Elizabeth Smart Says Her Captors Reminded Her of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell

Elizabeth Smart says the couple who kidnapped and sexually abused her when she was 14 bear disturbing similarities to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell—particularly in how they provided access to and encouraged the exploitation of vulnerable girls. Smart is speaking about these parallels ahead of the December release of her new book, Detours: Hope & Growth After Life's Hardest Turns, which focuses on recovering after sudden, life‑altering setbacks.

Abduction and captivity

In 2002, Brian David Mitchell broke into Smart’s family home in Salt Lake City and abducted her at knifepoint while she was 14. For nine months she was held in a series of rundown houses and makeshift campsites across California and Utah. During that time Smart says she was repeatedly raped—sometimes up to four times a day—and that Wanda Barzee, Mitchell’s partner, not only facilitated the assaults but often sat beside her during them.

“Not only did Wanda facilitate, but she also encouraged my rapes,” Smart says. “From everything I’ve learned about Ghislaine Maxwell, she did the same thing. I think she provided — from what I understand — girls, she provided the experiences to happen.”

Rescue and legal outcomes

Smart was rescued in March 2003 after members of the public recognized her from a national broadcast and reported seeing Mitchell walking in Sandy, Utah, with two women, one of whom was Smart disguised in a gray wig and sunglasses. Mitchell and Barzee were arrested that month.

Years later, Mitchell was convicted of kidnapping and transporting a minor across state lines with intent to engage in sexual activity and was sentenced to life in prison. Barzee pleaded guilty to kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor and received a 15‑year federal sentence; she was released in 2018 and has since faced further charges related to alleged violations of her release conditions.

Why Smart draws the comparison

Smart says the similarity lies in the role of the accomplice who arranges access to victims and enables repeated abuse. By drawing a parallel to Ghislaine Maxwell, she highlights a pattern in which an intermediary both grooms or supplies victims and encourages the abuser’s actions. Smart has spent years speaking publicly about trauma, recovery, and advocating for survivors.

Recovery and advocacy

Now a mother of three and an activist, Smart has written several books about healing and resilience. Her forthcoming book, Detours, explores how people can grieve lost plans, adapt when life is derailed, and find new paths forward. She emphasizes that seeking help and allowing space to grieve are important parts of recovery.

Support resources

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text STRENGTH to 741741 to connect with a certified crisis counselor. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org for support and resources.