The couple accused of abducting Elizabeth Smart (15) from her Utah bedroom nine months ago could be charged with kidnapping as early today, police said.
Mr Brian David Mitchell (49) and his wife, Ms Wanda Brazee (57), have been "booked on aggravated kidnapping and we expect that charges will be filed in the next day or so," the Salt Lake City police said.
During her ordeal, the girl suffered profound psychological stress at the hands of Mr Mitchell and fell under his control, police and her family said.
Police said the girl was kidnapped June 5th by Mr Mitchell and held against her will for two months in a remote mountain campsite.
She was so manipulated that when police found her on a suburban roadside Wednesday, Ms Smart insisted she was someone else.
Police said the girl repeatedly denied being Elizabeth Smart and told them that she was "Augustine" - a name apparently given to her by Mr Mitchell.
Asked why Elizabeth had not tried to escape from the street preacher and his wife, police said: "There was clearly a psychological impact that occurred at some point. There is no question she was psychologically affected by this group".