For the next nine months, Smart was held captive by Mitchell and Barzee and subjected to repeated mistreatment and abuse.
Smart has previously discussed Barzee’s involvement in that abuse, saying she would support her husband’s actions and was often present during incidents.
The public was alerted to Mitchell and Barzee’s identities after Smart’s sister,
Who witnessed the kidnapping, recalled that the man whose voice she heard that night was the same man who had previously been hired to do work at the family’s home.
Photos of Mitchell and Barzee then ran on America’s Most Wanted around the same time the two started appearing in public with Smart, which eventually led to a person recognizing.
