Turns Out She's A Real-Life Runaway Bride

[Ben E Lou]

So, what is the media going to do with this story now that they don't have a murder mystery to sensationalize?

Georgia bride-to-be fabricated abduction story

Saturday, April 30, 2005 Posted: 10:01 AM EDT (1401 GMT)


(CNN) -- A Georgia woman, who was found in New Mexico early Saturday and who said she had been abducted, admitted today she had made up the story because she was nervous about her upcoming wedding, police said.

Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz said Jennifer Wilbanks, 32, had told them she had taken a bus to Las Vegas, Nevada, and on Saturday had taken another bus to New Mexico.

Earlier, Wilbanks had told family members and police that she had been abducted by a man and a woman in a van. She was to be married Saturday.

"Agents and detectives learned Miss Wilbanks had become scared and concerned about her pending marriage and decided she needed some time alone," Schultz said.

Police in New Mexico said she will face no criminal charges, despite her false kidnapping story. When asked what would happen in Georgia, Duluth Police Chief Randy Belcher told reporters: "No criminal charges."

Spokesman Mike Satterfield read a statement from the family.

"It has been determined that Jennifer has some issues the family was not aware of. We're looking forward to loving her and talking with her concerning these issues," Satterfield said. "There have been so many people who helped us through this and we want to thank all of them."

Abduction claim

Wilbanks called her fiance, John Mason, at his Duluth, Georgia, home from an Albuquerque pay phone at 1 a.m. EDT Saturday to say she had been freed by two strangers who abducted her Tuesday night, Mason said.

Within minutes, Albuquerque Police found Wilbanks at a 7-Eleven convenience store.

Wilbanks, who was to be married to Mason in Duluth, was last seen by her fiance Tuesday night, when she left the home she shares with him for a jog about 8:30 p.m.

Earlier, Pastor Alan Jones, who was to preside at the wedding said Wilbanks told him her abductors "came up behind her, cut her hair and put her in a blue van," Jones said.

Schultz said Wilbanks' hair has been cut.

Among the clues found during the search that followed her disappearance was a clump of hair along the route she was believed to have been jogging.

Family members are expected to fly to Albuquerque Saturday morning to be with her.

Disappearance drew national attention

News of Wilbanks' admission comes just hours after police in Georgia announced they would suspend their ground search for her, saying they've looked everywhere she may have been.

Her disappearance quickly drew national media attention, including talk show speculation sometimes comparing the story to that of Laci Peterson, the pregnant woman who disappeared from her Modesto, California, home on Christmas Eve, 2002. In that case, husband Scott Peterson was convicted of murder and sentenced to death.

Wilbanks' fiance said he tried not to get upset about the media comparisons to the Peterson case since he knew her family had faith in him.

"I never worried that they were going to point their fingers at me," Mason said.

[Ben E Lou]

And what is up with the New Mexico police??? She tells 'em a fake kidnapping story, and no criminal charges??? Sheesh.

[CraigSca]

Can the collective tax base of America send her a bill for the investigation and search?

[Lathum]

I'd like a side of crazy with my fiance please

[st.cronin]

She's definitely got crazy eyes.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Definitely nutso, but in this instance, the media are as much to blame as she is. I am not sure why this story got so out of control and was CNN's top story for like 4 days. Despite the fact that my dad works for CNN, I find their news coverage to be pretty pathetic. Not Fox News pathetic, but it's only a small step above.

[HomerJSimpson]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

So, what is the media going to do with this story now that they don't have a murder mystery to sensationalize?

They were already gearing up to hang her (now ex- I guess) fiance. He had the audacity to set "terms" for a police polygraph. The buzz was already starting " what does he have to hide?"

