Turns Out She's A Real-Life Runaway Bride [Archive]

View Full Version : Turns Out She's A Real-Life Runaway Bride

Ben E Lou

04-30-2005, 09:04 AM

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

 <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">  </script>Saturday, April 30, 2005 Posted: 10:01 AM EDT (1401 GMT) 

<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">var clickExpire = "-1";</script> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="230"> <tbody><tr><td width="10">http://i.cnn.net/cnn/images/1.gif</td><td><table class="cnnImgChgr" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2">http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2005/US/04/30/wilbanks.found/vert.wilbanks.01.ap.jpgJennifer Wilbanks, 32, was missing since she went jogging Tuesday evening.
</td></tr><tr><td class="cnnStoryCaption" valign="middle">Image:</td><td class="cnnImgNav"><input src="http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/interactive/common.elements/images/next.gif" onclick="cnnNextSlide11562()" border="0" type="image"></td></tr></tbody></table>
<script>if(!cnnUseDelayedCSI){cnnAddCSI('imageChanger0','/2005/US/04/30/wilbanks.found/imgChng/p0-0.exclude.html','pNo=0');}</script><iframe src="http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/04/30/wilbanks.found/imgChng/p0-0.exclude.html?domId=imageChanger0&pNo=0" name="iframeimageChanger0" id="iframeimageChanger0" style="visibility: hidden;" align="right" height="0" width="0"></iframe></td></tr><tr><td width="10">http://i.cnn.net/cnn/images/1.gif</td><td>

<script>if(cnnEnableCL){if(!(location.hostname.indexOf('cnn.com')>-1)) {cnnAddCSI('contextualLinks','/.element/ssi/sect/1.1/misc/contextual/story.html','');}else{ cnnAddCSI('contextualLinks','http:/\/cl.cnn.com/ctxtlink/jsp/cnn-story.jsp','category=cnnus&url=http:/\/robots.cnn.com/2005/US/04/30/wilbanks.found/index.html&site=cnn_us_dyn_ctxt');}}</script><iframe src="http://cl.cnn.com/ctxtlink/jsp/cnn-story.jsp?domId=contextualLinks&time=1114869734952&category=cnnus&url=http://robots.cnn.com/2005/US/04/30/wilbanks.found/index.html&site=cnn_us_dyn_ctxt" name="iframecontextualLinks" id="iframecontextualLinks" style="visibility: hidden;" align="right" height="0" width="0"></iframe></td></tr> <tr><td width="10">http://i.cnn.net/cnn/images/1.gif</td><td><table bgcolor="#e7e7e7" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="204"><tbody><tr bgcolor="#336699"><td>http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/.element/img/1.0/main/more.video.gif (http://www.cnn.com/video)VIDEO
</td></tr><tr><td> http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/video/us/2005/04/30/missing.bride.bb.affl.jpg (javascript:LaunchVideo('/us/2005/04/30/missing.bride.presser.affl.','300k');)Police: Georgia bride-to-be made up kidnapping story
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/.element/img/1.0/misc/premium.gifPLAY VIDEO (javascript:LaunchVideo('/us/2005/04/30/missing.bride.presser.affl.','300k');)

</td></tr></tbody></table>

</td></tr></tbody> </table>  (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

04-30-2005, 09:06 AM

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

CraigSca

04-30-2005, 09:09 AM

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

Lathum

04-30-2005, 09:10 AM

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

st.cronin

04-30-2005, 09:12 AM

She's definitely got crazy eyes.

Honolulu_Blue

04-30-2005, 09:20 AM

HomerJSimpson

04-30-2005, 09:25 AM

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

04-30-2005, 09:31 AM

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.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="760"> <tbody><tr><td colspan="10" align="left"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" valign="top"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>http://media.mnginteractive.com/media/paper36/DenverPostcomRGB3.gif
<center> <script> var date = new Date(); document.write(date.toLocaleDateString()); </script>Saturday, April 30, 2005 - Denver, Colorado
<script class=\"topBannerLink\" src="http://www.postnewsads.com/google/time.asp"></script>8:23:05 AM MDT
http://media.mnginteractive.com/media/paper36/ap_best_colorado_website1.gif </center> </td> <td class="topBannerText" valign="top"> Now: Traffic (http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E27766%257E,00.html) | <script language="JavaScript">      </script> Smog (javascript:popUp('http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,0,36%257E30129%257E,00.html')) | Ski (http://www.onthesnow.com/ski/media_affiliates/denverpost/ski/Colorado.html)
Denver temp: (http://wp.myweather.net/wp/?pub=denv068352&page=main&loc=kapa) <script src="http://pmc.myweather.net/wxdata/pget.asp?pub=denv068352&page=jsweather"></script>36° (http://wp.myweather.net/wp/?pub=denv068352)  http://media.mnginteractive.com/media/paper36/blank.gif
Sports: NBA playoffs (http://146.145.120.3/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=denverpost&page=nba/scores/live/scoreboard.aspx?date=)
MLB scoreboard (http://146.145.120.3/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=denverpost&page=mlb/scores/live/scoreboard.aspx?date=)
Lotto: 1 4 13 16 23 31 (http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E62%257E,00.html)
Powerball: 11 13 18 32 42 (4) (http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E62%257E,00.html) </td></tr></tbody></table>  </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="nav" align="center" valign="top" width="140">  

   <table class="nav" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="140"> <tbody><tr><td class="navaa">NEWS (http://denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E53%257E,00.html)</td></tr> <tr><td class="navba">BLOGHOUSE (http://denverpostbloghouse.com/)</td></tr> <tr><td class="navba">BUSINESS (http://denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E33%257E,00.html)</td></tr> <tr><td class="navba">COLUMNISTS (http://denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E57%257E,00.html)</td></tr> <tr><td class="navba">LOCAL NEWS (http://denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E53%257E,00.html)</td></tr> <tr><td class="navba">NATION/WORLD (http://denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E11676%257E,00.html)</td></tr> <tr><td class="navba">OBITUARIES (http://denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E11777%257E,00.html)</td></tr> <tr><td class="navba">POLITICS (http://denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E33980%257E,00.html)</td></tr> <tr><td class="navba">SPECIAL REPORTS (http://denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E28977%257E,00.html)</td></tr> <tr><td class="navba">WEATHER (http://wp.myweather.net/wp/?pub=denv068352&page=main&loc=kapa)</td></tr> <tr><td class="nav">FEATURES ("]  [/url]</td></tr> <tr><td class="navaa">  </td></tr> <tr><td class="navaa">  </td></tr> <tr><td class="navaa">  </td></tr> <tr><td class="navaa">  </td></tr> <tr><td class="navaa">  </td></tr> <tr><td class="navab">[url="http://denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E11%257E,00.html)</td></tr> <tr><td class="navba">ETHICS POLICY (http://denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E31313%257E,00.html)</td></tr> </tbody></table>

  <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td> 

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> 

</td> </tr> </tbody></table>

 

 

 

 

 

<table class="nav" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">  <tbody><tr> <td class="navaa">SEARCH (http://denverpost.com/Stories/0,1523,36%257E25130%257E,00.html) </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">  <script language="JavaScript"> </script>

<form name="SearchForm" action="/Stories/0,1413,36%257E25130%257E,00.html?search=true" method="post" onsubmit="return isReady(this);"> <input name="frmStartDate" value="" type="hidden"> <input value="" name="frmEndDate" type="hidden"> <table class="simpleSearchBox" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td>SITE SEARCH:
<input name="frmSearchString" size="8" type="text">
http://media.mnginteractive.com/media/paper36/searchtext97x49.gif (http://denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E25130%257E,00.html?search=true) </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="simpleSearchAd">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>
</td> </tr>  <tr> <td>  <center> <table bgcolor="#ffffff"> <tbody><tr><td align="left" height="32" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top"> http://www.google.com/logos/Logo_25wht.gif (http://www.google.com/)
<input name="q" size="8" maxlength="255" value="" type="text"> </td></tr> <tr><td align="left" valign="top"> <input name="sa" value="Search" type="submit"> <input name="client" value="pub-5728369001525233" type="hidden"> <input name="forid" value="1" type="hidden"> <input name="ie" value="ISO-8859-1" type="hidden"> <input name="oe" value="ISO-8859-1" type="hidden"> <input name="safe" value="active" type="hidden"> <input name="cof" value="GALT:#688899;GL:1;DIV:#336699;VLC:663399;AH:center;BGC:FFFFFF;LBGC:FFFFFF;ALC:2F66C1;LC:2F66C1;T:000000;GFNT:688899;GIMP:688899;LH:77;LW:398;L:http://media.mnginteractive.com/media/paper36/Section_Mast4.gif;S:http://www.denverpost.com;FORID:1;" type="hidden"> <input name="hl" value="en" type="hidden"> </td></tr></tbody></table> </center> </td>  </tr> </tbody> <tr> <td>

http://media.mnginteractive.com/media/paper36/9news98x15.gif (http://www.9news.com/)

http://media.mnginteractive.com/media/paper36/realcities.jpg (http://www.realcities.com/)
</td> </tr> </table></form>  </td> </tr> </tbody></table> 

</td> <td class="gutterLeftHalf1" valign="top" width="5"> </td> <td class="gutterRightHalf1" valign="top" width="5"> </td> <td class="centerColumn" valign="top" width="320"> <center>  </center>    

 

 

 

<table><tbody><tr><td class="sectionNameHR">TOP STORY (http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%7E11676%7E,00.html)</td></tr></tbody></table>Bride-to-be fabricated kidnap (http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%7E11676%7E2844708,00.html)
 <table class="articleImageBox" align="right" border="0" width="140"> <tbody><tr><td>http://media.mnginteractive.com/media/paper36/0430wilbanks.jpg (http://denverpost.com/#)</td></tr> <tr><td class="photoCredit" align="right">AP file</td></tr> </tbody></table> <script>  </script> 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 (http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%7E11676%7E2844708,00.html)

</td></tr></tbody> </table>

Swaggs

04-30-2005, 09:36 AM

She's definitely got crazy eyes.

That was my thought, too.

