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Cody Dawg · Apr 30, 2005, 11:54 AM

Kidnapped bride...not kidnapped after all.

So, a lot of money was spent looking for this looney tune bride and now she confesses that she was simply hiding out all along. She knew that people were looking for her, including the police, thousands of dollars in police and FBI resources were used (and maybe diverted from another, REAL, investigation including another missing person), etc.

Should they try to prosecute her?

I don't even know if there is a crime against what she did.

Thoughts?

Oh, and by the way, her mother said, "I have no doubt that they will be getting married in the future at some point."

What man would want to marry someone like her?

Mithras · Apr 30, 2005, 11:59 AM

retarded story of the week. better if we all leave it alone.

d4nth3m4n · Apr 30, 2005, 12:02 PM

lots of men marry women like that, they just don't have the fortune of figuring out their SOs drama/attention seeking mechanism as early on as this guy has.

wdlove · Apr 30, 2005, 12:06 PM

Happy to know that she is alive. Definitely the wrong way to act. Will have to wait and se if she had a motive.

Apple Pro Underwear · Apr 30, 2005, 12:08 PM

wasting people's time (just like another seperate incident in florida) IMO is a big deal.

dont prosecute her, because that would be wasting more time. FINE her ass according to the correlated money spent searching for her.

reading stories like this make me want to turn gay so i can marry myself. QUOTE ME ON THAT.

Oisín · Apr 30, 2005, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by Apple Pro Underwear

reading stories like this make me want to turn gay so i can marry myself. QUOTE ME ON THAT.

Done.

cube-dude · Apr 30, 2005, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by d4nth3m4n

lots of men marry women like that, they just don't have the fortune of figuring out their SOs drama/attention seeking mechanism as early on as this guy has.

Agreed, what a gift he received. Now all the dude has to do is say thanks but no thanks.

Hopefully he's got the balls to do it. Step away from the scary bride, sir. Step away.

PacHead · Apr 30, 2005, 01:27 PM

The loony, unstable, lying broad should be charged with perpetrating a criminal fraud, and she should be sued inorder to recover back all of the taxpayer money that was spent on looking for her lying, little booty.

Her fiance should definitely reconsider, now that he knows what kind of piece of work this chick is. He should consider himself lucky, and just hunt for another female, it's not like there's a shortage of them. Maybe if he's lucky, he'll find a woman who isn't a miserable, self-absorbed, lying, unresponsible lowlife with criminal tendencies.

DigitalEl · Apr 30, 2005, 01:34 PM

Yes. She should be prosecuted for wasting the resources of law enforcement personnel.

BUT... It's also kind of funny. I love when the media gets yanked like this. They're so into going balls to the wall when something bad happens to a pretty white girl. If the "victim" isn't attractive and there's not a lot of tear-inducing pictures of them during better times which can be splashed all over the "news," it gets virtually no coverage. So yeah... Screw this chick. Screw TV news. And screw off-topic rants from cranky MacNNers who'd rather be anywhere but work on this gorgeous Saturday.

budster101 · Apr 30, 2005, 01:35 PM

Already a thread on this topic, started by me, several hours ago...
Today, 11:28 AM

I'm obviously referring to 'Jennifer Wilbanks' who faked being abducted and then claimed she had cold feet.

I'm wondering now, that more information is out. Were these people, or her just looking for some attention in their little town?

Some facts: Greyhound said they don't have a stop there, and it would be far out of her range to run to. (Marathoner or not).

Her husband to be said he spoke with her on the phone and he was trying to get her to describe her surroundings?... That doesn't sound like an abduction to me.

Anyone want to chime in with their theories?

Edit: In any case, I'm happy to hear she's alive and well rather than having to watch another one of those 'he did it' dramas.

OptimusG4 · Apr 30, 2005, 01:44 PM

I hope he leaves her after this. Who knows what sh*t she'll pull if they get married.

budster101 · Apr 30, 2005, 01:53 PM

If the media doesn't persue this..

Oisín · Apr 30, 2005, 02:46 PM

Wtf is up with cube-dude's 'stars'?

PacHead · Apr 30, 2005, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by Ois�n

Wtf is up with cube-dude's 'stars'?

I was wondering the same thing myself.

Who the hell is he ? It's not like he has 10,000 posts or anything.

