Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
John Daley reportingDebbie Mitchell says she was married to Brian Mitchell for about five years--in the mid-80s. They had two children. She says when they were married--years ago--she saw numerous signs of trouble.
Today she said she was not surprised by the news that her ex-husband had been arrested in connection with the Smart case.
She said he had been physically and verbally abusive during their marriage.
She described him as intelligent. She said during the time they were married he had worked at a daycare center and as custodian.
Debbie Mitchell/Brian Mitchell's Ex-Wife: "MY REACTION WAS THAT I HAD A FEELING HE DID IT. BUT I HAD A FEELING THAT ELIZABETH WAS STILL ALIVE ALL THIS TIME."
We also spoke with a daughter and a son of Debbie Mitchell--with Brian Mitchell. They both said that he left the family when they were quite young and they've never had contact with him since their parents were divorced.
By coincidence the son, Joey Mitchell, just returned from his LDS mission to Paraquay yesterday--only to land back in Utah and hear the big news about Elizabeth Smart's return and his father's alleged role in the kidnapping.