Ben E Lou

04-30-2005, 09:39 AM

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

04-30-2005, 09:54 AM

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

04-30-2005, 11:19 AM

Ben E Lou

04-30-2005, 11:32 AM

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

04-30-2005, 12:07 PM

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

04-30-2005, 12:35 PM

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

04-30-2005, 12:59 PM

<table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#9999cc" width="99%">
</td><td bgcolor="#9999cc">http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif</td><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="4"><tbody><tr><script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"></script><td align="center" valign="top" width="206"><table bgcolor="#dcdcfe" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="206"><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" height="200" width="206"><tbody><tr bgcolor="white"><td align="center" height="200" valign="top" width="200">http://i15.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/f8/df/9c_1_b.JPG

</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><script language="javascript" type="text/javascript"> var altTextPrevious = Localize("Previous Picture"); var altTextStop = Localize("Stop"); var altTextPlay = Localize("Play"); var altTextNext = Localize("Next Picture"); </script><tr bgcolor="#dcdcfe" valign="top"> <td> http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif </td> <td align="center" valign="top" width="100"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td width="25"> http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics//icon/iconPlayerBack_20x20.gif (javascript:void(null)) </td> <td width="25"> http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/icon/iconPlayerStopG_20x20.gif (javascript:void(null)) </td> <td width="25"> http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/icon/iconPlayerPlay_20x20.gif (javascript:void(null)) </td> <td width="25"> http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/icon/iconPlayerNext_20x20.gif (javascript:void(null)) </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td align="right" valign="middle" width="54"> 1 of 8
</td> <td width="6"> http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif </td></tr><tr><td colspan="4" bgcolor="#eeeef8" height="3">http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td></tr><script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> var localizedSuperSize = Localize("Supersize"); document.write('<tr>'); document.write(' <td colspan="4">'); document.write(' <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">'); document.write(' <tr>'); document.write(' <td width="11%" bgcolor="#EEEEF8" height="25" valign="middle" align="left">'); document.write(' '); document.write(' '); document.write(' ' + imagehost + 'icon/iconOpenWindow_20x20.gif'); document.write(' '); document.write(' '); document.write(' </td>'); document.write(' <td bgcolor="#EEEEF8" height="25" valign="middle" align="left">'); document.write(' '); document.write(' '+localizedSuperSize +''); document.write(' '); document.write(' </td>'); document.write(' </tr>'); document.write(' </table>'); document.write(' </td>'); document.write('</tr>'); </script><tr> <td colspan="4"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeef8" height="25" valign="middle" width="11%"> http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/icon/iconOpenWindow_20x20.gif </td> <td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeef8" height="25" valign="middle"> Supersize </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td></tr><noscript><tr><td><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td width="25" bgcolor="#EEEEF8" height="25" valign="middle" align="left">http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/icon/iconDownArrow_20x20.gif (#ebayphotohosting)</td><td bgcolor="#EEEEF8" height="25" valign="middle" align="left">Larger Picture (#ebayphotohosting)</td></tr></table></td></tr></noscript></tbody></table></td><td width="6">http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td valign="top" width="49%"><input name="MfcISAPICommand" value="MakeBid" type="hidden"><input value="5577585474" name="item" type="hidden"><input value="1" name="fb" type="hidden"><input value="" name="co_partnerid" type="hidden"><input name="maxbid" type="hidden"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="4"><form method="get" action="http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll"></form><tbody><tr><td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top"> Starting bid: </td><td>US $0.01
</td></tr><tr><td>
</td><td><input value="Place Bid >" type="submit">
</td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif</td></tr><tr><td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top"> Time left: </td><td width="100%">4 days 23 hours
5-day listing, Ends May-05-05 10:20:05 PDT</td></tr><tr><td align="left" nowrap="nowrap"> Start time: </td><td>Apr-30-05 10:20:05 PDT</td></tr><tr><td align="left" nowrap="yes" width="10%">History:</td><td width="100%">0 bids (http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=5577585474)</td></tr><tr><td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top"> Item location: </td><td>Duluth, Georgia
United States</td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" valign="top">
</td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="top"> Ships to: </td><td>United States</td></tr><tr><td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top"> Shipping costs: </td><td>US $15.00 - Other (see description) (within <nobr> United States </nobr>) </td></tr><tr align="center"><td colspan="3" align="left" valign="top"> http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/icon/iconDownArrow_20x20.gif (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20924&item=5577585474&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW#ShippingPayment)http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gifShipping, payment details and return policy (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20924&item=5577585474&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW#ShippingPayment)</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif</td><td width="6">http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif</td><td align="right" valign="top" width="33%"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="4" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#ccccff"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr bgcolor="#9999cc"><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#d6dcfe"><td class="sectiontitle" height="22" nowrap="nowrap">http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gifSeller information</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"><td><table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td><td>luckyshamrock546 (http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=luckyshamrock546&iid=5577585474&frm=284)http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif ( 51 (http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=luckyshamrock546)http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/icon/iconBlueStar_25x25.gif)</td><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td></tr><tr><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td><td width="100%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td width="10">http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td><td width="100%"> Feedback Score: 51
Positive Feedback: 100%
Member since Apr-22-00 in United States</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td></tr><tr><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td><td nowrap="nowrap">Read feedback comments (http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=luckyshamrock546)</td><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td></tr><tr><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td><td nowrap="nowrap">Add to Favorite Sellers (http://my.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?AcceptSavedSeller&mode=0&preference=0&sellerid=luckyshamrock546&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI.dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D5577585474&ssPageName=STRK:MEFS:ADDVI)</td><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td></tr><tr><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td><td nowrap="nowrap">Ask seller a question (http://contact.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ShowCoreAskSellerQuestion&requested=luckyshamrock546&iid=5577585474&frm=284&redirect=0&SSPageName=PageAskSellerQuestion_VI)</td><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td></tr><tr><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td><td nowrap="nowrap">View seller's other items (http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZluckyshamrock546QQhtZ-1)</td><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" height="3">http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#9999cc"><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#d6dcfe"><td><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td width="15">http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td><td align="left" valign="top" width="35">http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/paypal/imgPp_35x20.gif</td><td width="2">http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td><td>PayPal Buyer Protection http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/new.gif
Free Coverage (http://pages.ebay.com/paypal/buyer/protection.html) now up to $1,000. See eligibility (http://pages.ebay.com/help/confidence/purchase-protection.html?ssPageName=bpptest). </td></tr><tr><td colspan="4">http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#9999cc"><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6">
</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff" width="10">http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif</td><td><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><table class="ebay" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td colspan="5" bgcolor="#9999cc">http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#eeeef8"><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif</td><td class="sectiontitle" nowrap="nowrap"> Description </td><td width="100%">http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif</td><td class="ebay" align="right" nowrap="nowrap" width="100%">
</td><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif</td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif</td></tr></tbody></table><table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><script language="JavaScript"></script>  The Original Jennifer Wilbanks Runaway Bride Kit!<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

You are bidding on the one and only Jennifer Wilbanks Runaway Bride Kit. <o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

This kit will help any nervous Bride who wants to get away from all the pressure of getting married.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Ladies, having second thoughts about the big day? <o:p></o:p>

Want to get away for a little R & R?<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Talking to your closest friends and family about your wedding day “cold feet” is a thing of the past!<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Get on that Bus and head out on a multi state joy ride across the country. <o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

What’s that you say? …You’ll get caught? <o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

No need to worry about that! <o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

With this kit you’ll have all the tools you need for a clean getaway.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

The Jennifer Wilbanks Runaway Bride Kit includes…<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

· A Box of Garnier Hair Color- Your photo will be on National news, so you have to change that color!<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

· A pair of Revlon Fashion Eyewear- Time to go incognito with these “spy-like” shades. Look it’s not Louis Vuitton…but it does the trick!<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

· A Scunci…aka (fake clip of hair) - Just clip this little number on your head and not even you embarrassed fiancé will recognize you!<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

· Scissors- Hairdressers are a total Wedding day rip-off. With these trusty scissors cut your hair the way you want it…not what everyone else wants!<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

· A Blue and White Matchbox Van- Use this as a way to devise a story just in case you get caught. You can make up a wild lie about being abducted by aliens…legal or illegal! The possibilities are endless!<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

· It’s going to be a long trip, so you’ll need a good movie to watch. So, as an added bonus you’ll receive a brand new DVD of that hilarious comedy “Runaway Bride”. What’s better than a great comedy like this when the whole country is frantically looking for you?<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

The Jennifer Wilbanks Runaway Bride Kit makes a great shower gift. <o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Don’t delay Runaway Brides to Be!<o:p></o:p>

The pressures on, so it’s time to go-go-go in style with this wonderful kit. <o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Happy Bidding and Good Luck! <o:p></o:p>

 <hr><center><table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr class="ebay"><td align="center">http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif</td><td>http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif</td><td class="help">http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gifSelect a picture</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="top">Larger Picture (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5577585474&indexURL=0&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting)
<table style="cursor: pointer;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="377" width="502"><tbody><tr><td onclick="supersize(); return false;" align="center" width="100%">http://i15.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/f8/df/9c_1_b.JPG</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td><td rowspan="2" width="20">http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif</td><td valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="center">http://i15.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/f8/df/9c_0.JPG (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5577585474&indexURL=0#ebayphotohosting)</td><td align="center">http://i23.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/f8/e8/2e_0.JPG (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5577585474&indexURL=1#ebayphotohosting)</td></tr><tr><td align="center">http://i12.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/f8/97/2b_0.JPG (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5577585474&indexURL=2#ebayphotohosting)</td><td align="center">http://i6.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/f8/d6/3c_0.JPG (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5577585474&indexURL=3#ebayphotohosting)</td></tr><tr><td align="center">http://i3.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/f8/9c/c8_0.JPG (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5577585474&indexURL=4#ebayphotohosting)</td><td align="center">http://i1.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/fa/14/9f_0.JPG (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5577585474&indexURL=5#ebayphotohosting)</td></tr><tr><td align="center">http://i7.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/f8/cd/9c_0.JPG (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5577585474&indexURL=6#ebayphotohosting)</td><td align="center">http://i3.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/f8/9c/d8_0.JPG (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5577585474&indexURL=7#ebayphotohosting)</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></center></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody> </table>

JonInMiddleGA

04-30-2005, 01:15 PM

... 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

04-30-2005, 01:42 PM

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

Solecismic

04-30-2005, 02:47 PM

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

gstelmack

04-30-2005, 02:56 PM

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

04-30-2005, 03:13 PM

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

04-30-2005, 03:17 PM

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

04-30-2005, 03:23 PM

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

http://www.foxnews.com/images/161847/8_23_wilbanksandfiancee.jpg

flere-imsaho

04-30-2005, 03:35 PM

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

04-30-2005, 03:41 PM

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

gstelmack

04-30-2005, 04:08 PM

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

04-30-2005, 04:18 PM

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

04-30-2005, 05:55 PM

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

04-30-2005, 05:56 PM

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

04-30-2005, 06:03 PM

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

04-30-2005, 06:45 PM

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

yabanci

04-30-2005, 06:53 PM

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

04-30-2005, 08:30 PM

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

04-30-2005, 09:44 PM

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

05-01-2005, 02:40 AM

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.