I'd like to change out my stars with something else also.

ghporter · Apr 30, 2005, 08:35 PM

Back to the topic, I don't know about whether she should be prosecuted, but she should be billed for EVERYTHING the police and volunteers did looking for her when she had just skipped town. She could at least have called her mother and said "I need to be alone for a few days," and then check in now and then. NOOOOOOO! She had to set up a state-wide manhunt for her, get her fiance into all sorts of trouble with the police (he didn't want to do a polygraph test with the cops-look at the track record Georgia police have with interrogating people, and you'll probably agree with him on that), and generally get the whole country into a frenzy about her. Charge her out the wazzoo. I hope he leaves her too. Stupid, childish, selfish.

Mastrap · Apr 30, 2005, 08:56 PM

Nice to see what an understanding, forgiving bunch y'all are. People make mistakes, especially when under pressure. Case closed, move along.

invisibleX · Apr 30, 2005, 09:26 PM

She will be fined in all likely hood. Its fairly standard and usually quite small. I believe there are about two things she can be charged with.. forget what exactly.

TailsToo · Apr 30, 2005, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by PacHead

I was wondering the same thing myself.

Who the hell is he ? It's not like he has 10,000 posts or anything.

I'd like to change out my stars with something else also.

Maybe he's the guy who owns MacNN?

Cellery · Apr 30, 2005, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by PacHead

I was wondering the same thing myself.

Who the hell is he ? It's not like he has 10,000 posts or anything.

I'd like to change out my stars with something else also.

He was previously a mod, and said in a previous thread:

Originally Posted by cube-dude

Ok, the answer is I moderated here for some time, so the custom job is a nice gesture by the good folks who run the forums.

Cody Dawg · May 1, 2005, 01:13 AM

"Attention, mods! I'd like paw prints under my name instead of stars, okay?

Thanks!"

(I don't think that can be done but it would be REALLY cool.)

sideus · May 1, 2005, 02:24 AM

Is it a crime to disappear? I'm unsure wether she should be prosecuted.

OwlBoy · May 1, 2005, 03:45 AM

This happened in Madison awhile back, a fake kidnapping.

-Owl

turtle777 · May 1, 2005, 04:46 AM

I am SOOO glad Cody started a thread on this

-t

RonnieoftheRose · May 1, 2005, 04:51 AM

Yep. Charge her, prosecture her and jail her for five lifeterms because she cost some money. Lawyers will be happy. Together they could bankrupt a country and never be accused of creating a culture of court cases, claims, court cases, sue, sue, sue, get your money here...

ghporter · May 1, 2005, 04:01 PM

If she just dropped out and made it clear that's what she was doing, that would be one thing. She didn't. She made it look like she was going to go jogging and then never came back. Can't anyone here remember a young lady that disappeared like that in Washington DC? Then, when she ran out of money, she called 911 and told police that she'd just been released by kidnappers. She did NOT just disappear-she falsified a crime report. That's bad, and she needs to be tried for that. And to pay for all the volunteers that spent their time and energy looking for someone that didn't want to be found.

So I'm harsh...

SVass · May 1, 2005, 04:31 PM

If our judicial system had no other work to do, then I'd support her prosecution (with her plea of temporary insanity) so Fox News and MSNBC would have something to cover. I earnestly hope that they can find a better use for their time and my (tax) money. sam

PacHead · May 1, 2005, 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by SVass

I earnestly hope that they can find a better use for their time and my (tax) money. sam

Yeah, as opposed to the possibly hundreds of thousands of our tax dollars (if not more) that was used to search for that lying woman. That makes perfect sense. Let's not prosecute any criminals, because it might end up costing us a few pesos.

nredman · May 1, 2005, 04:46 PM

judging from the pictures i have seen of this lady, i'd say she is a bit nutty. i think she should be fined and not waste more time & money for people. i'd probably not marry this chick after this, unless she got some help...i mean i dont think i'd be able to work something out in a marriage with someone who would do this.

Eriamjh · May 1, 2005, 05:00 PM

They should do whatever it takes to NEVER HEAR ABOUT THIS CASE AGAIN!!

Fine her, sue her, jail her, do nothing. Whatever they do, don't WASTE MY TIME telling me about it. Doesn't CNN et al have anything better to show as "news"?

Oisín · May 1, 2005, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by sideus

Is it a crime to disappear? I'm unsure wether she should be prosecuted.

