'Runaway Bride' Stopped in Las Vegas, Stayed at Treasure Island (Used Fiancee Name for Check In)

KVBC Channel 3 News ^ | 5/2/05

[gopwinsin04]

We could find out today if the runaway bride, who ended up in Las Vegas, will face criminal charges for lying to police about being kidnapped.

News 3's Kirstin Linquist reports that she could spend up to five years in prision, pretty bad yes, but that's nothing compared to what she is facing from friends and family.

Wilbanks is staying out of sight at her parent's house but is expected to finally make a statement today.

A question she may answer is was this planned? We found out that the ticket to Las Vegas was purchased days before she disappeared.

While in Las Vegas, Wilbanks stayed at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino. Sources close to News 3 say she used her fiancees last name when she checked in.

The two were have supposed to marry that Saturday.

[sarasota]

"Man a crisis hotline". Good Lord, this woman IS the crisis. She needs to help herself first but I am certain she will be sheltered from any "punishment" because she needs "help". And a "learning exercise". My, how they are trying to make it all better. Talk about dysfunction.

[MinuteGal]

A lot of folks are mentioning "community service". I was an elected official for 20 years. Let me tell you that community service isn't as feasible as you think.

Most private businesses such as hospitals do not want these no-matter-how-benign perp bodies around. Brainless work has to be temporarily created for them.

Businesses don't want or don't have the time to watch them during their CS hours. Plus, depending on the charges that were brought originally, other employees are often afraid of them.

Therefore, the community service assignees are shunted into government or social work agencies to do their hours. I was township supervisor when we got saddled with a CS person. The only thing we could do with him was to have him endlessly feed minor document pages through a copy machine for the few hours every week (for seven weeks) he was there. That's all he was qualified for. We couldn't take routine work away from other employees without some kind of training for him and tying up the regular office worker just to train this individual.

Assigning community service screw-ups to "pick and shovel" type jobs requires supervision plus insurance problems. Proper vetting is impossible and you don't want just anyone in a government "job" out on the streets dealing with or near the public without supervision. If something goes haywire, there's an instant lawsuit against the city or town.

I hope y'all are beginning to get my drift.

Community service generally ends up with the schlump sitting around some social work office unhooking papers clips until his/her hours are thankfully fulfilled. The only "punishment" for him/her is getting up in the morning and getting somewhere on time.

Take it from one who knows all about comical "community service"

Better to give a light offender 30 days, suspend the sentence, impose strict probation, and give everyone, including the public, a break. "Community service" should fool no one.

Leni

[fatnotlazy]

I understand what you're saying...I do know a guy who had his own business...he agreed to take on someone sentenced to CS for a few weeks, and the end result was disaster. I don't know that community service really helps all that much...but I guess there is some opinion that jail might be too harsh, so they're looking for something with meaning and consequence. But I think CS would be just a feel-good measure for everyone but her -- and that would be all. To me, the main things would be a sincere apology from her to all concerned and restitution. And oh yes, she does need professional help. I seriously hope she gets it.

[TheSpottedOwl]

I said it before - the way the goofy groom is acting and was never once upset I think they were in on this together for the purpose of a made for TV movie - a book etc. I thought from the onset the groom was either very odd not once upset but rather grooving on all of it something else was happening.

Thanks for jogging my memory. This guy reminds me of Rusty Yates. You know, Andrea's husband...

[Beowulf9]

You graphic guys around here are friggin geniuses!!!

As for her staying at the 'Treasure Island' I thought that reference was for her little scene back home, after the 8 bridal showers. She's going to make out just fine. They're offering her a radio job in

http://albuquerque.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2005/05/02/daily15.html?jst=b_In_hl

Albuquerque radio station offers "runaway bride" talk-radio job

NMBW Staff

American General Media's new Albuquerque FM talk station, KAGM, says it's offered to hire Jennifer Willbanks, the so-called "runaway bride" from Georgia who ended up in New Mexico where she told police she had been kidnapped.

"Of course we're looking for publicity," says Doc Thompson, program director for the station, which launched its talk radio format only about a month ago. "But we are serious about it as well."

Willbanks' case attracted nationwide media attention and considerable chagrin after authorities learned she had not been kidnapped, but instead voluntarily left before her planned wedding in Georgia. In New Mexico, she called police to report she had been abducted.

Thompson said the station thinks she would still be welcome in New Mexico despite the apparent ethnic slight in her made-up kidnapping. Willbanks reportedly told New Mexico law enforcement officials a couple had abducted her and the so-called male kidnapper was Hispanic. In the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau count, nearly half of the state's population claimed Hispanic ancestry.

"I think that part of the story was blown out of proportion," Thompson says.

The station's offer, which Thompson said was faxed Thursday morning to Willbanks' attorney and spokesman, includes a $30,000 salary and either a talk show of her own or a co-host slot with long time morning radio talker Larry Ahrens. A release from the station says the job proposal was motivated by a spirit of "forgiveness."