SALT LAKE CITY -
In a plea deal that effectively ends the criminal cases against her, Wanda Barzee pleaded guilty but mentally ill to a second-degree felony charge of conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping.
"Wanda feels that she's emerged from a mental illness circumstance that was very cloudy to one of more clarity and desires to accept responsibility and move forward in her life and try to mend fences," her attorney, Scott Williams, said outside of court.
Barzee admitted to her role in the attempted abduction of one of Elizabeth Smart's cousins, Olivia Wright. It happened just a month after the then-15-year-old Smart was snatched from her bedroom. On July 24, 2002, police said someone tried to break into the Cottonwood Heights home of Stephen Wright.
Barzee had previously pleaded guilty to federal charges related to Elizabeth Smart's abduction. Prosecutors have said in the past that Mitchell kidnapped Elizabeth Smart to make her a polygamous wife. It is believed her cousin was targeted for the same reason.
Elizabeth Smart vanished for nine months before being found in the company of Brian David Mitchell, a homeless street preacher, and his wife, Wanda Barzee, walking along State Street in Sandy in 2003. As part of the plea deal, Barzee will testify against her husband, Brian David Mitchell, prosecutors said.
"If we do a trial against Mr. Mitchell, our anticipation is that Ms. Barzee would be one of the government's witnesses," said Alicia Cook, a deputy Salt Lake District Attorney.
Barzee had twice been found incompetent to face trial until a judge ordered forced medication to restore her to competency.
In an interview with Fox 13 News, Elizabeth Smart's father acknowledged being a little skeptical about whether Barzee would really testify, but said he was in support of the plea deal.
"Elizabeth certainly indicated that she thought both Mitchell and Barzee felt they were above the law and they would do and say whatever they had to to win their way," he said.
A federal judge is expected to decide next month if Mitchell is mentally competent to face trial in the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart. Smart told Fox 13 he would support a plea deal for Mitchell, but only if it meant that he would be branded a sex offender and never released from prison.
Barzee is scheduled to be sentenced on the state charge on May 21.
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"Wanda feels that she's emerged from a mental illness circumstance that was very cloudy to one of more clarity and desires to accept responsibility and move forward in her life and try to mend fences," her attorney, Scott Williams, said outside of court.
Barzee admitted to her role in the attempted abduction of one of Elizabeth Smart's cousins, Olivia Wright. It happened just a month after the then-15-year-old Smart was snatched from her bedroom. On July 24, 2002, police said someone tried to break into the Cottonwood Heights home of Stephen Wright.
Barzee had previously pleaded guilty to federal charges related to Elizabeth Smart's abduction. Prosecutors have said in the past that Mitchell kidnapped Elizabeth Smart to make her a polygamous wife. It is believed her cousin was targeted for the same reason.
Elizabeth Smart vanished for nine months before being found in the company of Brian David Mitchell, a homeless street preacher, and his wife, Wanda Barzee, walking along State Street in Sandy in 2003. As part of the plea deal, Barzee will testify against her husband, Brian David Mitchell, prosecutors said.
"If we do a trial against Mr. Mitchell, our anticipation is that Ms. Barzee would be one of the government's witnesses," said Alicia Cook, a deputy Salt Lake District Attorney.
Barzee had twice been found incompetent to face trial until a judge ordered forced medication to restore her to competency.
In an interview with Fox 13 News, Elizabeth Smart's father acknowledged being a little skeptical about whether Barzee would really testify, but said he was in support of the plea deal.
"Elizabeth certainly indicated that she thought both Mitchell and Barzee felt they were above the law and they would do and say whatever they had to to win their way," he said.
A federal judge is expected to decide next month if Mitchell is mentally competent to face trial in the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart. Smart told Fox 13 he would support a plea deal for Mitchell, but only if it meant that he would be branded a sex offender and never released from prison.
Barzee is scheduled to be sentenced on the state charge on May 21.
SEND US YOUR NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS PICTURES! www.fox13now.com/pics
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @fox13now
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