Cops: Major Change in Wisconsin Coed Mystery [Audrey Seiler]

Fox News Online ^ | 4/2/04 | AP

[TheBigB]

MADISON, Wis.

[CSM]

I can believe both statements in your post.

[nuconvert]

I thought he looked like Sylvester Stallone.

[CSM]

I agree that the potential was big that another person could be falsely arrested and that they could have suffered greatly. I am not disputing that. However, in this case no other individual had been identified and no other individual suffered by her filing a false police report.

The original reaction that I had was that the book should be thrown at her because of this potential. However, I am not sure how harsh we should be on her. The parents started by reporting her missing, the police started the call for searches, the community from her home town continued to build on the hysteria, and the media frenzy followed. How much of this is HER fault? Did she even know that the situation had boiled to this level?

Yes, she deserves to have charges filed against her for the initial filing of the false police report. I would accept a year of probation in lieu of jail. Part of the probation would be court mandated counseling. This would put her on record as filing false police reports, protecting future victims if she cried wolf again. It would also give an opportunity for the state to find any mental health issues.

Add a fine to be paid to the "victims" the community and I would consider it justice.

[BunnySlippers]

I agree it is a sad situation, I am just unsure that she broke any laws.

She wasn't trying to become a recluse. She staged a crime ... and reported a crime (that is illegal) stating that she was abducted by a man. She even gave his likeness to a police artist.

When you consider the vast amount of public resources she used in law enforcement ... at the expense of taxpayers, she should go to jail for a long time.

[Freedom2specul8]

You're welcome...and I agree with you, her parents should not be forced to pay anything. (that would be further punishment and pain)

[BunnySlippers]

How much of this is HER fault? Did she even know that the situation had boiled to this level?

Missing persons often generate lots of publicity and lots of law enforcement time ... lots of taxpayer money spent. To say that it "boiled to this level" implies that searches should not go beyond a certain point. I don't think families involved in abductions would agree with you.

[Freedom2specul8]

After reading your post, and knowing how well she was liked in her hometown...I really feel for both her and her family/friends. She was obviously no dummy...

[BunnySlippers]

The woman is nuts. There will be no charges. She will be going to the psych ward.

You may be right. But I wonder how much the premeditation and pre-planning will weigh in the decision.

[CSM]

So what law did she break by going off on her own? If we want to punish her, what do we punish her for? Outside of the false police report, of course!

[Freedom2specul8]

I'd say what she did after they found her, everything she said is what counts... ?? (not that she wandered off)

[CSM]

"She wasn't trying to become a recluse."

How do you know. From what I have read, the video shows her leaving her apartment and then she was found in the marsh.

"She staged a crime ... and reported a crime (that is illegal) stating that she was abducted by a man."

That is two seperate accusations. I disagree that she staged a crime. I agree that she filed a false police report.

"When you consider the vast amount of public resources she used in law enforcement ... at the expense of taxpayers, she should go to jail for a long time."

Isn't this why we all pay taxes? We pay for a police force, during this time that particular police force was honing special skills that they may never have been able to develop outside of a training environment. I would rather have them out searching for someone, even if unwarranted, than sitting in donut shops or meeting a ticket quota.

I am not saying that this is a great thing! What I am saying is that we pay for a full time police force and many of us will never use them. With regards to the police and the military, equal funding from us all should mean that we never get charged for their services. It does however stire a lot of emotional responses......

However, other costs such as the Holiday Inn should be compensated. They can address it in civil court, or the family and Audrey can address them out of court......

[rastus macgill]

The fasle report is enough but considering the preperation/planning I'd say "conspiracy" to stage and falsely report a crime. A second person might have to be involved though.
If this was a false rape accusation would you describe it as "unethical" or a serious crime?

[NYCVirago]

This is the second "missing coed" story over the past few months that turned out to be a hoax. In New York State, a Bard student by the name of Melissa Kennedy disappeared for two weeks. It turns out she spent that time in the Hamptons, while friends and family distributed 10,000 missing person flyers!

Anyhow, what's dangerous about these events is that the next time a college student goes missing, people may not take it seriously. And the next time could be the real thing and not a hoax.

[CSM]

What preperation and planning? I may not be aware of all the facts that you have and I am open to new factual information, so feel free to post the information that shows preperation and planning.

I won't address the false rape part of your post. Apples and oranges, and my point of view should be more clear if you read all of my posts.

[spunkets]

" how much the premeditation and pre-planning will weigh in the decision."

I think the premed & planning will be recognized as delusional. Once she was confronted with the videos and I witness acounts of her from Mon and Teus, she told a far more bizzare tale. She's now claiming she was abducted from another place in town. In her mind that means she doesn't appear on any videos.

She's not just a nut like the folks that call in to Art Bell to recount their experience with aliens. She's going to need pro med help to procede in life.

[FITZ]

Maybe Audrey is coming down with schizophrenia...it often appears in young adults.

That's what I was wondering --- that's the age it starts showing up. How sad for her family ---- they've got to be relieved on one hand that she was found alive --- but this has to be awful, there is something pretty wrong with their daughter. I guess a bid for attention ---- or whatever this was is better than a suicide or if she was found murdered.

[PureSolace]

Here's my prediction... Her boyfriend got her pregnant and after she told him, he left town. So in her twisted mind, this is her way of getting pregnant and later coming out, oh I'm pregnant, I'm a victim, love me, love me please...

Then again that makes no sense, never mind. :)

[rastus macgill]

Her computer showed she researched wooded areas and parks around town as well as a 5 day weather forecast just before her staged abduction.She purchased rope and duct tape before reporting the items were used by her abductor.....are you following this story?
As for apples and oranges most here want to absolve her of responsibility for her supposed mental illness.She committed a crime.How serious a crime would you give her a pass on for her "illness"?I use false rape as an example because it is the same crime she commited...false report.Although the consequences for another innocent person would have been far worse.

[FITZ]

Um, when your parents are supporting you in college, which isn't cheap, yes you do have a responsibility to at least THEM.

I've seen kids get very pressured into accomplishing something for their parents --- parents who sometimes push them so hard to do something they aren't all that capable of --- college can be very stressful --- away from home, living with strangers who may not share your values, the pressure of classes and exams. Not everyone is cut out --- did this girl really want to go to college in the first place? Could these faked kidnappings be some kind of cry for help? She sounds like someone who is close to snapping, maybe being pressured into far too much for her real ability.