Elizabeth Smart Breaks Silence on Kidnapper Wanda Barzee’s Arrest for Violating Sex Offender Terms

“I am so grateful to the Salt Lake Police Department and Chief [Brian] Redd for their quick and professional response,” she shared. “They handled this situation with a trauma-informed approach, which means so much to me personally. When authorities take these situations, these violations, seriously, it sends a very powerful message that survivor safety matters.”

After calling for more progress to be made within the legal justice system to protect survivors of sexual violence, Smart noted she refuses to let Barzee’s recent resurfacing impact the joy she has found in life. 

“Personally, this situation for me, I turned back to the advice my own mother gave me the day after I was rescued,” Smart shared. “She said, ‘They’ve already stolen nine months of your life away from you. Do not let them steal another second. You need to move forward with your life and you need to be happy.’”

She added, “I have always tried to follow that advice to the best of my ability. So, although this situation has arisen, I refuse to live my life in fear. I refuse to allow anyone to stop me from living.”