Wanda Barzee, co-defendant in the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping case, has filed for divorce from her husband, Brian David Mitchell, according to court records.
Barzee, 59, has been at the Utah State Hospital since the beginning of the year after she was ruled incompetent to stand trial. Mitchell, 51, is scheduled to have his second competency hearing next month after bursting into song Dec. 3 in 3rd District Court.
While the media attention has been on Mitchell the past few months, Barzee apparently filed quietly for divorce. She filed a divorce petition in Provo's 4th District Court on Nov. 23, according to court records.
The Deseret Morning News contacted Barzee's mother, Dora Corbett, Saturday, and she said she hadn't heard anything about a divorce.
Corbett said neither she nor any other members of the family have had contact with Barzee for quite a while. She said she sent her daughter a birthday card at the hospital in October. Corbett got the card back a few weeks later with "return to sender" written on the envelope.
Barzee's daughter and Mitchell's mother also sent her birthday cards that were also returned, Corbett said.
"She hasn't had anything to do with the family," she said.
Although she admitted it was disheartening, Corbett said that didn't stop her from recently sending her daughter a Christmas card.
"I wrote on the back (of the card), 'Please don't send it back. It's Christmas and I love you,' " Corbett said.
But Corbett admitted that even before Smart was kidnapped, her daughter would often return birthday and Christmas cards.
Corbett said her daughter's filing for divorce would be a good thing.
"I think he really brainwashed her," she said.
Both Mitchell and Barzee were indicted by a state grand jury Sept. 4, 2003, charged with aggravated kidnapping, two counts of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of aggravated burglary and conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping.
The couple allegedly took Smart from the bedroom of her Federal Heights home in June 2002. The trio was found walking along State Street in Sandy on March 12, 2003.
Barzee was found incompetent to stand trial Jan. 9. She arrived for treatment at the Utah State Hospital March 24. In August, it was determined Barzee was still incompetent for trial but that there was also a possibility she could become competent in the foreseeable future.
Barzee's next scheduled competency review hearing is Aug. 10, 2005.
E-mail: preavy@desnews.com