Posted on 06/16/2005 5:54:05 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
ATLANTA - Runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks has struck a deal for a TV project about her misadventures, irritating some people in her hometown.
ReganMedia, which publishes books and produces TV shows and movies, said Thursday that it has acquired all media rights to the stories of Wilbanks and her fiance, John Mason. The New York company did not say whether any money had changed hands.
In a statement, company President Judith Regan called the tale "an unexpected and compelling story of love and forgiveness that has certainly taught me a thing or two."
ReganBooks has published novels such as Wally Lamb's "I Know This Much Is True" and celebrity titles such as Gen. Tommy Franks' "American Soldier."
The 32-year-old nurse disappeared from her Duluth home on April 26, four days before a wedding that was supposed to have 600 guests and 28 attendants. After taking a bus to Albuquerque, N.M., she claimed she was abducted and sexually assaulted, but later recanted, saying she fled because of unspecified personal issues.
Wilbanks pleaded no contest earlier this month to telling police a phony story and was sentenced to two years of probation and 120 hours of community service. She also was ordered to continue mental health treatment and pay the sheriff's office $2,550.
Duluth spent nearly $43,000 to search for her. Wilbanks has repaid $13,249.
News of her deal infuriated local officials and residents.
"I guess that says more about this whole case than anything else that has happened. I'm really sort of disgusted by the whole thing," said Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter.
He lamented that anyone would pay "for what is just a silly story," but said Wilbanks had the legal right to make the deal. "There was no way I could prevent it," he said.
Duluth Mayor Shirley Lasseter said she hopes Wilbanks will give any profits to charity.
"I just think it's sinful that we are allowed to profit over wrongdoings," she said. "I think every cent she makes needs to be given to organizations for missing children and adults so it can be used to help someone in a situation which she created falsely."
Lydia Sartain, Wilbanks' attorney, did not immediately return a call for comment.
Duluth resident Dave Stowers suggested Wilbanks donate money from any deal to improve the city's parks. "Asking the city to forgive that amount of money sends a negative message to the community, in my opinion," Stowers said.
Sean Penn?
This is sick and pathetic. This pay-day for her REWARDS her fraudulent behavior!
The citizens of this nation make me sick sometimes. Anyone who partakes in her book or movie is part of the problem.
Let me guess...Lifetime channel. Or Oprah's network where it quickly takes your Oxygen!
The last winner Hannity picked was GWB. Since the election he's ended up on the wrong end of both the Schiavo and the Bulimic Bimbette stories. Maybe he should stick with politics-something he knows.
If a Monkey screwing a football made headlines some Hollywood freak would make a movie of it.
Cool dog pic! I like the message.
I'm beginning to believe the two of 'em planned this.
If a Monkey screwing a football made headlines some Hollywood freak would make a movie of it.
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sshhhh now.. Fox has folks watching these threads, yaknow. ;-)
I image-searched google for "go away", and it came up.
;-)
"This is sick and pathetic. This pay-day for her REWARDS her fraudulent behavior!"
Make up your mind already!!! People beat her up, had her arrested, made her pay for the search that she never asked for, called her names, called her fiancee names, and generally give her all the attention any celebrity would envy, and you are surprised that she would accept money for her story that so many people apparently are interested in hearing?
People like you should have ignored her the first time. Then you wouldn't have to complain about the monster you helped create!
It's never too late to start ignoring her.......
"Asking the city to forgive that amount of money sends a negative message to the community, in my opinion"
No, it's a well-deserved FU to the community that barely stopped short of lynching this pathetic girl.
I think this is a positive step that shows she's on the road to recovery, don't you?
WHAAAAT?!!!
This is a criminal with a record of several shoplfiting charges, some of significant amounts. She knew what she was doing exactly when she 'ran away" and then showed her racist side with the " a Hispanic man raped me". She endangered with her behavior other women who really are abducted or raped not being taken seriously. At the very best I thought she was stupid....but anybody who can pull off movie rights is not THAT stupid!
By the way....I don't want her to donate money for parks in her city. I want her to give me my tax dollars back for the FBI overtime and expenses! And I have yet to hear her apologize for now setting us up for a whole series of jerks like this in the media. Sorry, but the media was on it, cause it was so unlikely she would have just left and we thought something awful happened.
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