Disappearing in itself probably isn't a crime - but knowingly impeding a police/federal investigation by withholding information you are aware they need (in this case your own location), is.

SVass · May 1, 2005, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by PacHead

Yeah, as opposed to the possibly hundreds of thousands of our tax dollars (if not more) that was used to search for that lying woman. That makes perfect sense. Let's not prosecute any criminals, because it might end up costing us a few pesos.

In my state, they just added the ability to charge tolls on already existing HOV lanes because they need money! I think that all those who want to prosecute her should pay for it; furthermore, they should have to fork up the money to pay for all drug prosecutions and jail costs and quit charging me to pay for their interest in viewing flagellation. sam

loki74 · May 1, 2005, 05:32 PM

she should be prosecuted in New Mexico for lying to the police. Thats a crime, she committed it, and just like anyone else who does, she should be prosecuted for it. Simple as that.

For everyone whose time she waisted, she should have to pay it up. Fines. Big time.

Forgiveness? Yeah sure, forgiveness is all fine and dandy. But jsut cause we forgive her, does that mean she should get off the hook? I have very little sympathy for this woman. I mean, what about the guy here? Whenever a guy goes out of line in a relationship (and I dont even mean something big. I mean, if a guy were to do exactly the same thing), its like hes the scum of the earth. But if a woman does? Oh, lets just forgive and forget. Bullsh!t.

My sympathies are with the husband (or would be husband) and all the people who were worried sick about her.

RonnieoftheRose · May 1, 2005, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by PacHead

Yeah, as opposed to the possibly hundreds of thousands of our tax dollars (if not more) that was used to search for that lying woman.

Perhaps it's worth asking why it should cost that much to put out some news and notices about any person allegedly or actually kidnapped. Hundreds of thousands? I could understand that is it amounted to six months to a year or searching. Someone else is stealing your money, not her.

Mafia · May 1, 2005, 11:49 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

Back to the topic, I don't know about whether she should be prosecuted, but she should be billed for EVERYTHING the police and volunteers did looking for her when she had just skipped town. She could at least have called her mother and said "I need to be alone for a few days," and then check in now and then. NOOOOOOO! She had to set up a state-wide manhunt for her, get her fiance into all sorts of trouble with the police (he didn't want to do a polygraph test with the cops-look at the track record Georgia police have with interrogating people, and you'll probably agree with him on that), and generally get the whole country into a frenzy about her. Charge her out the wazzoo. I hope he leaves her too. Stupid, childish, selfish.

ya forget jail time, she didn't report herself missing or leave a fake ransom note or anything. if i drive to the mountains and decide to live there for a few monthes without telling anyone i shouldn't face jail time. however she should be responsible for the money spent looking for her.

edit: after reading loki's post i realize she did lie to the police (didn't read the article

) either way just make her pay.

MrForgetable · May 2, 2005, 12:15 AM

i was laughing when i heard she faked her kidnapping.

Randman · May 2, 2005, 03:58 AM

At the very least, she should be fined and have to pay back some, if not all, of the money spent on her search.

ghporter · May 2, 2005, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by MrForgetable

i was laughing when i heard she faked her kidnapping.

She didn't fake anything, she just told the police that she'd been kidnapped. Different. It's still making a false report-which wastes police resources that could be used for going after real criminals and investigating real crimes.

As I said earlier, if she'd just told her mother that she was going to be gone a while, that would have made a huge difference. Instead, she let everyone think she'd been abducted (how could you miss the news coverage?) for days and days. That was very cold and selfish of her.

Millennium · May 2, 2005, 08:34 AM

She filed a false police report. I don't know what class of crime that is, but I do know that it's a crime of some sort; she should be prosecuted and penalized accordingly. I see no reason to do otherwise, and no particular reason for clemency either.

A truly fitting punishment would be to send detailed descriptions of her home, workplace, and general routine to the tabloids. The Laci Peterson cash cow has just run dry, and no doubt they're aching for a source of moronic stories to carry them through the next couple of years. If this fool wants media attention, let's give her exactly what she wished for, and see if she finds it to be everything she'd fantasized about. Several years of pestering by the paparazzi should do the trick.

MrForgetable · May 2, 2005, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by ghporter

She didn't fake anything, she just told the police that she'd been kidnapped. Different. It's still making a false report-which wastes police resources that could be used for going after real criminals and investigating real crimes.

