Excerpts from Elizabeth Smart's kidnapper's manifesto

CNN.COM ^ | Friday, March 14, 2003 Posted: 10:33 PM EST (0333 GMT)

[Knuckle Sandwich Combo]

"Yea, even Jesus Christ speaking by the voice of my servant whom I have called and chosen to be a light and a covenant to the world in these last days. I have called him and given him a name to be had in remembrance before me, even the name Immanuel David Isaiah, which name being interpreted means: God with us -- Beloved of God -- The Lord is salvation -- signifying the deliverence (sic) that shall come to my people by my mighty hand in these last days...."

[Catspaw]

This morning on Fox they were talking about this in reference to some information that suggested that this guy wants to serve as his own legal counsel, and how awful it would be if he had the opportunity to cross-examine Elizabeth (or do pre-trial depositions.) Apparently, though? there is a provision in the law that victims of sexual abuse don't have to testify, and more than likely the prosecution has plenty of evidence without her testimony.

There have been a few instances when monsters like this are allowed to represent themselves (and it is their constitutional right)--remember Colin Ferguson (the Long Island shooter) cross examining one of his shooting victims? It was hideous. And he does have the right to confront his accusers. But first, though, the judge will probably ship him off for a mental evaluation. I'm torn--I don't want him to be found insane because his confinement would be cushier, but I do want him found insane so that his victim doesn't have to go through the ordeal of a trial.

[Rodney King]

I heard Angela Smart say yesterday that Lois did NOT bring this man into their home--he worked outside (on the roof) and was supervised by Ed.

Doesn't matter. Your first duty to your family is to protect your children. I would never in a million years bring some psycho anywhere near my home.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

I do remember the Ferguson cross-examination.

If he were found insane, but not criminally insane, wouldn't that mean that he could eventually be released?

[Catspaw]

I had asked Utah Girl about an insanity defense. She can confirm that Utah is a guilty but insane state, and he'd be in mental hospital (or possibly a prison mental hospital--I'm not sure about this) for the length of the term.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

So, if he got, say, a 20-30 year sentence, he would effectively be put away for the rest of his life, given that he's 49 years old, and drinks heavily.

[Catspaw]

I think the sentence for aggravated kidnapping is life--but that could either be the state sentence or the federal sentence--or both. He and his honey, Wanda, have a good chance of being tried in Utah AND federally for a variety of charges--and he could be looking at charges in California & possibly Nevada as well. If the sentences run concurrently, he's going to be in for quite some time.

I do think that Wanda Barzee has a better chance of a lighter sentence IF she gets out of his sphere of influence AND testifies against him. She may not do that--and if that's the case, she's going to go down with him.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

Either way, sane or insane, he'll be put away for a long time.

I suppose, given what he had written, that he planned to keep on kidnapping little girls until his harem was full. Prison would not be kind to him.

[CheneyChick]

I do remember that not all of them were very happy about it and one threw a sewing machine out of the window in protest.

She should have thrown it at him. I think it would have made her point have greater impact.

[Catspaw]

I suppose, given what he had written, that he planned to keep on kidnapping little girls until his harem was full. Prison would not be kind to him.

I did try to read the entire manifesto, I really did--but, well, got bogged down after the first page or two. But from what I can gather, it wasn't just seven wives, but 49 (each of the 7 wives were to pick 7 sisters).

He's going to end up in a special unit, just like Dahmer. Dahmer didn't last very long after he requested he be let out of the special unit. Nope, it's not going to be nice for him in the Big House, not at all. And it's no skin off my nose.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

I did try to read the entire manifesto, I really did--but, well, got bogged down after the first page or two. But from what I can gather, it wasn't just seven wives, but 49 (each of the 7 wives were to pick 7 sisters).

I'll have to go back and read that part again. I thought I understood it to mean he would have 49 children from the seven wives, 7 children each. I'll read it again, though. Admittedly, I was scanning, it was such drivel.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

No, I'm wrong. It's says 7 times 7 sisters. Sheesh, he's worse than I thought.

[Catspaw]

No, I'm wrong. It's says 7 times 7 sisters. Sheesh, he's worse than I thought.

That was what I thought it said.

I'm going to have to be in the *right* mood (as in reading run-on sentences & misspellings) to read his manifesto. I just have this feeling it was originally written in BLOCK PRINTING with lots of !!!! interspersed.

I did like one of his step-sons saying that they liked going south in the winter. It reminded me of this couple we met in Marathon, Florida, this winter. They were travelling missionaries (on a motorcycle & they were staying at a campground) and after they pressed their tracts on us, my hubby asked them why there were in the Keys. He shrugged and said, "it's as good a place as any."

[not-an-ostrich]

Does this freak have any biological children. I've heard of step-children. Maybe he's sterile.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

He shrugged and said, "it's as good a place as any."

Wierd.

I've met people like that, sometimes they're the real deal, and sometimes.... well, they're not.

When they're not, they usually seem to have at least one big hangup, and it's often greed, lust, or the domination or control of people around them, without any regard for their welfare.

[Catspaw]

Does this freak have any biological children. I've heard of step-children. Maybe he's sterile.

I thought he had at least two children with his first wife. I do remember the interview they had with Connie Chung with her asking in a most tacky way if the two kids--a boy (say in his late teens/early 20's) that said the last time he saw his father was when he was three, and a younger girl who said she remembered nothing about him. Whether he had other kids, I don't know--but perhaps the booze and drugs took away his ability to reproduce.

[Catspaw]

I've met people like that, sometimes they're the real deal, and sometimes.... well, they're not.

These two were pretty nice, no hard-core prostelyzing, no grabbing onto my arm & staring at me intensely for my reaction, but I did think, "why not do this in Chicago or Buffalo or Milwaukee in mid-January?" Those places, of course, are about 70-80 degrees colder, more or less, than the Keys, and there's a huge difference between howling winds and snowdrifts and balmy breezes and sandy beaches.

[not-an-ostrich]

About 20 years ago I read the history of the Mormon church. I was curious about the matched set young males knocking on my door. My opinion is LDS is a sanitized cult. Cleaned up to maintain the money and property they had accumulated. They came close to loosing all about 100 years ago. Prior to mellowing out (now I just say I am not interested thank you) and if I was in a mood I quoted names, dates of poisonings, and various other unsavory information of the LDS history to these nice clean cut young men.

[sweetliberty]

I have been known to similar things on occasion, although not recently. Probably one of the boldest confrontations I undertook was writing an extensive paper on Mormon history complete with commentary in a class where I knew my professor was a Mormon. I too have mellowed a bit since then. LOL!

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

In this case, since it would be "evil seed", I'd vote for an abortion. Don't discount genetics. [veering wildly from my usual pro-life stance]

[twigs]

I think it matters a lot. Yes, she made a mistake, and I'm sure she now regrets it. But she and Ed are some of the few people who put beliefs to practice.