Shoot, if your girlfriend, spouse, or significant other dissapears, the first thing you need to do is hire a criminal lawyer. If not, the police will have you in jail and crucified in the press so fast it'll make your head spin. The justice system today isn't about finding "truth" but closing cases, and they take the easiest path to do that. The SO is always the easiest path.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Definitely nutso, but in this instance, the media are as much to blame as she is. I am not sure why this story got so out of control and was CNN's top story for like 4 days. Despite the fact that my dad works for CNN, I find their news coverage to be pretty pathetic. Not Fox News pathetic, but it's only a small step above.

Well, you can't blame just CNN. It is the top story on the web sites of CNN, FOXNEWS, MSNBC, CBSNEWS, ABCNEWS, as well as some local newspapers across the nation.

Saturday, April 30, 2005 - Denver, Colorado 8:23:05 AM MDT Now: Traffic | Smog | Ski Denver temp: 36° Sports: NBA playoffs MLB scoreboard Lotto: 1 4 13 16 23 31 Powerball: 11 13 18 32 42 (4)
NEWS BLOGHOUSE BUSINESS COLUMNISTS LOCAL NEWS NATION/WORLD OBITUARIES POLITICS SPECIAL REPORTS WEATHER FEATURES BOOKS COLUMNISTS ENTERTAINMENT FOOD / DINING COMICS HEALTH LIFESTYLES MOVIES TRAVEL - NEW! TV LISTINGS OPINION COLUMNISTS EDITORIALS LETTERS PERSPECTIVE KEEFE CARTOON MESSAGE BOARDS SPORTS AVALANCHE / NHL BRONCOS / NFL COLLEGES COLUMNISTS CRUSH / AFL EXTREMES MAMMOTH / NLL NUGGETS / NBA PREPS RAPIDS / MLS ROCKIES / MLB SCORES OTHER SPORTS SERVICES RIDE THE ROCKIES ARCHIVES POST INTERNSHIPS ABOUT US/HELP CONTACT US E-MAIL NEWS SCORE SUBSCRIBE ADVERTISING AUTOS FANTASY SPORTS HOMES JOBS MARKETPLACE MEMORIALS NEWSPAPER ADS PERSONALS WEDDINGS YELLOW PAGES HOME ETHICS POLICY SEARCH SITE SEARCH:			TOP STORY Bride-to-be fabricated kidnap AP file NEW: A Georgia bride-to-be who vanished just days before her wedding turned up in New Mexico and fabricated a tale of abduction before admitting today that she got cold feet and “needed some time alone,” police said. Jennifer Wilbanks, 32, had called her fiance from a pay phone late Friday and told him that she was kidnapped three days earlier while she was jogging. But she soon recanted, according to police. FULL STORY

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

She's definitely got crazy eyes.

That was my thought, too.

[Ben E Lou]

Hmmmm....she held onto the kidnap story for four hours and "cracked" under law enforcement interrogation. The FBI came in to question her to try to identify the kidnappers, even.

[JonInMiddleGA]

re: the media coverage -- I can't remember who it was I heard say this on Thursday (I think it was Boortz, but might have been Hannity or Savage) but it was a very accurate observation: It's a slow week for news, with very little of interest coming out of Washington, so for the time being, this story gets the spotlight.

It's the same reason we got Tawana Brawley & Al Sharpton way back when.

[kcchief19]

It's foolhardy to blame the media for a circus like this -- I don't see anyone else in business doing "the right thing," all I see is everyone trying to make more money. It's capitalism at work.

This is the kind of stuff the sheep eat up. Look no further than the ratings for Scott Peterson and Jon Benet Ramsey. We get more of this crap because a large segment of the population can't get enough of this.

If people would think for two seconds and have a fascination with anything of substance that isn't cheap melodrama, we wouldn't get crap like this. It's a free market at work. God bless America.

[Ben E Lou]

I am told that WSB Radio just played "I Ran" by A Flock Of Seagulls, heading into a commercial from their coverage of this story. Too funny.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

It's foolhardy to blame the media for a circus like this -- I don't see anyone else in business doing "the right thing," all I see is everyone trying to make more money. It's capitalism at work.

