Police: Pregnant Woman Kidnapped [Augusta GA--Tamara Dunstan]

www.11alive.com ^ | 4/16/2004 9:22:56 PM | Provided By: The Associated Press

[vikingchick]

Augusta (AP) -- Police are searching for a pregnant woman who may have been kidnapped during a burglary at her mother's house.

Twenty-nine-year-old Tamara Dunstan was last seen last night at her mother's Augusta home. Her vehicle was still at the house and her keys were inside the home when police arrived, authorities said.

Richmond County Sheriff's Major Ken Autry said Dunstan may have arrived at the house during the burglary. Autry said evidence of foul play had been found.

Dunstan's family has offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to her return and the arrest of those responsible.

Police don't believe Dunstan knew her abductor, Autry said.

Residents living in the area were asked to help find a dark-colored, newer model Ford Mustang with a University of South Carolina-Aiken plate on the front of the vehicle. The occupants were described as a white man and a black man, both in their mid-20s.

Dunstan is a 5-foot-4 white woman weighing 120 pounds. She has shoulder-length brown hair.

[Sandylapper]

Thanks, Swamp Fox! Pinging more to this thread.

[Devil_Anse]

Thanks for the ping, Sandy!

Don't see a mention in the article of poor Tamara's husband or boyfriend... hmmm...

As for the tanning salon lady, that poor thing! That one sort of reminds me of the Alice Donovan scenario--even though Alice Donovan was not running a cash register at the time SHE was kidnapped...

[Devil_Anse]

Interesting. An article posted on 4/16 (post 9) says, "Deputies are searching for Tamara Dunstan, 29, whom authorities said walked in on a burglary at her mother's house Thursday afternoon and was subsequently abducted."

Then an article from 4/17 (post 19) says of Ms. Dunstan: "In a second possible abduction, Augusta police searched Friday for a pregnant woman who police say may have been kidnapped during a burglary at her mother's house."

Regarding Ms. Dunstan, they've gone from "was", to "possible... may have". I wonder who/where is the father of her baby? Still no mention of him...

[Sandylapper]

It is confusing, but maybe we'll get some new info later today that will shed some light on this. You mentioned that her husband/boyfriend is not mentioned. True, but that does appear to be a wedding picture, doesn't it?

Incidentally, Fox is reporting that Dru Sjoden has been found. Not known yet whether she is dead or alive.

[MasonGal]

I believe the husband and her parents were on Greta's show last night. I could be wrong - but I could have sworn it was her husband that Greta interviewed.

[Sandylapper]

Thanks, Mason Gal! Incidentally, Fox is now reporting that Dru is dead.

[vikingchick]

Tamara's husband, Bernard Dunstan III, was at his job as a contractor during the afternoon, and is not considered a suspect, his father said. "We found out Easter eve she was three months' pregnant," he said."

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/South/04/16/abducted.woman/

[PistolPaknMama]

I wonder who/where is the father of her baby

The police have already ruled him out as a suspect. They're first anniversary is in June and Tamara is three months pregnant. There was an article on www.augustachronicle.com with a picture of the husband and her parents.

[Sandylapper]

Thanks, vikingchick. She's a beautiful young woman. Hope no harm has come to her.

[priviteer]

I've known her husband my entire life and he's a great guy. I just saw the couple together at the Masters golf tournament last Saturday. The Dunstan family is a VERY conected old Augusta family. The Dunstan's are at the top of the social ladder and know about everyone. I still can't believe this happened where it happened. I have friends who live all around that area of Augusta, which is a very nice area.

[priviteer]

Her husband is a friend of mine and It makes my blood boil just to see somebody mention his name as a suspect!

[Palladin]

I can understand how you feel.

No, folks, this is not another Scott/Laci Peterson case.

This young woman is the daughter of a prominent cardiologist. The family, including the husband, are above reproach.

People should do a little research before they go off half-cocked.

[Sandylapper]

This is good to know. I do hope she will be found alive and well; however, the reporting is sketchy. Where was her mother when all of this transpired? Are there any late reports today?

I know the area and it is a very nice area. Close to Aiken, SC. "Horsey-set", you know.

[PistolPaknMama]

It makes my blood boil just to see somebody mention his name as a suspect

The average freeper on here doesn't know this family as you do, so find it in your hear to cut a little slack. The husband/boyfriend is almost the first suspect in any case like this, that doesn't mean anyone is trying to disparage this apparently very fine family.

I've been deeply affected by this case. Augusta is 45 mins. from me and since I have relatives there, I've visited the area many times and know it very well. Plus this young lady is about the age of my daughter.

I will continue to ask God to bring her home safely and bring comfort to their family and friends until she's home. I'm not that far from you, so freepmail me if you need to vent. God bless.

[Sandylapper]

Police are now looking for a light blue or teal, late-model pick-up truck that may be a Nissan, with a missing tailgate that has been replaced by plywood, according to Richmond County dispatch radio transmissions.

Maybe I'm getting confused here. Richmond County -- is that the county Augusta is in? I know that Columbia, SC is in Richland County, and is not too far from North Augusta, SC and Augusta, GA. For some reason, I thought they were looking for the perps in SC.

[SC Swamp Fox]

It is confusing. A google search confirms that Augusta, GA is in Richmond County. Since Augusta is a border city it makes sense that the search extend into SC.

[vikingchick]

This young woman is the daughter of a prominent cardiologist. The family, including the husband, are above reproach.

Please, no offense intended, but my father and two of his brothers are physicians, and I could tell you inside stories that would make your hair stand on end.

But I won't.

Higher education does not equal harmonious family health.

That said, there's nothing in the story to point the finger at the husband at this juncture.

[Devil_Anse]

No, folks, this is not another Scott/Laci Peterson case.

Thank you for saying it so directly, Palladin. That was my point in inquiring about the husband. While others know this family, I live nowhere near them and do not know them.

A friend of mine and I have disagreed on how great a possibility there is that Scott Peterson killed his wife and child. (My own OPINION is that Scott is guilty.) So I was looking at this news story here, and wondering if my friend would think, "Hmmm.... see? This pregnant woman disappeared during a burglary... why is it so farfetched that Laci might not have disappeared for the same reason?" My asking about this Mrs. Dunstan's husband was my way of expressing my opinion that when someone disappears, the logical thing to do FIRST is to look to their known associates, including family.

None of my ramblings purport to solve this case. But you can bet the police will look at this husband and the rest of the family, just to make sure. After all, these people aren't the Skakels, and this isn't Greenwich, CT.

And I wish some of those other people with the boiling blood would refrain from going off half-cocked.

[Devil_Anse]

If the husband is your lifelong friend, then I don't blame you for wanting to immediately exclude him from all suspicion.

So I'll take your word that he's too good a person to even remotely consider doing anything to his wife.

Let's find another outlet for our outrage. Maybe we could argue that the poor tanning salon owner's case isn't getting as much notice, and maybe we could work ourselves up to a frothing outrage over how much more attention prominent people's kidnappings get, than do those of the less prominent.