Smart kidnapper still feels justified: Kin

SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Brian David Mitchell, convicted of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart, still believes he did nothing wrong, a relative says.

Mitchell's former stepdaughter, Rebecca Woodridge, who visited him in jail, told The Salt Lake Tribune, "He knows he was found guilty ... but he doesn't believe he is guilty of anything, he doesn't feel he did anything wrong. He says he was acting on behalf of the Lord. And I think he truly believes that."

Even though the jury rejected Mitchell's insanity defense Dec. 10, Woodridge said she believes he is mentally ill.

She says Mitchell sexually assaulted her when she was 7 through 11 years old while he was married to her mother.

"I'm not 100 percent sure why I do it," Woodridge says of her support for him. "My forgiveness for him is a huge part. The other part is he doesn't have anybody. If I can be the one person he has, I can give him that."

She said she plans to confront Mitchell one day. "I'm waiting for the right time," she said.

Mitchell is on lock-down 23 hours a day.