As I said earlier, if she'd just told her mother that she was going to be gone a while, that would have made a huge difference. Instead, she let everyone think she'd been abducted (how could you miss the news coverage?) for days and days. That was very cold and selfish of her.

well ok. but CNN was doing this flashback and then it was just kind of funny how hard everyone worked to look for her and here she was, doing nothing.

SVass · May 2, 2005, 09:50 AM

Would one of the bright lawyers on this board please explain how making a false report to local police in New Mexico is a crime in Georgia. sam

Millennium · May 2, 2005, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by SVass

Would one of the bright lawyers on this board please explain how making a false report to local police in New Mexico is a crime in Georgia. sam

Actually, from the look of things, it's a federal crime.

Secret__Police · May 2, 2005, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Kidnapped bride...not kidnapped after all.

.............Should they try to prosecute her? ..........

No, she should not be prosecuted.

Cody Dawg · May 2, 2005, 10:38 AM

Today the mayor of Duluth Georgia said that their total cost of police time, paying for helicopters, putting up the FBI at hotels, feeding volunteers hunting for her, all sorts of things, is $100,000.

This "BrideZilla" (don't you like that?

) should be charged with a crime and then ordered to reimburse them for that amount.

I heard that she actually cut her hair and planned this entire thing.

She deserves to pay up. To make sure she pays up she should be on probation and to do that she needs to be charged and convicted and then put on probation. It seems pretty simple to me.

budster101 · May 2, 2005, 11:01 AM

Millions were spent trying to try and find her, and it took a call from her to them...

M I L L I O N S!

invisibleX · May 2, 2005, 11:56 AM

Actually as it happens that wouldn't be fair since she didn't commit a crime that resulted in the search. She walked out on her life and so the police started a missing person search. She did report that the was kidnapped to 911 operators but they can't charge her for that. All they can do is charge her for reporting her kidnapping to the Georgia police chief. Since the search had already begun I don't think she can be fined for those expenses because even if she did leave clues.

ghporter · May 2, 2005, 04:49 PM

invisibleX, I am amused by how you started that post: "Actually as it happens that wouldn't be fair..." Was what she did to everyone in her family, everyone in her fiance's family, the people of Duluth GA, the FBI, etc. "fair?" Not in my book. It appears that she intentionally made it look like she was abducted-left without a trace, not even a tiny note, and made no contact whatsoever. In this day and age, unfortunately, that's almost the same as staging a kidnapping with people posing as kidnappers and everything.

ASIMO · May 2, 2005, 05:18 PM

Fine her.

Then stone her to death in public.

invisibleX · May 2, 2005, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

invisibleX, I am amused by how you started that post: "Actually as it happens that wouldn't be fair..." Was what she did to everyone in her family, everyone in her fiance's family, the people of Duluth GA, the FBI, etc. "fair?" Not in my book. It appears that she intentionally made it look like she was abducted-left without a trace, not even a tiny note, and made no contact whatsoever. In this day and age, unfortunately, that's almost the same as staging a kidnapping with people posing as kidnappers and everything.

Oh sorry, I didn't mean "fair" as in what people feel but what the law could do (since they don't have to charge her in any case), I probably should have written that better but I was in a rush.

She shouldn't be held responsible for a police department that has never heard of a runaway bride. She should be held responsible for reporting the kidnapping after the fact, solidifying the assumption that she was kidnapped. Other that that its her life and if she wants to run off on it I have no opinion on the matter.

thunderous_funker · May 2, 2005, 05:42 PM

The dope still wants to marry her.

"Just because we haven't walked down the aisle, just because we haven't stood in front of 500 people and said our 'I Do's, my commitment before God to her was the day I bought that ring and put it on her finger, and I'm not backing down from that," John Mason said Monday in an interview with Fox News' Hannity & Colmes show.

Would that be the same Hannity that never got tired of talking about the "sanctity" of marriage last year?

ASIMO's suggestion of stoning is sounded better and better. Throw in the groom and Hannity and you've got a deal.

Strike that. Wrong to signle out Hannity for exploiting this banality for ratings. Throw all the farging pseudojournalists into the stoning pit on this one.

Next issue?

nredman · May 3, 2005, 03:53 AM

from cnn.com

"She did not, however, offer an outright apology, said Carter Brank of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. "She didn't feel like she really had done anything wrong."

ooook - they must have really good crack down in FL