This is the kind of stuff the sheep eat up. Look no further than the ratings for Scott Peterson and Jon Benet Ramsey. We get more of this crap because a large segment of the population can't get enough of this.

If people would think for two seconds and have a fascination with anything of substance that isn't cheap melodrama, we wouldn't get crap like this. It's a free market at work. God bless America.

My problem is that "Freedom of the Press" gives these guys some advantages, but with it comes a bit of responsibility. The Media is all about grabbing their protections but not one whit about truth or honesty in their reporting. If this were true capitalism, they wouldn't have to hide behind the Bill of Rights, and the (ex-)fiance would have a case against the media for slander or libel. So no, with the media it's not all about capitalism.

[Ben E Lou]

I just ran an errand, and can confirm that WSB Radio is playing a song with a relationship to this story on every break.

Originally Posted by WSB Radio, going into a recent break

I wonder....wa..wa...wa..wa....wonder.
Why....why....why....why...why...why...she ran away
And I wonder if she will stay
My little runaway, run-run-run-run-run-runaway

[Ben E Lou]

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[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

... would have a case against the media for slander or libel.

Umm ... how do you figure?

If they reported on the negotiations about him taking a lie detector, there's no slander or libel there.

If commentators discuss the possibilities & ramifications of such a lie detector test, I see nothing slanderous or libelous there, it's a discussion of a situation that's already public. (See below).

I just don't know of anything said about the guy that wasn't/isn't true, so I don't quite see how they've engaged in anything slanderous or libelous here.
There's no requirement that the truth be flattering.

Now, whether this was worth all the hoopla, that's a different matter, but I'm just not seeing anything inappropriate done to the fiancee here.

To borrow from Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slander#Truth

In the various states, whether by case law or actual legislation, there are generally several "privileges" that can get a defamation case dismissed without proceeding to trial. These include the allegedly defamatory statement being one of opinion rather than fact; or being "fair comment and criticism", as it is important to society that everyone be able to comment on matters of public interest.

If a defamation lawsuit actually gets to trial, truth is an affirmative defense. Another is if the allegedly defamatory statement is not actually capable of being defamatory—an insulting statement that does not harm someone's reputation is prima facie not libelous. Another defense that is presented by accused media companies is "fault"—a series of court rulings led by New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (376 U.S. 254) established that for a plaintiff to win a libel case, "actual malice" or "reckless negligence" must be proved on the part of the defendant if the statement in question is about a public official or public figure. In the case of a private figure, the plaintiff must merely prove negligence.

[Dutch]

I hope FoxNews drops this story quickly. I get freaked out everytime that chicks bulging eyes appear on my TV screen.

[Solecismic]

Unless I missed something big, there was nothing reported that would warrant a libel claim.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by HomerJSimpson

They were already gearing up to hang her (now ex- I guess) fiance. He had the audacity to set "terms" for a police polygraph. The buzz was already starting " what does he have to hide?"

No case for libel or slander? The media already has people thinking he's a crook.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

No case for libel or slander? The media already has people thinking he's a crook.

If people infer that, there's not much he can do about that. If the police bring in John Mason for questioning multiple times, and want him to take a lie detector test, then newspapers are perfectly within their rights to report that, "Police haven't said that John Mason is a suspect in the disappearance of Jennifer Wilbanks, but they have brought him in for questioning several times, and would like for him to take a lie detector test." No matter what they make people think, if the statements are true, then there's not much that can be done.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

No matter what they make people think, if the statements are true, then there's not much that can be done.

That about sums it up for me.

[Schmidty]

Chick has psycho "Linda Cohn" eyes, and her fiance' looks Chris Farley in a few pictures. Nice combo.

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

And what is up with the New Mexico police??? She tells 'em a fake kidnapping story, and no criminal charges??? Sheesh.

Hey, at least they didn't let her shoot up a courthouse and then run around free.