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.

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".

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

05-01-2005, 04:59 AM

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

05-01-2005, 05:38 AM

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

05-01-2005, 09:44 AM

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

05-01-2005, 09:46 AM

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

Dutch

05-01-2005, 09:54 AM

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

05-01-2005, 01:08 PM

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

05-01-2005, 02:30 PM

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 :D :D

SI

flere-imsaho

05-02-2005, 11:59 AM

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

05-02-2005, 12:09 PM

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

05-02-2005, 12:37 PM

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

05-02-2005, 01:16 PM

Franklinnoble

05-02-2005, 01:20 PM

http://media.mnginteractive.com/media/paper36/0430wilbanks.jpg

I'd hit it.

Huckleberry

05-02-2005, 01:23 PM

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

05-02-2005, 01:28 PM

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. :rolleyes:

JonInMiddleGA

05-02-2005, 01:35 PM

I'd hit it.

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

CamEdwards

05-02-2005, 01:35 PM

dola: sorry for the snarkiness. I'm sick and I'm cranky.

Franklinnoble

05-02-2005, 01:40 PM

What he said:

dola: sorry for the snarkiness. I'm sick and I'm cranky.
What he meant to say:

dola: sorry for the snarkiness. I'm out of peanut butter.

flere-imsaho

05-02-2005, 01:47 PM

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.

I'm sure millions, if not billions of dollars are spent each year by LEOs, other emergency services & investigative agencies on a wide range of wild goose chases. I'll bet the Secret Service in particular racks up quite a bill investigating innumerable threats to the President that turn out to be mistaken, misunderstandings or just non-existent.

Should we charge every instigator (wittingly or unwittingly) the bill for the government's hassle?

Anyway, I don't think that's the line of argument you want to pursue.

Should the LEOs in question continue to be compassionate to this woman and not charge her, I'd say that's a big step in the right direction for civil society.

JonInMiddleGA

05-02-2005, 01:48 PM

Should the LEOs in question continue to be compassionate to this woman and not charge her, I'd say that's a big step in the right direction for civil society.

The fact that we pretty much disagree totally here prolly comes as no great surprise to either of us, eh? ;)

Warhammer

05-02-2005, 01:52 PM

I'm sure millions, if not billions of dollars are spent each year by LEOs, other emergency services & investigative agencies on a wide range of wild goose chases. I'll bet the Secret Service in particular racks up quite a bill investigating innumerable threats to the President that turn out to be mistaken, misunderstandings or just non-existent.

Should we charge every instigator (wittingly or unwittingly) the bill for the government's hassle?

Anyway, I don't think that's the line of argument you want to pursue.

Should the LEOs in question continue to be compassionate to this woman and not charge her, I'd say that's a big step in the right direction for civil society.

Yeah, but there is a big difference between a misunderstanding and what this girl did.

"Dear, I'm going out for a jog."

"Oh ok..."

Fast forward a week

"I thought you said you were going out for a jog?"

"Yeah, I did, a jog to Albuequerque!"

There was no misunderstandings or mix ups here. She could have told any one of a number of people what was she was doing. Instead, she takes the bus out of town, and then calls the authorities and lies about a kidnapping!

She's not the first person to get cold feet, and won't be the last. But what she put everyone through on this was ridiculous.

CamEdwards

05-02-2005, 01:55 PM

Yeah, but there is a big difference between a misunderstanding and what this girl did.

"Dear, I'm going out for a jog."

"Oh ok..."

Fast forward a week

"I thought you said you were going out for a jog?"

"Yeah, I did, a jog to Albuequerque!"

There was no misunderstandings or mix ups here. She could have told any one of a number of people what was she was doing. Instead, she takes the bus out of town, and then calls the authorities and lies about a kidnapping!

She's not the first person to get cold feet, and won't be the last. But what she put everyone through on this was ridiculous.

ding ding ding. buy this man a steak dinner.

rafini

05-02-2005, 01:58 PM

Should the LEOs in question continue to be compassionate to this woman and not charge her, I'd say that's a big step in the right direction for civil society.

So basically we need to coddle every spoiled little brat who thinks they're the center of the universe (a 600-guest wedding, come on, let's just invite every person you've ever said hi to), then causes this much trouble when she gets nervous over the actual thought of a little responsibility.

flere-imsaho

05-02-2005, 02:02 PM

The fact that we pretty much disagree totally here prolly comes as no great surprise to either of us, eh? ;)

Well, I agree with that. :)

flere-imsaho

05-02-2005, 02:02 PM

So basically we need to coddle every spoiled little brat who thinks they're the center of the universe (a 600-guest wedding, come on, let's just invite every person you've ever said hi to), then causes this much trouble when she gets nervous over the actual thought of a little responsibility.

Yeah, uh, that's exactly what I said.... :rolleyes:

Ben E Lou

05-02-2005, 02:03 PM

Interesting concept. At what level of crime should law enforcement just "show compassion?" Since her crime was a misdemeanor, she should just get a free pass? Same thing for all misdemeanors? Or, should she get a free pass because she was "under stress" from the wedding? I'm really curious what the criteria should be for a law enforcement agency being fully aware of a crime and choosing to ignore it.

timmynausea

05-02-2005, 02:05 PM

Ben E Lou

05-02-2005, 02:06 PM

(a 600-guest wedding, come on, let's just invite every person you've ever said hi to)That is on the high side, but not *that* out of control. I'm sure we invited well over that number to our wedding, and had over 400 present for the event. If all of SWMBO's family and friends had been a part of it, we probably would have been around 600.

flere-imsaho

05-02-2005, 02:07 PM

I don't know what's more amusing here, the screaming for retribution or the second-guessing of the LEOs who decided not to exact it.

That's OK, though, I'm sure you all know better.

Franklinnoble

05-02-2005, 02:07 PM

Cute white girls should get compassion and sensational press.

All others need not apply.

flere-imsaho

05-02-2005, 02:13 PM

Ben E Lou

05-02-2005, 02:14 PM

You would prefer LEOs to be mindless automatons, then?You're avoiding the question.

flere-imsaho

05-02-2005, 02:20 PM

You're avoiding the question.

No, I'm not. I'm suggesting that LEOs should be allowed to exercise discretion. You're demanding I set an arbitrary guideline for them. I can't do that, since I'm suggesting that they be allowed to exercise discretion.

Ben E Lou

05-02-2005, 02:23 PM

No, I'm not. I'm suggesting that LEOs should be allowed to exercise discretion. You're demanding I set an arbitrary guideline for them. I can't do that, since I'm suggesting that they be allowed to exercise discretion.There's a difference between "exercising discretion" and letting an obvious (and public) crime go unpunished. Fortunately, though, it appears that she also lied to Duluth law enforcement on the telephone, so there's at least a chance that she won't go completely free.

My primary concern is what message it sends to future potential criminals if everyone knows that she was allowed to give knowingly false information to the authorities.

Ksyrup

05-02-2005, 02:25 PM

I'm suggesting that they be allowed to exercise discretion while refusing to answer the obvious question such a general statement begs.
fixed that

flere-imsaho

05-02-2005, 02:28 PM

fixed that

Har har. Sorry I didn't trip over that argumentative device for everyone's benefit.

flere-imsaho

05-02-2005, 02:31 PM

There's a difference between "exercising discretion" and letting an obvious (and public) crime go unpunished. Fortunately, though, it appears that she also lied to Duluth law enforcement on the telephone, so there's at least a chance that she won't go completely free.

Oh good. I'm glad to hear that such a dangerous criminal won't be getting away scot free.

My primary concern is what message it sends to future potential criminals if everyone knows that she was allowed to give knowingly false information to the authorities.

Because incidences of runaway brides spurring 4-day manhunts are so rampant, of course.

Ben E Lou

05-02-2005, 02:36 PM

OK. Here's a real-life, somewhat-parallel example:

A few years ago, I caught the son of a fairly-public figure with alcohol on one of my trips. I suspected that he had it; I confronted him about it; he told me the truth. Now, he hadn't opened it. In fact, the seal was still on the bottle. However, pretty much every kid on the trip knew that I'd caught this kid with alcohol--in direct violation of the rules. I could have "exercised discretion" for legitimate reasons: his house had recently burned down and he was therefore under stress; he didn't drink any of it; he told me the truth when confronted. Good reasons to give him a free pass, correct?

Not so fast.

Because, like the Wilbanks crime, this situation was "public" to all the kids on the trip, what message would I have been sending to the kids that went on the next trip by letting it slide? What message would I have been sending to parents by letting it slide? What lesson would I have been teaching the kid by letting it slide? None of the answers to those questions were appealing at all, so he received the consequences for his actions.

Ben E Lou

05-02-2005, 02:40 PM

Because incidences of runaway brides spurring 4-day manhunts are so rampant, of course.Her crime wasn't spurring a 4-day manhunt. The crime was committed after the manhunt. If you can't see that, then you're really missing the point. The manhunt isn't the problem, at least criminally. (Now, it is absolutely AWFUL of her not to have called her parents and let them know she was alive, but that's irrelevant to this particular discussion.) The problem here is that she falsely reported a crime, apparently to three different law enforcement agencies.

Huckleberry

05-02-2005, 02:40 PM

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.
And that's ridiculous. There would have been absolutely nothing wrong with knowing your whereabouts have created front page news and still telling nobody a damn thing. You're still not separating what was wrong from what wasn't. The fact she didn't call law enforcement to tell them where she was should have absolutely nothing to do with whether or not she's charged.

The filing of the false report should have everything to do with it. Sounds to me like you're asking law enforcement to use discretion in whether or not to charge her with anything. Are you implying that they should decide to charge her on the false report because she didn't call them and tell them where she was earlier? To decide to charge her with a crime based on previous perfectly legal behavior?

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. :rolleyes:
Nice strawman. Solid work.

Ben E Lou

05-02-2005, 02:42 PM

And that's ridiculous. There would have been absolutely nothing wrong with knowing your whereabouts have created front page news and still telling nobody a damn thing. You're still not separating what was wrong from what wasn't. The fact she didn't call law enforcement to tell them where she was should have absolutely nothing to do with whether or not she's charged.

The filing of the false report should have everything to do with it. Sounds to me like you're asking law enforcement to use discretion in whether or not to charge her with anything. Are you implying that they should decide to charge her on the false report because she didn't call them and tell them where she was earlier? To decide to charge her with a crime based on previous perfectly legal behavior?.Bingo. Cam's a little off-base on this one. The fact that she didn't tell anyone where she was is irrelevant with regard to her criminal behavior later on.

