FOX News -Smart Family Doesn't Want Sexual Assualt Charges Filed Against MItchells

FOX News ^ | March 18, 2003 | Shepard Smith

[ewing]

just the update

[gopwhit]

"According to the news last night, the Smarts have gotten counseling for Elizabeth."

I'm glad for that, and I hope they employ professionals both in and our of the Church, but I don't think anything can take the place of your parents' outrage, love and support, and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. I get sick reading about the wishy-washy Smarts not wanting to put Elizabeth through anything traumatic. I got news for them---it's been done. Show this girl that you'll stand up for her and the rest of the world be damned. There is right and there is wrong.

I had a lot of exposure to Mormons growing up and I found them to be somewhat unsympathetic to suffering. I don't know that the Smarts don't see this as an unfortunate consequence of their practice of charity. I know that sounds harsh, but it looks like they are trying to teach their daughter to move on and accept that bad things just happen--part of the journey in faith, etc.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Thanks... I am beginning to see the obstacle. Life may be very difficult for Mitchell, when he can't use Barzee to save him.

[Yeti]

This happened VERY shortly after his long-missing and badly abused daughter had been rescued. The man was understandably a bit manic and irrational. He was restraining himself admirably from saying what he no doubt really wanted to say, which was a string of unprintable epithets and sheer fury aimed at the Mitchells and at police who refused to release the sketch of "Emmanuel" for 4 long months during which his beautiful daughter was continually raped and psychologically tortured.

Bingo!

I saw streaming video of the incident, and you could see that it was a spaz moment. His whole body jerked to the side and he looked like someone had punched him in the gut or he was vomiting while he said what he said.

He had just found out that his worst nightmare was false, but that his second-worst nightmare was true. He had to be angry at himself and the whole world and feeling all those months of frustration, and he seemed like he was trying specifically NOT to lash out at the police or the public, but he just had a little verbal outburst on a tangential issue.

[Choose Ye This Day]

"I fear that you could be right about her counselling being primarily through the church."

She will definitely receive counselling through the church, which serves to help her deal with her needs of spiritual healing.

I don't find it useful to speculate on anything else the family may or may not choose to do, nor their motivations. After all, Elizabeth is their daighter, and they know her best. However, you hastily jump to the conclusion that the family won't get her any "professional" counselling. You don't know this; nor do I. However, I know her parents want the very best for her--they want her whole and healed. And the father is certainly financially able to afford the best "professional" help available, what with owning a successful real estate company.

What if we all just leave the parenting to the Smarts? Armchair quarterbacks have their place--yelling at the TV during the Broncos game, for example--but I don't see it as our place in the case of a young child being kidnapped, raped, and brainwashed.

[RnMomof7]

What I am saying is the story of Joseph Smith as a man that had a meeting with god and that god told him to start a new church because the other church were apostate is one a 14 year old would know..and she might also know fundamentilist kids from plural marriages from school that would have told her about Joseph Smith being a prophet that said god told him to have many wives.She would know there is still a group of people that still practice plural marriage.

Now hearing that might make a somewhat off beat man that looked like a biblical prophet seem credible..He could have convinced her that he was the next Joseph Smith ...that might have been very exciting to a little girl..they love the thought of being princesses ..a godess would be something of a fairy tale ..

What I think is if this guy only wanted sex from her she would be dead..it was his religious beliefs that kept her alive..

[demnomo]

Loved your post #221 and your comments. It is good to know that there are more FReepers who are not blaming, accusing and castigating the Smart family and Elizabeth because Elizabeth was found to be alive instead of dead after nearly nine months of what appears to be survival tactics at the hands of two obviously demented, unpredictable creeps. I am amazed at some of the sick speculation and suspicions.

[demnomo]

Ooops. I meant to say that I agreed with your post # 291.

[FITZ]

are you saying others are responsible for the way he responded.

Possibly they are. There are those who love to bait and push the abuse button as soon as they can because they can't handle an argument they got themselves into. I don't use the abuse button for that reason ----to me it would feel too childish, I like to feel I can handle my own fights.

[gopwhit]

"...that might have been very exciting to a little girl..they love the thought of being princesses ..a godess would be something of a fairy tale .."

Um, (and pardon if I sound flippant I've had 3 diet cokes) the Princess in the Hole? Never heard that one. Unless there are some crazed teachings going on, most little girls are looking for a glass slipper, or maybe the stagecoach/pumpkin thing, not a 4 mile hike in their jammies. But if that was the case--if this religion led to a misguided "higher purpose" fantasy--she wasn't properly raised to value fear and protect herself.

[Choose Ye This Day]

I think you're still stretching. Yes, we believe in Prophecy, we believe God speaks to prophets, but Elizabeth would most definitely know that this creep is not a prophet. There is no doubt in my mind about that.

Polygamy is [unfortunately, in my opinion] a part of the LDS Church history. Elizabeth definitely knows and has been taught that we do not practice polygamy. Period.

