Wanda Barzee, the woman who admitted to helping her husband Brian David Mitchell kidnap Elizabeth Smart in 2002, was a no-show to her parole hearing on June 12. The 72-year-old reportedly refused to stand before Utah's parole board even though she could have asked to be released, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Board member Angela Miklos revealed Barzee also denied the chance to meet with a psychiatrist —a mandatory requirement for parole. Now the parole board must decide whether to set a date when she’ll be set free, schedule another hearing, or keep her behind bars until her sentence ends. It could take anywhere from two weeks to a month until their choice is announced.

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Elizabeth's father Ed Smart, told reporters he wouldn't have objected to her release if mental health experts had signed off on it. Even though Elizabeth wasn't present for Barzee's hearing, she did break her silence about the ordeal via Instagram. "The funny side of this morning was I got to the state prison once it was already over, that was just due to a silly mix up. And the good news is she was not released," Elizabeth wrote. "However what I find troubling is that regardless of her threat level she will be released in 2024, six years from now. It is possible that she could be paroled before then….hopefully not. I do not think I’m a vindictive or vengeful person, if change were truly possible in her case then perhaps parole/release could be justified."

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It’s only 11:00am and today has already been an eventful day. This morning was the parole hearing for Wanda Barzee, one of the people who kidnapped and held me captive for nine months. The funny side of this morning was I got to the state prison once it was already over 😬, that was just due to a silly mix up. And the good news is she was not released. However what I find troubling is that regardless of her threat level she will be released in 2024, six years from now. It is possible that she could be paroled before then….hopefully not. I do not think I’m a vindictive or vengeful person, if change were truly possible in her case then perhaps parole/release could be justified. But I have recently learned that she is still carrying around a manuscript called,”The Book of Immanuel David Isaiah” and is reading from it. In this manuscript were the “revelations” Mitchell “received” from God to kidnap myself and 6 other young girls to all become his wives, it also “revealed” his other highly disturbing and dangerous ideas. This is proof to me that she hasn’t changed, and if the prior 15+ years hasn’t changed her I don’t see how the future years will. I will continue to pray that she will never be a threat to myself, my family, or any vulnerable person ever again. A lot can happen between now and the years to come so in the meantime I will continue to make my family my priority, working to advocate and protect victims and children, and live my life the best way I know how.

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"I will continue to pray that she will never be a threat to myself, my family, or any vulnerable person ever again," she concluded. "A lot can happen between now and the years to come so in the meantime I will continue to make my family my priority, working to advocate and protect victims and children, and live my life the best way I know how."

Barzee is currently serving an up to 15-year sentence in the Utah State Prison after confessing that she helped her husband kidnap Smart from her bedroom. She pleaded guilty eight years ago in federal court to kidnapping and unlawful transportation of Smart and also to a single attempted kidnapping charge stemming from a plot to abduct Smart’s cousin in July 2002. Mitchell is serving a life sentence for kidnapping, after abducting Smart and threatening to harm her family if she didn't cooperate. Barzee and Mitchell held Smart captive for nine months before they were all spotted in 2003 outside a grocery store, and she was finally rescued.