Warhammer

05-02-2005, 02:50 PM

Agreed. What she did before making the reports was just immaturity showing. Once she made the reports she crossed from being immature, to being immature and being unlawful.

Can I start making false 911 calls because I am under stress at work?

sterlingice

05-02-2005, 02:51 PM

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.
I'll refer to a post I made earlier:

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.
SI

Ksyrup

05-02-2005, 02:54 PM

Har har. Sorry I didn't trip over that argumentative device for everyone's benefit.
Sorry, but you can't just say "discretion is the answer" without some real, tangible explanation of what that means. That is not a real answer, in and of itself. That's the starting point for an answer, not THE answer.

flere-imsaho

05-02-2005, 02:55 PM

OK. Here's a real-life, somewhat-parallel example:

If what you're suggesting is that this example of leniency by the police will translate into an uptick of citizens lying to LEOs because they think they can get away with it, then we're going to have to agree to disagree.

Because, like the Wilbanks crime, this situation was "public" to all the kids on the trip, what message would I have been sending to the kids that went on the next trip by letting it slide?

Message you would have been sending: I'm an authority figure of dubious ethics.

Message LEOs are sending in this case: Given extenuating circumstances, we may choose not to further clog the legal system with the results of this unfortunate situation.

Difference: You're someone to whom these kids look to as a role model. Although we look at individual police officers as role models, as an institution Law Enforcement merely fulfills a societal function.

What message would I have been sending to parents by letting it slide?

You: You can't trust me with your kids.

LEOs: Sometimes we can be compassionate.

Difference: You're one man, in a position of authority amongst impressionable young children. LEOs are many men and women, in positions of service to society. Given the systematic and comprehensive meting out of justice performed by LEOs each and every day, the idea that this one incident somehow renders them unable to be trusted is ludicrous.

What lesson would I have been teaching the kid by letting it slide?

Kid: I can get away with this in the future.

Wilbanks: Phew. Now let me try to sort out the rest of my disturbed life.

Difference: Children are testing boundaries as they grow up. That's part of the process. Wilbanks wasn't "testing a boundary", she was/is a disturbed individual who made a series of bad decisions.

sterlingice

05-02-2005, 02:57 PM

She's not the first person to get cold feet, and won't be the last. But what she put everyone through on this was ridiculous.
So basically we need to coddle every spoiled little brat who thinks they're the center of the universe (a 600-guest wedding, come on, let's just invite every person you've ever said hi to), then causes this much trouble when she gets nervous over the actual thought of a little responsibility.
No, no, no, no, no. No, no, no.

"What she put everyone through" = "causes this much trouble" = "I was duped as part of a media circus and I want vengeance"

I'm not sure how I can phrase this except:

Stop watching stupid news stories.

If you have a reaction like this every time the media shows you a story like this, then you're just feeding them and asking for the next stupid ass Peterson girl story or this thing. You're still pissed about it two or three or however many days later- see, it worked.

SI

Ben E Lou

05-02-2005, 02:57 PM

Wilbanks wasn't "testing a boundary", she was/is a disturbed individual who made a series of bad decisions.So then, is that part of the criteria? If the person is disturbed, then they get off? Are you suggesting a much broader definition of insanity, then? I'm really trying to get my hands around why this woman shouldn't have to pay a fine and do community service.

CamEdwards

05-02-2005, 02:57 PM

Bingo. Cam's a little off-base on this one. The fact that she didn't tell anyone where she was is irrelevant with regard to her criminal behavior later on.

what i'm suggesting is that if she'd been honest at some point instead of committing the criminal act, she could have saved herself a world of hurt.

flere-imsaho

05-02-2005, 02:58 PM

Can I start making false 911 calls because I am under stress at work?

Yet Another Strawman.

Ksyrup

05-02-2005, 03:00 PM

Her crime wasn't spurring a 4-day manhunt. The crime was committed after the manhunt. If you can't see that, then you're really missing the point. Talk about a variation on a theme.

SD, it's useless to argue with the same type of people who steadfastly maintain(ed) that Clinton shouldn't have been impeached for having an affair. All the while ignoring that he (an attorney, no less) lied under oath. No, that wasn't the crime; his crime was getting a BJ from an intern! How dare we punish him for something every married man would do!

Ben E Lou

05-02-2005, 03:01 PM

Talk about a variation on a theme.

SD, it's useless to argue with the same type of people who steadfastly maintain(ed) that Clinton shouldn't have been impeached for having an affair. All the while ignoring that he (an attorney, no less) lied under oath. No, that wasn't the crime; his crime was getting a BJ from an intern! How dare we punish him for something every married man would do!Heh. You may have a good point there.

flere-imsaho

05-02-2005, 03:04 PM

Sorry, but you can't just say "discretion is the answer" without some real, tangible explanation of what that means. That is not a real answer, in and of itself. That's the starting point for an answer, not THE answer.

So then, is that part of the criteria? If the person is disturbed, then they get off? Are you suggesting a much broader definition of insanity, then? I'm really trying to get my hands around why this woman shouldn't have to pay a fine and do community service.

You know, I'm really sorry I can't provide you guys with some sort of formula you can plug into Excel to determine what the outcome of any particular situation should be. Life's not like FOF, you know.

Ben E Lou

05-02-2005, 03:05 PM

You know, I'm really sorry I can't provide you guys with some sort of formula you can plug into Excel to determine what the outcome of any particular situation should be. Life's not like FOF, you know.Again, a non-answer, this time of a specific question. No formulas needed. I say again:

Why should THIS WOMAN be excused from her criminal behavior?

Ksyrup

05-02-2005, 03:10 PM

You know, I'm really sorry I can't provide you guys with some sort of formula you can plug into Excel to determine what the outcome of any particular situation should be. Life's not like FOF, you know.
Then what you're proposing is, in essence, no standard at all. Or, should we treat prosecution of all laws like pornography - we can't describe it, but we know when a person should be charged with a crime when we see it?

flere-imsaho

05-02-2005, 03:11 PM

SD, it's useless to argue with the same type of people who steadfastly maintain(ed) that Clinton shouldn't have been impeached for having an affair. All the while ignoring that he (an attorney, no less) lied under oath. No, that wasn't the crime; his crime was getting a BJ from an intern! How dare we punish him for something every married man would do!

Oh good, the Clinton Defense, rolled out by any good Conservative who can no longer argue his case. Is it still too soon in the thread to mention Hitler, so we can really get the ball rolling?

Ksyrup

05-02-2005, 03:13 PM

Oh good, the Clinton Defense, rolled out by any good Conservative who can no longer argue his case. Is it still too soon in the thread to mention Hitler, so we can really get the ball rolling?
I haven't seen an attempt at an answer to about 3 or 4 different peoples' questions yet. And I'm sorry, but the parallel is quite striking, because you insist and/or are confusing the underlying behavior with the actual crime being committed. Apples to apples.

rafini

05-02-2005, 03:13 PM

No, no, no, no, no. No, no, no.

"What she put everyone through" = "causes this much trouble" = "I was duped as part of a media circus and I want vengeance"

I'm not sure how I can phrase this except:

Stop watching stupid news stories.

If you have a reaction like this every time the media shows you a story like this, then you're just feeding them and asking for the next stupid ass Peterson girl story or this thing. You're still pissed about it two or three or however many days later- see, it worked.

SI

I'm not angry or pissed off about this, I just see no need to feel compassion toward a woman who acts like an idiot and makes others (her family) suffer for it.

And besides, I work in the media and need to support the field :D

flere-imsaho

05-02-2005, 03:16 PM

I haven't seen an attempt at an answer to about 3 or 4 different peoples' questions yet. And I'm sorry, but the parallel is quite striking, because you insist and/or are confusing the underlying behavior with the actual crime being committed. Apples to apples.

The fact that you, Skydog, Cam & others can't understand the concept I'm putting forth is not my problem.

The fact that you must bolster your argument by comparing me to an adulterer doesn't really give me a lot of faith in your cognitive abilities.

Ksyrup

05-02-2005, 03:18 PM

The bottom line is, she should be required to pay for the cost of the investigation. Media or not, the LEOs in Georgia would have put in the same amount of time and effort than if CNN didn't carry this story at all. I don't have a clue if there is authority to force her to pay for the costs of the investigation, but since she did commit a crime, she should be charged, and her sentence should be...the cost of the investigation.

Didn't that chick in Wisconsin who faked her own abduction get forced to pay? Same thing should happen here. That, and a buy one, get one coupon to a local psych shop.

Ksyrup

05-02-2005, 03:20 PM

The fact that you, Skydog, Cam & others can't understand the concept I'm putting forth is not my problem.
Your concept is difficult to understand, because there's nothing to it. It is just that, a concept, with no substance to it at all. A concept is not a realistic, workable solution, it's just an idea. Like, "there should be no war in the world" and "no one should go hungry." Great concepts, all of them.

Warhammer

05-02-2005, 03:23 PM

Yet Another Strawman.

No, its extenuating circumstances, just like this bride's 600 person wedding.

Just because I am arguing this, does not mean it is a strawman, my straw don't burn that easy! What some bride's 600 person wedding ceremony, is a man's stress from trying to keep a company afloat and not have to shut down and threaten the livelihood of the 20 people that work for him...

Which one has the greater stress?

No one can answer that, not me, not you, not SkyDog. That is why extenuating circumstances do not apply here. This is not a murder, and whether it was in self-defense or not. We are arguing about a woman running away, and then lying as to the reason of her disappearance by filing a false report!

flere-imsaho

05-02-2005, 03:23 PM

Why should THIS WOMAN be excused from her criminal behavior?

In this specific instance? Compassion. Obviously she (and now her family) have a lot of issues to sort out. I don't see what's gained by ringing her up on a criminal charge. It would appear the LEOs involved felt roughly the same. For that, I applaud them.

CamEdwards

05-02-2005, 03:27 PM

The fact that you, Skydog, Cam & others can't understand the concept I'm putting forth is not my problem.

The fact that you must bolster your argument by comparing me to an adulterer doesn't really give me a lot of faith in your cognitive abilities.

It's not your problem, but only if you have no real desire to be understood. :D

flere-imsaho

05-02-2005, 03:28 PM

I've just been served a warning, so I'll exit the thread now. Feel free to get your parting shots in before it's locked.

