Natalee Holloway: A Case That Captivated The Nation

Psychiatric Evaluation

Brian David Mitchell and his wife Wanda Ileen Barzee were taken into custody on March 12, 2003. Michael was incarcerated at the Utah State Hospital while he underwent psychiatric evaluation to see if he could testify in court. The defense was hoping he’d get off based on insanity. This notion continuously delayed Elizabeth’s trial.

Initially, Dr. Stephen Goulding, a psychologist hired by Mitchell’s camp, ruled Mitchell wasn’t well enough to testify — Mitchell’s extreme religious beliefs were actually completely delusional rather than zealous. This postponed the trail for another year until 2004 when the court overrode Goulding’s opinion and found Mitchell to be perfectly competent.