Plural marriages are not as common in Utah as you would think. There are families, few and very far between, still practicing, but generally they are in small towns, far flung from the Wasatch front center of Mormonism. I highly doubt Elizabeth went to school with any polygamist kids in her upscale, well-to-do East bench neighborhood.

Even if she had, just going to school with a kid with more than one mommy (which would be looked on as VERY strange by all LDS mainstream kids) would have had ZERO effect on Elizabeth's willingness to go with this creep.

Let's cut the crap: He had a knife. He threatened to kill her. He threatened to murder her family. She did not want to die. She did not want her family to die. SHE WAS SCARED.
Good grief, she could have been Roman Catholic, Baptist, Scientologist, atheist...who cares? HER RELIGION HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS! Mitchell's psychosis had everything to do with it. Please stop blaming the victim and focus your attention on the perpetrator.

[FITZ]

I grew up learning about when Abraham was just about to sacrifice his own child to God ---who then sent an Angel to stop him from finishing the deed. That never influenced me to attempt a human sacrifice figuring an Angel would stop me in the nick of time. Also Abraham himself practiced polygamy ---I knew that as a child but I've certainly never believed it was acceptable --not even for the reasons he did.

[FITZ]

it was his religious beliefs that kept her alive..

Or he wanted to continue abusing a child and figured kidnapping new ones was riskier than keeping one he already had around. He worships Satan ---no matter who he might claim to worship, he's evil and nothing more.

[FITZ]

Polygamy is [unfortunately, in my opinion] a part of the LDS Church history.

And Judeo-Christian history but isn't part of that Faith today. Sacrificing lambs was also ----but it would be kind of sick to do that today.

[RnMomof7]

He tried to get her cousin for his harem...He was not 'single 'minded Fritz..If all he wanted was kids for sex he could have taken a job that put him in contact with kids..

This was a religious thing..delusional I think..but then I think any man that sayus god tells him to take 14 year old wives is delusional

[gopwhit]

of what appears to be survival tactics

I dunno I think if these freaks wanted to kill her they would have. I'm sure her obedience played a huge part in her survival, but his need for her young body--alive-- probably had more to do with it than anything.

[CharacterCounts]

I am not sure that necessarily applies here

My reply was incorrect. Had a brain freeeze or something.

[Utah Girl]

Hopefully Elizabeth will get through and have a reasonably healthy life. She's got a good support system with her family, her friends, and her church/faith. I can see the reluctance of the Smart family to see Elziabeth on the stand, testifying about the sexual assault(s), which would be pretty natural. From Chris Thomas, spokesman for the Smart family:

The Smarts are pleased with the charges today, and the ten million dollar bail set for Barzee and Mitchell. But a family spokesperson says they regret, for Elizabeth's sake, that aggravated sexual assualt charges are now public.

A Smart family spokesperson said today that Elizabeth's privacy is a top priority. And the now public charges of aggravated sexual assualt are especially hurtful to Elizabeth and her parents.

Chris Thomas, Smart Family Spokesperson: "THERE DAYS WHEN THEY FELT HELPLESS, AND NOW THERE ARE THINGS THEY CAN DO TO HELP HER AND HELP WITH THE PROSECUTION. AS DIFFICULT AS IT IS TO HAVE SOME OF THESE THINGS AIRED PUBLICLY, THE FAMILY'S HAPPY TO HAVE HER HOME AND ON THIS ROAD TO RECOVERY."

In order to protect the case, the Smarts will not comment on it further. They say fully support the district attorney's office in prosecuting Brian Mitchell and Wanda Barzee to the fullest extent of the law. They're willing to do whatever it takes to make sure the pair pay for their crimes.

Chris Thomas, Smart Family Spokesperson: "THE FAMILY IS VERY CONFIDENT THAT JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL AND THEY FULLY SUPPORT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN PROSECUTING THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW."

But at the same time they want to avoid a court appearance where Elizabeth would have to take the stand.

[Revelation 911]

There are those who love to bait and push the abuse button as soon as they can because they can't handle an argument they got themselves into.

examples would be appreciated - I tend to regard him as a zealotous un abated nuisance recent suspension notwithstanding

[Mamzelle]

Won't she have to testify, in some way, in any event? At that point, it doesn't matter what charges have been filed.

[RnMomof7]

And Judeo-Christian history but isn't part of that Faith today. Sacrificing lambs was also ----but it would be kind of sick to do that today.

I suspect that if a temple is rebuilt there will be observant Jews sacrificing lambs

As christians we believe Jesus was the lamb..so no we do not do it

Polygamy remains a doctrine of the LDS church..it is only suspended..it has very deep doctrinal roots having to do with the next life..It is still practiced by over 30,000 people in Utah..because they believe not to practice it is against the will of God

Most LDS in Utah know at least one fundamentalist family..Now it is very conflicting because although they do not practice it today with the church approval..they know the doctrine of progression..so they are reluctant to turn in such families..It is a factor in this..to deny that is just silly