Ben E Lou

05-02-2005, 03:28 PM

Crapshoot

05-02-2005, 03:31 PM

Wait a minute- is Flere referring to a literal warning from SD ? Ben wouldn't warn people just because they disagree with him...

sterlingice

05-02-2005, 03:36 PM

Media or not, the LEOs in Georgia would have put in the same amount of time and effort than if CNN didn't carry this story at all. Besides the "cost of the investigation" argument which I fear is a really scary prescedent. What if you just impulsively blow off for a weekend to Vegas or something and someone you know calls for you to be missing- should you have to pay? Should the police only investigate when people can pay for the LEO's in the event that it's a hoax?

All that aside, I'm calling shenanigans on your claim above. If CNN, FOX, MSNBC, et al didn't carry this- it wouldn't be nearly the priority. I'm sure the media coverage spurred some of the decisionmaking. Last thing a department wants is to look like complete asses on national tv after what's happend to other cities.

SI

Ksyrup

05-02-2005, 03:45 PM

Shenanigans? That's it...bring your ass out to the FOFC page and say that to me! I dare you!

I'm simply suggesting that's what should happen, and because she gave them the opportunity to go for it by committing a crime, they should take advantage of it.

Also, I think the cops would have worked the case the same way, especially in this instance, where her family was well-known and everyone knew about the upcoming wedding. This would have been high priority regardless.

Crapshoot

05-02-2005, 03:45 PM

The bottom line is, she should be required to pay for the cost of the investigation. Media or not, the LEOs in Georgia would have put in the same amount of time and effort than if CNN didn't carry this story at all. .

Do you actually believe that ? Are you suggesting the media attention had no effect whatsoever on the priority quene of this case in the Georgia LEO ?

ice4277

05-02-2005, 03:47 PM

In this specific instance? Compassion. Obviously she (and now her family) have a lot of issues to sort out. I don't see what's gained by ringing her up on a criminal charge. It would appear the LEOs involved felt roughly the same. For that, I applaud them.
Yes, yes, yes, compassion. What the hell ever happened to personal responsibility? I don't think anybody is saying she should be locked up for life, but in this case, she did break the law. Last I checked, "Law Enforcement" was there to ENFORCE THE LAW. Let the judge and jury be the lenient party, if they see fit.

Ksyrup

05-02-2005, 03:50 PM

Do you actually believe that ? Are you suggesting the media attention had no effect whatsoever on the priority quene of this case in the Georgia LEO ?
I just answered that above. Did it have an effect? Probably. But how many more resources could that small town have put on this case? She was from a well-known, well-off family in a small town. This was high priority as a missing persons case before it became national news.

sterlingice

05-02-2005, 03:53 PM

Huckleberry

05-02-2005, 03:56 PM

I'm simply suggesting that's what should happen, and because she gave them the opportunity to go for it by committing a crime, they should take advantage of it.

Also, I think the cops would have worked the case the same way, especially in this instance, where her family was well-known and everyone knew about the upcoming wedding. This would have been high priority regardless.She gave them an opportunity to go for what?

To charge her with what? She committed no crime, at least that I know of, prior to filing the false report in New Mexico.

If I decide to pick up and leave this week and tell nobody about it, you're crazy if you think you're getting a dime from me for whatever investigation results. Now, I wouldn't do such a thing because it would be hurtful to my loved ones and cost me my job, but that's none of the police's business.

This theory that commission of a crime entitles the government to take your money or charge you in connection with some other, legal, act is insane.

Ksyrup

05-02-2005, 04:03 PM

(well, I had "bullshit" but that sounded too mean) :)

I guess we'll just disagree. I think the media greatly intensified the pressure to find her.

SI
It might have intensified the pressure, but it was still a priority from the beginning. It wasn't like she was missing for a week, then someone decided to run with it on a slow news day, and suddenly they got off of their asses and started looking for her. And I'm not really sure what's wrong with a little pressure anyway...if it was someone you loved, wouldn't you be on TV trying to reach as many people as possible who might have unwittingly seen something that they didn't know was important? I'd be grateful for the press, frankly.

That said, I recognize the boundaries that are crossed, when a few days pass and with nothing new to report, the media start looking for a new angle, casting suspicions, etc. But that comes with the territory. And with the track record in these cases, it's more the exception than the rule that the husband/boyfriend isn't involved in a case of foul play.

Ksyrup

05-02-2005, 04:10 PM

She gave them an opportunity to go for what?

To charge her with what? She committed no crime, at least that I know of, prior to filing the false report in New Mexico.
I'm not talking about anything prior to the false report. That's the crime (how many times does this have to be said?!).

That said, I think generally, that people should have to pay for the consequences of their actions. I have no problem whatsoever with that. If you're shooting fireworks in the backyard and one hits a neighbor's house and it burns to the ground, should you be absolved of the responsibility (criminal or otherwise) because it was July 4th and everyone was in a fireworks mood that day? I don't think so, regardless of how innocent your intentions were.

Ksyrup

05-02-2005, 04:11 PM

This theory that commission of a crime entitles the government to take your money or charge you in connection with some other, legal, act is insane.
AGAIN...we're not talking about a legal act. Separate the underlying activity from the crime that was committed...PLEASE!

sterlingice

05-02-2005, 04:14 PM

I'm not talking about anything prior to the false report. That's the crime (how many times does this have to be said?!).

That said, I think generally, that people should have to pay for the consequences of their actions. I have no problem whatsoever with that. If you're shooting fireworks in the backyard and one hits a neighbor's house and it burns to the ground, should you be absolved of the responsibility (criminal or otherwise) because it was July 4th and everyone was in a fireworks mood that day? I don't think so, regardless of how innocent your intentions were.
But we have predefined penalties for filing a false police report and they aren't "pay for the investigation" because of the problems listed above. Tho, I bet they do carry some fine or a couple of days in the slam. If they want to charge her with that, go for it.

SI

Huckleberry

05-02-2005, 04:17 PM

AGAIN...we're not talking about a legal act. Separate the underlying activity from the crime that was committed...PLEASE!
I have it fully separated. You are advocating charging her for the missing person investigation that occured prior to the false police report.

If that's not what you're doing, I apologize.

digamma

05-02-2005, 04:29 PM

I have it fully separated. You are advocating charging her for the missing person investigation that occured prior to the false police report.

If that's not what you're doing, I apologize.
I don't think that is Ksyrup's point.

Better described, it may be using the false police report charge to punish her for causing the missing persons investigation. Is that right? I think there are arguments on both sides, but our LEO's often use more technical violations to charge someone where the real "crime" is some other action which we perceive to be immoral or otherwise bad (i.e., holding someone on weapons charges because they don't have the goods for a more serious charge; or as has been brought up Clinton or Martha Stewart).

If I'm the Alb. authorities, I'm letting this one go because it's not going to be worth all the hassle I'm going to have to deal with--media, holding her there, etc. for a false 911 call that probably amounts to a misdemeanor, with the punishment of less than a $1000 fine. Good riddance to her.

On the other hand, if I'm the authorities in Duluth, I'm probably looking for any way I can to charge her (even if only for symbolic reasons).

Ksyrup

05-02-2005, 04:33 PM

I don't think that is Ksyrup's point.

Better described, it may be using the false police report charge to punish her for causing the missing persons investigation. Is that right? I think there are arguments on both sides, but our LEO's often use more technical violations to charge someone where the real "crime" is some other action which we perceive to be immoral or otherwise bad (i.e., holding someone on weapons charges because they don't have the goods for a more serious charge; or as has been brought up Clinton or Martha Stewart).

If I'm the Alb. authorities, I'm letting this one go because it's not going to be worth all the hassle I'm going to have to deal with--media, holding her there, etc. for a false 911 call that probably amounts to a misdemeanor, with the punishment of less than a $1000 fine. Good riddance to her.

On the other hand, if I'm the authorities in Duluth, I'm probably looking for any way I can to charge her (even if only for symbolic reasons).
Exactly my point.

I'm glad one attorney around here can make himself understood today!

Ksyrup

05-02-2005, 04:35 PM

But we have predefined penalties for filing a false police report and they aren't "pay for the investigation" because of the problems listed above. Tho, I bet they do carry some fine or a couple of days in the slam. If they want to charge her with that, go for it.

SI
Yes, I know, and I'm suggesting they should take full advantage of the situation and "settle" with her to pay some/most/all of the costs of the investigation in lieu of moving forward with the criminal prosecution. They have "hand", and they should use it.

Huckleberry

05-02-2005, 04:36 PM

Then the point is still weak.

digamma draws an analogy to other situations where the authorities throw the book at a defendant on minor violations when they don't have enough to convict on the major violations.

Problem is that there is no violation whatsoever regarding her activities prior to the false report. At least, once again, that I'm aware of.

Point remains. Ksyrup is advocating somehow charging her (both monetarily and legally) for doing something completely legal.

Ksyrup

05-02-2005, 04:41 PM

Point remains. Ksyrup is advocating somehow charging her (both monetarily and legally) for doing something completely legal.
I'll ignore the obvious semantics difference since you don't seem willing to grasp it, and go ahead and agree with you. I'm just suggesting they have the means by which to recoup the costs she alone caused for no good reason, and they should take advantage of it, for two reasons: (a) I would hate for the cops to not take another similar situation seriously, and then have it turn out to be a real abduction; and (b) I'd also hate for resources to be expended on something like this when those same resources could be expended on real cases.

Even if she didn't foresee her picture on CNN.com, she had to know her family would report it and that the police would be looking for her. The very least she could have done is told a friend or family member, so that if things got crazy, they could put a stop to it before it got out of hand. Because she wasn't using her brain, she should pay. Since they have the means to do that, I think they should use it.

Huckleberry

05-02-2005, 04:47 PM

I'll ignore the obvious semantics difference since you don't seem willing to grasp it, and go ahead and agree with you.Or you could just agree with me because I accurately described your position. There is no semantics difference. If you think there is one, then explain.

I'm just suggesting they have the means by which to recoup the costs she alone caused for no good reason, and they should take advantage of it, for two reasons: (a) I would hate for the cops to not take another similar situation seriously, and then have it turn out to be a real abduction; and (b) I'd also hate for resources to be expended on something like this when those same resources could be expended on real cases.

Even if she didn't foresee her picture on CNN.com, she had to know her family would report it and that the police would be looking for her. The very least she could have done is told a friend or family member, so that if things got crazy, they could put a stop to it before it got out of hand. Because she wasn't using her brain, she should pay. Since they have the means to do that, I think they should use it.Then go ahead and make it illegal to leave the city without notifying a minimum number of people of your intentions. Or, alternatively, make it illegal to not contact the authorities when you become aware that you are the subject of a missing persons investigation.

If it's not illegal then the government has no business charging a citizen for engaging in a behavior. And if it becomes illegal to "not use your brain" in any situation, then I think the tax debate has been solved. Revenue will come pouring in, although the National Association for Stupid People lobby may have a problem with that.

