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".....it always seemed to me that there was a rather large segment of the LDS population there that would benefit greatly by getting out of Salt Lake for a year or two to see how the rest of the world lives...... Some of my favorite people in all of the world live in Salt Lake but I also know some people who have blinders on as to what goes on in the world."

Thank you, sandude. You have very aptly stated one of the reasons that I have never completely discounted the "runaway" theory. It seemed to me that many were too quick to believe the adamant claims that Elizabeth had absolutely no interest in boys, that she preferred the company of her immediate family to that of her peers, that practicing the harp 3 hours a day was how she wanted to spend her time, and that she was totally happy with her life. In short, it seemed to me that those who failed to question that description of a 14 y/o girl "had blinders on as to what goes in the world."

I sincerely hope that LE has far more information in this case than has been made public, and I suspect that they do. At this point, the runaway/willing accomplice scenario provides the greatest hope of Elizabeth being found alive and well. Those of us who have continued to consider the possibility of a runaway have been attacked repeatedly for "lack of evidence." I think that informed statements such as yours provide at least a modicum of evidence for holding open that possibility.

I, for one, continue to speculate that maybe Elizabeth left the house willingly.

As for her being sheltered, maybe. I just know that I have never lived anywhere near SLC, and I have children, and with my hobby of reading about "true crime," I have a great awareness of the atrocities that can happen anywhere. Often I would broach the subject of, "how can we keep our little children safe, when there's this great big world out there, with all sorts of people in it?" Invariably, people--everyone from friends, to relatives, to people on a street corner, to...just anyone, would tell me, "oh, you shouldn't be so paranoid! You shouldn't SCARE your children and stifle their curiosity by telling them all sorts of tales of what a stranger could do, or warning them away from certain things, or worrying about letting them out of your sight..." I mean, it seems just about everyone has this attitude that "we shouldn't tell children too much" about the bad things in the world, we should "just let them enjoy their years of innocence."

Of course, I told them what I thought they ought to know, anyway!

I agree. I'd rather have her pregnant, barefoot and living in Mexico than one of the awful alternatives.

You have very aptly stated one of the reasons that I have never completely discounted the "runaway" theory.

My general comments about Salt Lake were not meant to support a "runaway" theory. In this case I've about completely ruled that possibility out. It is possible that Ed and Lois may not have known Elizabeth as well as they thought. But after more than 3 months it seems impossible to me that investigators wouldn't have come across someone who would have had an inkling to her wanting to runaway. LE has interviewed her family, extended family (including cousins in her age range), teachers, schoolmates, church associates, etc... IMO if she were so frustrated with her situation at home that she would runaway then I think somebody in this group would have noticed it. Along with this is Mary Katherines eyewitness account of a man with a gun threatening Elizabeth. IMO the "runaway" angle just doesn't compute.