[miked]

If my wedding had 600 people and 28 bridesmaids+groomsmen, I might have taken a long bus ride, too.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

If people infer that, there's not much he can do about that. If the police bring in John Mason for questioning multiple times, and want him to take a lie detector test, then newspapers are perfectly within their rights to report that, "Police haven't said that John Mason is a suspect in the disappearance of Jennifer Wilbanks, but they have brought him in for questioning several times, and would like for him to take a lie detector test." No matter what they make people think, if the statements are true, then there's not much that can be done.

My problem with this is that they are usually jumping the gun. Wait until the police have something solid, but instead the media latches on to any little tidbit they can dig up and then plaster it everywhere. Did they list every person the police brought in for questioning, or did they just focus on him?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

My problem with this is that they are usually jumping the gun. Wait until the police have something solid, but instead the media latches on to any little tidbit they can dig up and then plaster it everywhere. Did they list every person the police brought in for questioning, or did they just focus on him?

On the latter point, it matters not one whit.

On the former, all the media did was report on the thing that every single person I talked about this case IRL to was already thinking/wondering before the media ever mentioned the lie detector stuff about the fiancee -- did he do it.

The media didn't create that, human nature & past events created that.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

And what is up with the New Mexico police??? She tells 'em a fake kidnapping story, and no criminal charges??? Sheesh.

They probably figure they've got bigger issues to worry about.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

Hmmmm....she held onto the kidnap story for four hours and "cracked" under law enforcement interrogation. The FBI came in to question her to try to identify the kidnappers, even.

Oh wow. I didn't know they got them involved, too. They were going for blood.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

They probably figure they've got bigger issues to worry about.

How hard is it to slap her with a simple obstruction-type charge? I'm not talking about a big trial or anything, just whatever the misdemeanor charge is for filing a false arrest report or whatever. There's a little paperwork, and she pays a fine and does some community service. I find it hard to believe that she didn't violate some law by telling investigators she'd been kidnapped.

As for the FBI, I don't think that means they were going for blood. I was under the impression that FBI involvement is standard operating procedure for kidnapping cases.

[Dutch]

FBI may also get involved when it's multiple states, I think.

[yabanci]

the irony is that if this were an inner city welfare mother, she be charged in a heartbeat with making a false missing persons report and lying to police. But on the other hand, if she were an inner city welfare mother the police would not have wasted all these resources looking for her and the national media would never have reported it.

[finkenst]

Originally Posted by Dutch

FBI may also get involved when it's multiple states, I think.

kidnapping becomes a federal crime when the victim is transported across state lines.

[Ragone]

Originally Posted by finkenst

kidnapping becomes a federal crime when the victim is transported across state lines.

yea but is false claims about being drug across state lines a federal crime?

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by CraigSca

Can the collective tax base of America send her a bill for the investigation and search?

If it weren't such a circus that people were paying attention to, they wouldn't have put nearly as many people on the case.

Originally Posted by miked

If my wedding had 600 people and 28 bridesmaids+groomsmen, I might have taken a long bus ride, too.

That was my fiance's reaction to the story and I can't say I blame her.

Originally Posted by HomerJSimpson

Shoot, if your girlfriend, spouse, or significant other dissapears, the first thing you need to do is hire a criminal lawyer. If not, the police will have you in jail and crucified in the press so fast it'll make your head spin. The justice system today isn't about finding "truth" but closing cases, and they take the easiest path to do that. The SO is always the easiest path.

To be fair, if my significant other disappeared, I doubt the first thing on my mind would be to cover my ass. It's just not what's on your mind, I'd presume. Plus if you get a criminal lawyer, don't they just jump on you as "having something to hide".

Originally Posted by yabanci

the irony is that if this were an inner city welfare mother, she be charged in a heartbeat with making a false missing persons report and lying to police. But on the other hand, if she were an inner city welfare mother the police would not have wasted all these resources looking for her and the national media would never have reported it.