Ksyrup

05-02-2005, 05:01 PM

Or you could just agree with me because I accurately described your position. There is no semantics difference. If you think there is one, then explain.

Then go ahead and make it illegal to leave the city without notifying a minimum number of people of your intentions. Or, alternatively, make it illegal to not contact the authorities when you become aware that you are the subject of a missing persons investigation.

If it's not illegal then the government has no business charging a citizen for engaging in a behavior. And if it becomes illegal to "not use your brain" in any situation, then I think the tax debate has been solved. Revenue will come pouring in, although the National Association for Stupid People lobby may have a problem with that.
I've already explained the difference, so I won't do it again.

Perhaps my position on this is better explained by the fact that I'm an attorney who regularly deals with negotiations and extracting (or alternatively, having extracted from my clients) all sorts of things my client or the other side is not entitled to, but can get because of the position they are in.

I'm not suggesting she's criminally responsible for the investigative costs, I'm simply suggesting they have a chance to recoup them because instead of calling home and saying I'm scared of marrying you, she called the cops and said I was abducted. That's the reality of the situation. If they end up letting her off the hook, I really don't care, although for the reasons above, she should be charged. But this isn't my police force, so it really doesn't affect me one way or the other.

If you can't relate and/or don't understand that, the we can just leave it right where it's at. But that's where I'm coming from. There's what's "right," and there's "real life." And in real life, she's put herself in an even worse situation than she would have been had she just told the truth.

Ksyrup

05-02-2005, 09:23 PM

Ragone

05-03-2005, 06:29 AM

hxxp://www.match.com/profile/showprofile.aspx?lid=290&uid=iaZfpu3zmwOdEQCV027p4Q%3d%3d&handle=JennyIs&TP=U&sec=A

apparently she's single again ;)

oliegirl

05-03-2005, 08:54 AM

Her fiancee is quoted in the paper today saying he still wants to marry her and never considered the wedding cancelled, just postponed. If he would seriously marry her now then they are perfect for each other b/c they are both crazy!!!!

Ksyrup

05-03-2005, 09:01 AM

HomerJSimpson

05-03-2005, 09:04 AM

She's well-off, so his persistence is understood. She, on the other hand, has some serious issues. Apparently she told the cops she never expected that anyone would come looking for her. Not her family, not her fiancee, not the cops. WTF?

Some have said she shows signs of manac-depression. If so, it does make sense that she believed that even though it was obviously not the case.

JonInMiddleGA

05-03-2005, 09:16 AM

She's well-off, so his persistence is understood.

IIRC, he's as well off as she is.

oykib

05-03-2005, 09:33 AM

I'll tell you a very real consequence of not charging her-- if they decide not to.

This is a bit of a long story. So bear with me.

I was home for the past week (New York) and while shopping in Harlem I overheard a conversation between the clerk at the video game store I was in and another customer that he was acquainted with.

Essentially, the story is that this clerk was peripherally associated with the local gang.

Now this wasn't some teenager. He was a guy in his late twenties/early thirties with a wife and a daughter. In the same conversation he talked about his life insurance policy and the other things he does to protect himself and his family.

Basically-- and in so many words-- he said that he basically joined this gang to protect him. About how much safer he was and felt coming to work and living in the neighborhood. He continued that he couldn't count on the police.

What does this have to do with Jennifer Wilbanks?

She obviously committed a crime. Everyone in society is aware of it. There is no room for discretion. We are all like the children from Skydog's anecdote and Government authority is Skydog.

Every story like this makes an otherwise honest family man in Harlem turn to organized crime for protection.

The message that it sends if these officers do not charge her is that if you're a nice white lady from the suburbs, then you won't be charged for a crime-- even when the police have you dead to rights.

Now, there could be fifty-million reasons why they might decide not to press charges. But the only reasons people will think will be ones that reinforce a view of a racist and/or classist society.

Honolulu_Blue

05-03-2005, 01:16 PM

Gah!! CNN is STILL reporting on this non-story. It was one of their top headlines on cnn.com today (the big photo was of a billboard of the woman) and is still in the top headline section. I haven't (and typically don't) check too many other "news" wesbsites (fox, msnbc, etc.), but this is ridiculous. GAH!!!

Ksyrup

05-04-2005, 04:02 PM

sterlingice

05-04-2005, 04:25 PM

"The Hispanic community has been hurt enough," Mateo said. "She should apologize to us first, then her fiance and her family."
Do you really want to make a claim for someone to be in your community after something like this happens?

SI

Blackadar

05-04-2005, 04:26 PM

You know, she might have had an argument for just panicking and taking off on the spur of the moment, but then I read this:

" He said Wilbanks bought a Greyhound bus ticket to Austin, Texas, a week before running away April 26."

Screw her. They're thinking about suing her (forget tying it to the criminal plea), and I think they should. It cost the city $40K to $60K to conduct the search.

All I can say is good luck trying. There's a difference between what is right and what is legal. What she did wasn't right, but it was legal. At least, up until the point of the false statements. She was under serious moral obligation to tell someone where she was but she was under no legal obligation. There's a big difference.

Now I haven't followed the case that closely, but from what I understand, the false statements were to New Mexico police and possibly the FBI, correct? So if they (New Mexico, the FBI) want to charge her with a crime, they should charge her with a crime. But the State of Georgia doesn't have shit from what I can tell and while I'm sure they feel...betrayed, they should shut the hell up and be thankful that it wasn't what everyone feared just a week ago. If she did make false statements to the State of Georgia, then charge her for making the false statements and let the case go to trial. All I can say is that it'd be a waste of time, manpower and I think ultimately there wouldn't be a great chance of a conviction - the "under duress" and "temporary insanity" defenses would be pretty powerful here. I also think that the local law enforcement is just being indignant - though I can understand why.

Of course, Ksyrup lost the discussion when he brought out Bill Clinton, liberals and the "blowjob" attack.

Ksyrup

05-04-2005, 04:33 PM

Of course, Ksyrup lost the discussion when he brought out Bill Clinton, liberals and the "blowjob" attack.
We've already beaten this discussion into the ground well before you decided to clean up, but 'twas no attack. If you can't see that:

a) running away from a wedding = having affair; and
b) filing a false police report = lying under oath

then I can't help you. In both instances, people continued to equate the underlying behavior with the reason for charges being filed, when there was/is, in both cases, a separate legitimate reason for charges being filed. That's the only point I was trying to make.

digamma

05-04-2005, 04:35 PM

All I can say is good luck trying. There's a difference between what is right and what is legal. What she did wasn't right, but it was legal. At least, up until the point of the false statements. She was under serious moral obligation to tell someone where she was but she was under no legal obligation. There's a big difference.

Now I haven't followed the case that closely, but from what I understand, the false statements were to New Mexico police and possibly the FBI, correct? So if they (New Mexico, the FBI) want to charge her with a crime, they should charge her with a crime. But the State of Georgia doesn't have shit from what I can tell and while I'm sure they feel...betrayed, they should shut the hell up and be thankful that it wasn't what everyone feared just a week ago. If she did make false statements to the State of Georgia, then charge her for making the false statements and let the case go to trial. All I can say is that it'd be a waste of time, manpower and I think ultimately there wouldn't be a great chance of a conviction - the "under duress" and "temporary insanity" defenses would be pretty powerful here. I also think that the local law enforcement is just being indignant - though I can understand why.

Of course, Ksyrup lost the discussion when he brought out Bill Clinton, liberals and the "blowjob" attack.
There is a difference between civil and criminal liability. I don't think anyone is arguing about when the criminal behavior took place, but civil liability may well have attached long before she made that 911 call in New Mexico.

Klinglerware

05-04-2005, 04:40 PM

I have to say, I didn't watch this story all that closely, but the little I did read about it, all I remember being reported is that she was abducted by a man and woman. I never heard anything about a Hispanic, until this guy opened his pie hole. I can't stand this kind of grandstanding BS:

"Fernando Mateo, president of Hispanics Across America, a New York-based organization that advocates for Hispanic communities, called for an apology to the Hispanic population of the United States, and especially those living in Georgia and New Mexico, because she had falsely accused a Hispanic man of kidnapping her.

"The Hispanic community has been hurt enough," Mateo said. "She should apologize to us first, then her fiance and her family."

Well, the "fake hispanic man" angle was duly reported by the press when descriptions of her false reports first surfaced.

Grandstanding? Maybe, but it seems to me that whenever someone concocts some phony story to cover up their own misdeeds, they always seem to conjure up a minority perpertrator. That's what Susan Smith (the lady in South Carolina who drowned her kids) and Charles Stuart (the guy in Boston who murdered his wife in Boston in the late 80s) did--both tried to pin their actions on non-existent black males. The later case almost caused race riots in Boston when people found out Stuart was lying. When making up a perp, why do they always have to imagine it being a minority?

Blackadar

05-04-2005, 04:43 PM

There is a difference between civil and criminal liability. I don't think anyone is arguing about when the criminal behavior took place, but civil liability may well have attached long before she made that 911 call in New Mexico.

What civil liability? I just don't see it...last time I checked, it was a free country. Where is it required by law to let someone know where she is?

I think the girl is a nutcase and should be charged with making false statements. I don't like the precedent of trying to sue her for a police investigation when no crime that precipitated the investigation was committed. To me, that smacks of a police state and having to "show your papers" when you want to go somewhere.

Blackadar

05-04-2005, 04:46 PM

We've already beaten this discussion into the ground well before you decided to clean up, but 'twas no attack. If you can't see that:

a) running away from a wedding = having affair; and
b) filing a false police report = lying under oath

then I can't help you. In both instances, people continued to equate the underlying behavior with the reason for charges being filed, when there was/is, in both cases, a separate legitimate reason for charges being filed. That's the only point I was trying to make.

"Running away from a wedding = having affair."

Has this been proven? I haven't followed the case that much, but I didn't see this at all. Also, can you have an affair when you're not even married? Not last time I checked.

I don't see that, so I guess you can't help me.

Of course, you're the one who somehow managed to bring Bill Clinton and his blowjob into the discussion, so I'm not sure I can follow your logic anyway.

Ksyrup

05-04-2005, 04:51 PM

"Running away from a wedding = having affair."

Has this been proven? I haven't followed the case that much, but I didn't see this at all. Also, can you have an affair when you're not even married? Not last time I checked.

I don't see that, so I guess you can't help me.

Of course, you're the one who somehow managed to bring Bill Clinton and his blowjob into the discussion, so I'm not sure I can follow your logic anyway.
OK, let me break this down for you. It's called an analogy.

