Wanda Barzee, one of Elizabeth Smart’s former captors, has been released from prison, much to Smart’s surprise and disappointment.
Barzee was released from the Draper Prison in Draper, Utah, Wednesday morning, Utah Department of Corrections spokeswoman Kaitlin Felsted said.
She will have 72 hours to report to U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, according to department spokesman Eric Anderson. She will be on a supervised release for five years.
Barzee’s release comes after the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole said it had miscalculated the time Barzee, 72, was supposed to serve in prison, The Associated Press reported.
Smart said on Instagram Wednesday, “May we all remain vigilant in watching over our families, friends, and community from anyone who would seek to hurt or take advantage. I truly believe life is meant to be happy and beautiful, and no matter what happens that will remain my goal for me and for my family.”
Smart was 14 when she was kidnapped in 2002 from her Salt Lake City home and held as a prisoner by Barzee and her husband, Brian David Mitchell. She was rescued in 2003.
Smart, 30, said in a news conference last week that Barzee saw her as a slave, and called her a “handmaiden.” She added that Barzee not only assisted in her abduction but would sit next to — and encourage — Mitchell as he raped her.
“She did appalling things while I was in captivity,” Smart said. “I know the depth of her depravity.”
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