Well, of course, it's another one of those "non news" stories. What else is new?

SI

[HomerJSimpson]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

To be fair, if my significant other disappeared, I doubt the first thing on my mind would be to cover my ass. It's just not what's on your mind, I'd presume. Plus if you get a criminal lawyer, don't they just jump on you as "having something to hide".

Sure they do, but which is worse, people thinking your guilty or prison? People will think you're guilty either way. If the police get you to believe hiring a lawyer is a bad idea, they have already got you convicted.

[Sharpieman]

the poor husband was getting questioned as someone who might have been involved in her disapperance for awhile.

Geez, those are some crazy eyes.

[jamesUMD]

she wouldn't have to worry about cold feet over the wedding after this. I would send her a big fat bill for any portion of the wedding and kick her out the door. If she left, and then heard that they were questioning her fiance about her disappearance and she did not call to set the record straight then I would not spend another day with her IMO.

[finkenst]

of course, now he could kill her and dispose of her body and everyone would think she just ran off again.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by finkenst

of course, now he could kill her and dispose of her body and everyone would think she just ran off again.

Are we about to miss the perfect crime???

[CraigSca]

How come no one else has brought up the Margot Kidder phenomenon? She looks just like her - and wasn't Margot Kidder found in Beverly Hills wearing a Care Bears t-shirt and pair of knee-highs?

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by finkenst

of course, now he could kill her and dispose of her body and everyone would think she just ran off again.

What ever happened to the evil genius thread? This one would be perfect in it

SI

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

How hard is it to slap her with a simple obstruction-type charge? I'm not talking about a big trial or anything, just whatever the misdemeanor charge is for filing a false arrest report or whatever. There's a little paperwork, and she pays a fine and does some community service. I find it hard to believe that she didn't violate some law by telling investigators she'd been kidnapped.

The Police, acting compassionate.
The Youth Ministry worker, calling for vengeance.

Whoda thunk it?

[CamEdwards]

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

The Police, acting compassionate.
The Youth Ministry worker, calling for vengeance.

Whoda thunk it?

asking that police enforce the law is now asking for vengeance?

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by CamEdwards

asking that police enforce the law is now asking for vengeance?

Law Enforcement Officers use discretion all of the time. The warning instead of the ticket for speeding. The decision not to charge someone for a ticky-tack firearms regulations violation when that person's just shot someone in self defense. The, in fact, decision not to bring charges for creating a disturbance whilst running a scavenger hunt.

But if you want them to go all Old Testament on us, good for you.

[CamEdwards]

How much money does law enforcement spend in writing a ticket. How many investigative hours are spent when law enforcement doesn't charge someone with a "ticky-tack" firearms violation. How much time and energy was spent investigating a disturbance that turned out to be a scavenger hunt.

This was front page news for several days, and this woman never had the courage to simply tell police "I'm fine, I just need some time away." I'd say in this case, if laws were violated, charges would be appropriate.

[Franklinnoble]

I'd hit it.

[Huckleberry]

Originally Posted by CamEdwards

This was front page news for several days, and this woman never had the courage to simply tell police "I'm fine, I just need some time away." I'd say in this case, if laws were violated, charges would be appropriate.

It's not her responsibility to tell police where she is at all times.

Filing a false report is a crime. She should be punished.

But leaving the area because you want some time alone is not. And shouldn't be.

[CamEdwards]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry

It's not her responsibility to tell police where she is at all times.

Filing a false report is a crime. She should be punished.

But leaving the area because you want some time alone is not. And shouldn't be.

Thank you, Captain Obvious. I was simply stating that if, after this became front page news and she was aware that there was a massive search to find her, she let law enforcement know what the situation was... she might have avoided the possible charges.

I was not advocating a society in which we tell police we're going to the grocery store to pick up a gallon of milk.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

I'd hit it.

Looks like somebody beat you to it ... armed with a fugly stick.