Running away from wedding - what Wilkins did
Having an affair - what Clinton did

Filing a false police report - what Wilkins did
Lying under oath - what Clinton did

Suggesting the only reason Clinton was impeached was for having an affair - what Clinton apologists said

Suggesting the only reason Wilkins might be charged with a crime was for not telling anyone where she was - what a bunch of people in this thread have said

Is that clearer?

JonInMiddleGA

05-04-2005, 04:57 PM

When making up a perp, why do they always have to imagine it being a minority?

Well, at least in the case of the runaway Georgia bride, it's an odds-on bet.

from http://ganet.org/gbi/2003ucrsum.html#asr

Here's the 2003 Index Crimes arrests, broken down by Race & Type

Murder: 157 White, 374 Non-White
Forcible Rape: 143 White, 392 Non-White
Robbery: 598 White, 2,278 Non-White
Aggravated Assault: 3,569 White, 7,152 Non-White
Total Violent Crime: 4,467 White, 10,196 Non-White

Of all arrests in Georgia in 2003 for violent crimes, 69.5 of those arrested weren't white. In a state that was 75% white as of the 2000 census.

Seems to go a long way toward explaining the whole "why it's always imagined as a minority thing".

Drake

05-04-2005, 04:59 PM

There's a difference between what is right and what is legal. What she did wasn't right, but it was legal. At least, up until the point of the false statements. She was under serious moral obligation to tell someone where she was but she was under no legal obligation. There's a big difference.

Man, I wish I had skipped right to this post. Blackadar wins the award for Most Common Sense Take on a Weird Situation. I could have saved myself lots of mental wrangling between a bunch of good posts and well-thought out positions if I'd just started with this one. :)

But the State of Georgia doesn't have shit from what I can tell and while I'm sure they feel...betrayed, they should shut the hell up and be thankful that it wasn't what everyone feared just a week ago.

This is the only bit I really disagree with. I don't see any reason why the State of Georgia should be "thankful" that she's still living. She cost them a lot of money. First, through the investigation itself, then second through the estate/inheritance taxes they lost by her not having been kidnapped/murdered (if she truly is as wealthy as people here are making her out to be, I mean). Her being dead is a win-win for the state.

Ksyrup

05-04-2005, 05:02 PM

Man, I wish I had skipped right to this post. Blackadar wins the award for Most Common Sense Take on a Weird Situation. I could have saved myself lots of mental wrangling between a bunch of good posts and well-thought out positions if I'd just started with this one. :)
The thing is, no one has argued against that point. At least, I haven't. The only illegal act occurred when she lied to the police. No one is suggesting otherwise.

Drake

05-04-2005, 05:03 PM

dola...

I posted the second paragraph with my tongue firmly planted in cheek. I wish we had a tongue-in-cheek smiley.

Drake

05-04-2005, 05:05 PM

The thing is, no one has argued against that point. At least, I haven't. The only illegal act occurred when she lied to the police. No one is suggesting otherwise.

Maybe a creative judge will sentence her to marrying the doofus who was stupid enough to wait for her...and then prohibit the two doofii from mating.

JonInMiddleGA

05-04-2005, 05:05 PM

dola...

I posted the second paragraph with my tongue firmly planted in cheek. I wish we had a tongue-in-cheek smiley.

And besides, you left out the costs of:
homicide investigation, prosecution, and incarceration.

Ksyrup

05-04-2005, 05:08 PM

Maybe a creative judge will sentence her to marrying the doofus who was stupid enough to wait for her...and then prohibit the two doofii from mating.
I thought the result of the Wisconsin student who faked her own abduction was fair - 2 years probation and $250 a month to the police for the length of her probation. Since this chick is rich, hers shouldbe bumped up considerably, but I think that would be a fair outcome.

Drake

05-04-2005, 05:09 PM

And besides, you left out the costs of:
homicide investigation, prosecution, and incarceration.

Stop being logical when I'm being tongue-in-cheeky!!!

Drake

05-04-2005, 05:10 PM

I thought the result of the Wisconsin student who faked her own abduction was fair - 2 years probation and $250 a month to the police for the length of her probation. Since this chick is rich, hers shouldbe bumped up considerably, but I think that would be a fair outcome.

No, no. As a society, we really need these two not to be mating. Really.

JonInMiddleGA

05-04-2005, 05:11 PM

No, no. As a society, we really need these two not to be mating. Really.

What he said.
Say it with me boys & girls ... Stupid people shouldn't breed.

digamma

05-04-2005, 05:29 PM

What civil liability? I just don't see it...last time I checked, it was a free country. Where is it required by law to let someone know where she is?

I think the girl is a nutcase and should be charged with making false statements. I don't like the precedent of trying to sue her for a police investigation when no crime that precipitated the investigation was committed. To me, that smacks of a police state and having to "show your papers" when you want to go somewhere.
Oh, there are a number of things for which she might be civilly liable--a creative plaintiff's lawyer could rattle off ten or twelve off the top of their head. Fraud, for instance, as a civil cause of action is making a false representation through act or omission upon which someone relies and such reliance is to their detriment. In other words, the complaint would be that by letting this missing persons investigation continue, once she knew about it, i.e., by failing to report to the authorities that she was ok, she committed a civil fraud. They relied upon her misrepresentation to the tune of $40-60k.

Civil law also typically uses a reasonable person standard. Would a reasonable person have notified police once they were aware of the investigation? Was she negligent in not doing so?

By contrast, criminal fraud involves more sinister motives a deliberate intent to deceive. It's a higher standard (as is the burden of proof--beyond a reasonable doubt for criminal vs. preponderance of the evidence for the civil action).

In practice, I agree with you. If I were a city attorney, I'd never bring a civil suit here. But, that doesn't mean there aren't viable complaints.

Ben E Lou

05-04-2005, 06:29 PM

Y'all did miss one thing:

If the AJC is to be believed, then she told the Duluth police chief on the telephone that she'd been kidnapped from Georgia. If that is accurate, then that's what they've got her on.

Desnudo

05-04-2005, 07:13 PM

Clearly this lady needs to be chained to the kitchen.

Ben E Lou

05-11-2005, 09:25 AM

<table style="border-collapse: collapse;" align="right" border="1" bordercolor="#111111" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="205"> <tbody><tr> <td width="100%">http://boortz.com/images/wilbanks_mugshot.jpg
Good lord, is this Wilbanks woman (http://nypost.com/news/nationalnews/46378.htm) all full of THE CRAZY, or what?</td></tr></tbody></table>

Ksyrup

05-11-2005, 09:37 AM

Isn't this what drives MEN crazy, not women?

"Some friends have suggested that Wilbanks was upset with fiancé John Mason's insistence on abstinence before the marriage."

Samdari

05-11-2005, 10:40 AM

You know, everyone has been saying this dude can't marry poor Jen now.

If she's just crazy, that just makes her female, and he's no worse off than the rest of us.

Bee

05-11-2005, 11:03 AM

You know, everyone has been saying this dude can't marry poor Jen now.

If she's just crazy, that just makes her female, and he's no worse off than the rest of us.

Sometimes I think Samdari and I are married to the same woman...

Desnudo

05-11-2005, 11:08 AM

No, no, no, no, no. No, no, no.

"What she put everyone through" = "causes this much trouble" = "I was duped as part of a media circus and I want vengeance"

I'm not sure how I can phrase this except:

Stop watching stupid news stories.

If you have a reaction like this every time the media shows you a story like this, then you're just feeding them and asking for the next stupid ass Peterson girl story or this thing. You're still pissed about it two or three or however many days later- see, it worked.
[/size]
SI

I'm not sure how I can phrase this except:

Stop reading stupid FOFC Threads.

If your reaction is to respond in huge font letters.

Ben E Lou

05-11-2005, 11:12 AM

cuervo72

05-11-2005, 11:17 AM

http://boortz.com/images/wilbanks_mugshot.jpg

http://www.fof-ihof.com/upload/cuervo72/nem-dori.jpg

Ben E Lou

05-11-2005, 11:18 AM

http://www.fof-ihof.com/upload/cuervo72/nem-dori.jpgPure, unadulterated, 24-carat GOLD! :D

Ksyrup

05-11-2005, 11:18 AM

http://www.fof-ihof.com/upload/cuervo72/nem-dori.jpg
Thank you very much. I'm just getting over a cold, still have a runny nose, and you just made me shoot a bit of snot out of my right nostril. Well done.

cuervo72

05-11-2005, 11:19 AM

I aim to please.

Samdari

05-11-2005, 12:38 PM

Sometimes I think Samdari and I are married to the same woman...

Go ahead, you keep her.

Bee

05-11-2005, 01:17 PM

Go ahead, you keep her.

yep...definitely the same woman.

Ksyrup

05-11-2005, 01:21 PM

I aim to please.
Then let me attempt to return the favor:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-1/932175/wilbanks2.jpg

cuervo72

05-11-2005, 01:34 PM

lol

Ben E Lou

05-14-2005, 07:07 AM

<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr><td colspan="2" align="left" valign="middle"> Jennifer's High Tailin' Hot Sauce </td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="left" valign="middle"> </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="5" align="center" valign="top"> http://www.pappyspeppers.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/jen.jpg </td> <td align="left" valign="top"> Quantity in Basket: none
Code: jen
Price: $7.00

Shipping Weight: 1.25 pounds
</td></tr> <form method="post" action="http://www.pappyspeppers.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?"></form> <tr><td> </td></tr> <tr><td align="left" valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr><td> </td></tr> <tr><td align="left" valign="middle"> Quantity: <input name="Quantity" value="1" size="4" type="text"> <input value="Add To Basket" type="submit"> </td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="left" valign="middle"> </td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="left" valign="middle"> "Warning: This sauce may cause you to seek intense professional help... voluntarily." The "Runaway Bride" is now a killer habanero hot sauce! Bring Jennifer home to your house for that Spicy and Uncertain feeling that only she can bring. As heard on "The Neal Boortz Show". Habanero Peppers, Carrots, Onion, vinegar, Garlic, Lime Juice, Salt. </td></tr> </tbody> </table>
<center>©2004 PappysPeppers.com. (http://pappyspeppers.com/) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Site design by PyroPepper (http://pyropepper.com/)</center>

Ben E Lou

05-14-2005, 07:09 AM

RUNAWAY BRIDE (http://www.vicalecorporation.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=19) 12"Action Figurehttp://herobuilders.com/images/new_033.gif (http://www.vicalecorporation.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=19)

  Get your very own RUNAWAY BRIDE ONLY $24.95 She Comes with her very own TOWEL and CROP TOP VEGAS BABY Jogging T. YES THESE ARE IN STOCK AND SHIPPING NOW

http://herobuilders.com/images/HB0095.jpg (http://www.vicalecorporation.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=19)

Raiders Army

05-31-2005, 10:11 AM

I fail to see the attraction to this story.

