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Relief, anger permeate Wilbanks’ hometown
Some call bride-to-be’s disappearance a ‘dirty trick’
The Associated Press
Updated: 7:43 p.m. ET April 30, 2005

DULUTH, Ga. - They searched woods and alleys, crawled in sewage drains and stayed up late looking for a local woman who went missing four days before her wedding.

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Moments after the word came Saturday that Wilbanks, 32, fled town and hadn’t been kidnapped, most of the police who’d been guarding her house since Tuesday night pulled away. Fliers with Wilbanks’ picture were pulled down from local store windows. Some residents removed yellow ribbons they’d put on their mailboxes.

Many called for Wilbanks to face criminal charges, even though Duluth Police Chief Randy Belcher said none would be filed.

“There should be some responsibility for all this expense to the police,” said Jo Cripps, eating boiled crawfish at a downtown Cajun restaurant. “Certainly she owes an apology to all the people who came out and volunteered.”

Some were visibly angry.

“I’m glad that she’s found,” said Ryan Kelly, owner of Park Cafe, a shop a few blocks from Wilbanks’ home that gave out coffee and sandwiches to those who searched for her this week. “But that being said, this is one of the most selfish and self-centered acts I’ve ever seen. We saw her parents, and you could see the anguish in their eyes. It was terrible.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7692019/