Worried neighbors after Elizabeth Smart kidnapper moves into primary school

SALT LAKE CITY – Like many others, Utahna Sorenson was surprised to learn that Wanda Barzee was about to be released from prison earlier than planned.

"Sorenson said.

Now she has an even greater concern, since Barzee is one of her newest neighbors and lives a few blocks from the house where Sorenson lives with several members of his family, including two little granddaughters.It's pretty close, "said Sorenson." Knowing that someone like that is so close to my children and my grandchildren, I do not I'm not at all comfortable with that. "

Barzee's new residence, located near the 900 South and Navajo Street, is about a 7-minute walk from Parkview. Salt Lake City Elementary has sparked the concern of several people, including Elizabeth Smart.

"All possible precautions and protection must be taken to protect our children," Smart said in a statement to NBC News. "Whether a person is considered a current threat or if she has a history of child abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, etc., and prudent measures must be taken, including by sheltering them as far as possible from schools, families and community centers. "

Ellis Colvin, mother of four young children, recounted that she remembered having been to elementary school with Smart when she was gone. Colvin now lives on the street that goes to Parkview Elementary.

"It's difficult as a community to feel safe, and it's not suddenly on your side," Colvin said. "And now, it's a little what I feel here."

Some neighbors, who live much closer to the new Barzee transition house, are not as worried. Jay Sampson said he lived a few years in the street, across the street.

"They're watching them fairly regularly, all of those out there right now," Sampson said. "I mean, the purpose of all this is rehabilitation, so they do not get her out of the world somewhere, so that will never happen."

Close relatives like Colvin However, tell yourself that they do not have the luxury of being so optimistic.

"I do not know how you are going to do such things and come back," said Colvin. "When you have young children, you can not do anything. It can not be a guessing game. "

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