Bee

05-31-2005, 10:13 AM

I fail to see the attraction to this story.

I suspect it's a fantasy most married men have that their brides would have done this before their weddings...

Qwikshot

05-31-2005, 11:09 AM

They got her crazy eyes just right.

Ksyrup

06-06-2005, 09:33 AM

Here's an example of someone smart enough not to commit a crime when they decided to take off...

Missing Texas student found after 7 years

Working at Sam's Club in Kentucky

BRYAN, Texas (AP) -- A Texas A&M University student who had been feared murdered after disappearing nearly seven years ago has been found alive and working in Kentucky, according to authorities.

Brandi Stahr went missing in October 1998, and police spent hours searching for her body in wooded areas. They questioned a serial rapist and murderer about her just hours before he was executed last year.

But a telephone tip led investigators to Florence, Kentucky, where Stahr has been working for the last five years at a Sam's Club, said Texas Ranger Frank Malinak.

"We thought we were dealing with a missing persons case," Malinak said. "But, in actuality, we were dealing with a person who did not want to be found and was in hiding."

Stahr, 27, hid from her family after she and her mother, Ann Dickenson, got into an argument over bad grades she received during her sophomore year and her family stopped paying for school.

For the last five years, Stahr worked under her real name, using her Social Security number. But police said they were unable to locate her that way because they don't have access to IRS records.

Dickenson and Stahr haven't reunited yet, but have talked on the phone. Stahr told her sister the family should not bother visiting, but her mother said nothing will stop her.

"We're going. I'm going. Even if I have to sit out in a (Sam's Club) parking lot to see her," Dickenson said.

Although Stahr committed no crime in her disappearance, investigators spent a lot of money and time looking for her, Malinak said.

"The responsible thing to do would have been to let someone know you're OK," Malinak said. "There are going to be people expending man-hours and effort, trying to find a missing person."

Ksyrup

06-06-2005, 09:34 AM

BTW, I find it amazing that if I want to take off, I can still use my SSN and the chances that law enforcement will find me is nil. Are SS records not available to any law enforcement agency?

Raiders Army

06-06-2005, 09:37 AM

"We're going. I'm going. Even if I have to sit out in a (Sam's Club) parking lot to see her," Dickenson said.

Some people will do anything to get an employee's discount. Jesus Christ, the store already has marked down merchandise!

Ksyrup

06-06-2005, 09:40 AM

A single person with a discount to Sam's Club is practically worthless. She should welcome her family back just so they can share the 144 lb. tub of baked beans she can get for $.03 per lb. cheaper than at Wal-Mart.

st.cronin

06-06-2005, 09:44 AM

BTW, I find it amazing that if I want to take off, I can still use my SSN and the chances that law enforcement will find me is nil. Are SS records not available to any law enforcement agency?

My guess is if they had thought to look for her that way they could have found her, although I don't know. I'd be surprised if SS records weren't in some way available to law enforcement - if not directly, perhaps through flagging of a certain #, or in some other way.

Ksyrup

06-06-2005, 09:46 AM

That was my thought too, but they specifically said they "didn't have access" to those records. Probably just covering their asses.

thetrilogy

06-06-2005, 12:06 PM

I fail to see the attraction to this story.

I heard that she ran because her husband-to-be had planned an all anal wedding night. Was she a virigin? That probably freaked her out.

JonInMiddleGA

06-06-2005, 01:09 PM

BTW, I find it amazing that if I want to take off, I can still use my SSN and the chances that law enforcement will find me is nil. Are SS records not available to any law enforcement agency?

If you aren't wanted (i.e. outstanding warrants) then I don't believe there's much chance of that information being used directly by law enforcement to catch you. Now, how private investigators might use something like knowing your SSN, that's a different matter.

Young Drachma

06-14-2005, 09:58 PM

She's gonna be - the run-away bride - on NBC next week. She's gonna get a friggin book deal out of this. No worse than murderers, I guess.

Galaxy

06-14-2005, 10:50 PM

She's gonna be - the run-away bride - on NBC next week. She's gonna get a friggin book deal out of this. No worse than murderers, I guess.

A book on what? How to run?

Thats terrible, but not as sad as all the jurors in the Wacko Jacko will profit from the case (which I think California needs to pass a law prohibiting jurors to profit from criminal cases).

Logan

06-14-2005, 11:31 PM

A book on what? How to run?

Thats terrible, but not as sad as all the jurors in the Wacko Jacko will profit from the case (which I think California needs to pass a law prohibiting jurors to profit from criminal cases).

How can you say it is more sad for these people who have had to sit in a damn jury for months, away from their jobs, over someone who faked her own kidnapping, costing tons of taxpayer money?

bob

06-16-2005, 06:28 AM

Ah, she finally signed the movie deal....

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/06/16/wilbanks.rights.ap/index.html

Ksyrup

06-16-2005, 07:06 AM

Ah, she finally signed the movie deal....

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/06/16/wilbanks.rights.ap/index.html
If this was a truly great story, we'd find out this whole thing was orchestrated by the bride and groom from the beginning.

bob

06-16-2005, 07:19 AM

To be honest with you, that sounds more like something that will be on next season's first Law and Order - ripped from the headlines.

The bride ends up dead a year after running, and you find out that the bride and groom had plans from the beginning to make money off it, but he then got greedy and wanted it all. Or some crap like that.

Easy Mac

06-16-2005, 05:31 PM

Didn't they already do that movie with the exact same fucking name with an actress with a huge mouth instead of huge eyes?

Galaxy

06-16-2005, 09:09 PM

How can you say it is more sad for these people who have had to sit in a damn jury for months, away from their jobs, over someone who faked her own kidnapping, costing tons of taxpayer money?

True, now that I think about it.

Dola...
Can anyone tell me what the appeal of this besides her actually running away is? What will 200-pages and 2 hours of movie time fill?

JonInMiddleGA

03-03-2006, 08:29 AM

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/0303gwxbobble.html

By KEN SUGIURA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/03/06

Eleven dollars won't just get you 60 minutes of Gladiators hockey Sunday at Gwinnett Arena.

If you're among the first 1,000 fans to the arena, a ticket will also earn you a wobbly piece of Gwinnett history — a Runaway Bride bobblehead doll.

"I've seen celebrity bobbleheads and stuff like that, but that one's kind of new for me," said Ron Lee, a manager at J&J Sports SuperStore in Snellville, a collectibles dealer.

It has been a promotions winner. Ticket sales are up about 25 percent for Sunday's game against the Pensacola Ice Pilots compared with the past two Sunday home games.

"When the doors open at 3 p.m., there will be quite a crowd to get that thing," said Chris Peace, the team's marketing director.

The team is considering producing more than the original 1,000 (capacity for a Glads game at the Arena is 11,355.) One thing the team won't do is say the doll is Jennifer Wilbanks, the Duluth woman who gained national fame last April when she disappeared days before her wedding, only to turn up in Albuquerque, N.M., with a concocted story of a kidnapping.

The official name of the promotion is the Runaway Bride (Any Similarity to Actual Persons is Unintended and Purely Coincidental) Bobblehead Doll Night.

"It's a 'wink wink' thing," Peace said. "We're not trying to disparage her or be mean-spirited in any way, and we hope it's not taken that way."

Peace said the team contacted Wilbanks through intermediaries to let her know its plans. A team attorney said that once Wilbanks sold her story to a New York multimedia company, she became fair game. Wendy Cleghorn, Wilbanks' cousin, confirmed that the family was aware of the promotion, but did not have any further comment.

The 5-inch, hand-painted doll wears a tiara, veil, sweatshirt, jogging pants and running shoes. She holds a bouquet in her left hand and a ticket stamped "ABQ" in her right. Her gray sweatshirt reads "I [heart] Duluth."

The team didn't extend Wilbanks an invitation, but Peace said that "we would love to have her as part of it. We would roll out the red carpet, VIP treatment."

Wilbanks likely won't show up, but Duluth Mayor Shirley Lasseter will be there to drop the first puck. Maximus, the team mascot, will wear a veil and will toss bouquets stuffed with concert tickets.

Off-the-wall promotions are not unusual for a minor league team like the Gladiators, which competes with the likes of the Braves and Falcons for the attention and dollars of sports fans. On-ice games of musical chairs and relay races between periods are par for the course.

"This is a very serious business," Peace said, "but we don't take ourselves particularly seriously, particularly in our promotional philosophy."
http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/03/51/23/image_2423513.jpg

flere-imsaho

03-03-2006, 08:32 AM

Oh God not this thread again.... :p

Butter

03-03-2006, 08:40 AM

They didn't get her eyes right.

Ben E Lou

10-10-2006, 08:37 AM

'Runaway bride' sues her ex-fiance for $500,000

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published on: 10/10/06 Jennifer Wilbanks, who became known as the "runaway bride" after taking off just days before her lavish wedding in 2005, is suing her former fiancé for $500,000.
Wilbanks and John Mason broke up for good in May, about a year after her excursion to Las Vegas and New Mexico made international headlines while hundreds of friends and family members searched for her back home in Duluth.
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="175"></table> Mason has until Oct. 22 to respond to the lawsuit, filed last month in Gwinnett County Superior Court. The suit, Wilbanks v. JCM Consulting et al, was filed Sept. 13, according to court records.
In it, Wilbanks seeks $250,000 as her share of a home Mason purchased through the partnership with proceeds from $500,000 received for selling their story to an agent, plus $250,000 in punitive damages for allegedly abusing the power of attorney she granted for him to handle their financial affairs, according to WAGA-TV, which reported on the lawsuit Monday night.
She also seeks the return of personal property she says he has kept.
Wilbanks disappeared four days before her April 30, 2005, wedding.
Hundreds of police and volunteers searched for her for three days before she called Mason from Albuquerque, N.M., claiming to have been abducted and sexually assaulted.
She later recanted, saying she fled because of unspecified personal issues, and pleaded no contest to telling police a phony story.
She was sentenced to two years of probation and performed community service that included mowing the lawns of public buildings.

Subby

10-10-2006, 09:06 AM

She was sentenced to two years of probation and performed community service that included mowing the lawns of public buildings.
Oof.

JonInMiddleGA

10-10-2006, 09:31 AM

SD beat me to it.

SunDevil

10-10-2006, 11:08 AM

These people deserve to be be married to each other. Just as long as they do not reproduce.