM - 1 comment

Testimony continued on Monday in the case against Brian David Mitchell, the man accused of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart and sexually abusing her for nine months, as another woman said Mitchell tried to talk her into becoming another one of his wives.

SHOCKING PHOTOS: Elizabeth Smart Evidence In Kidnapping Case

Testimony continued on Monday in the case against Brian David Mitchell, the man accused of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart and sexually abusing her for nine months, as another woman said Mitchell tried to talk her into becoming another one of his wives.

SHOCKING PHOTOS: Elizabeth Smart Evidence In Kidnapping Case

Elizabeth was in court again, as she has been every day since she testified against Mitchell, and he was again removed from the courtroom by the judge for disrupting the proceedings by singing.   

Julia Atkison, a former shoe store clerk, said that Mitchell attempted to have her join him and Wanda Barzee in a plural marriage.

She testified that when she asked them  about their religion, Mitchell said, “I am Christ.”  She also said they tried to be Christ-like.

Atkison, who was part of the Kingston polygamous group until 1999, testified that she saw Mitchell panhandling a handful of times and she watched as he would be talking to her in a normal tone until someone approached him with money and then he would throw up his hands and start humming, then return to talking with her in a normal tone of voice when the other person gave him money.

PHOTOS: Elizabeth Smart Leaves Court

Atkison testified that back in 2001, she had a long meeting with Mitchell and Barzee where they asked her to start living with them in a polygamous relationship. Atkison said she never considered the offer and declined, but Mitchell came into the store where she worked and gave her a letter dated March 1, 2001.

“He told me God would show me that what he was saying was true,” Atison said.  She also testified “he’s definitely putting himself up on a pedestal,” when describing the letter in which he starts writing as if he were Christ.

PHOTOS: Jaycee Lee Dugard Before And After Her Kidnapping

Brian David Mitchell is on trial on federal charges of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor.  He is accused of kidnapping then-14-year-old Elizabeth Smart from her Salt Lake City home in June 2002 and holding her captive for nine months.  His defense attorney says he was mentally insane at the time of the kidnapping.  Mitchell faces life in prison if convicted.

RELATED STORIES:

Elizabeth Smart’s Kidnapper Has A Psychotic Disorder Says Expert

Elizabeth Smart Storms Out Of Courtroom

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Elizabeth Smart's Alleged Kidnapper Has A Psychotic Disorder Says Expert During Trial


Posted on Dec 02, 2010 @ 06:55AM - 2 comments

One day after Elizabeth Smart stormed out of the trial against her alleged kidnapper, Brian David Mitchell, the 23-year-old returned to court to listen to an expert testify that Mitchell is a paranoid schizophrenic.

“I believe he has a mental illness,” said clinical psychologist Richart DeMier, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.  “I believe he is properly diagnosed as schizophrenia, paranoid type.”

PHOTOS: Elizabeth Smart Leaves Court

One day after Elizabeth Smart stormed out of the trial against her alleged kidnapper, Brian David Mitchell, the 23-year-old returned to court to listen to an expert testify that Mitchell is a paranoid schizophrenic.

“I believe he has a mental illness,” said clinical psychologist Richart DeMier, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.  “I believe he is properly diagnosed as schizophrenia, paranoid type.”

PHOTOS: Elizabeth Smart Leaves Court

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