Elizabeth Smart Kidnapper Brian Mitchell Brought to Tucson Prison

Brian David Mitchell, the Utah street preacher convicted of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart, has begun serving his life sentence in an Arizona prison.Mitchell, who kidnapped Smart -- who was then 14 -- from her bedroom in 2002, was brought to a prison about 10 miles south of Tucson. The prison is...

By James King

September 16, 2011

We’re $800 away from our summer campaign goal,
with just 2 days left!

We’re ready to deliver—but we need the resources to do it right. If Phoenix New Times matters to you, please take action and contribute today to help us expand our current events coverage when it’s needed most.

Contribute Now

Progress to goal

$10,000

$9,200

Audio By Carbonatix

[
          {
            "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
            "component": "21251496",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "STN Player - Float - Mobile Only ",
            "component": "21327862",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "Editor Picks",
            "component": "16759093",
            "insertPoint": "4",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "17980324",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - 2x Rectangles Desktop, Tower on Mobile - Labeled",
            "component": "21934225",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25          
          
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "17980324",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
            "component": "17012245",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          }
        ]

Brian David Mitchell, the Utah street preacher convicted of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart, has begun serving his life sentence in an Arizona prison.

Mitchell, who kidnapped Smart -- who was then 14 -- from her bedroom in 2002, was brought to a prison about 10 miles south of Tucson. The prison is the same prison where Tucson shooter Jared Loughner was held before he was transferred to a federal prison in Missouri.

Mitchell -- then known as "Emmanuel" -- had done odd jobs for the Smart family at their home prior to the kidnapping, which is what led him to Elizabeth.

The case appeared on several national TV programs, including America's Most Wanted, which is what led to Mitchell's arrest.

Smart was recovered on March 12, 2003, when an alert biker spotted her and Mitchell traveling with another woman, Wanda Barzee, near Sandy, Utah, after seeing the Smart case on America's Most Wanted the night before.

When she was recovered, Smart was disguised in a gray wig, sunglasses, and a veil.

Mitchell was moved to the Arizona prison on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.

James King

A message from News Editor Zach Buchanan: If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our continued coverage of essential stories and to investigate issues that matter.

Support Today