Posted on 04/30/2005 6:35:35 AM PDT by kellynla
Duluth bride-to-be who vanished just days before her wedding turned up in New Mexico and fabricated a tale of abduction before admitting Saturday that she had gotten cold feet and "needed some time alone," police said.
Jennifer Wilbanks, 32, was in police custody more than 1,420 miles from her home on what was supposed to be her wedding day.
"It turns out that Miss Wilbanks basically felt the pressure of this large wedding and could not handle it," said Duluth Police Chief Randy Belcher. He said there would be no criminal charges.
Wilbanks, whose disappearance set off a nationwide hunt, called her fiance, John Mason, from a pay phone early Saturday and told him that she had been kidnapped while jogging three days before, authorities said. Her family rejoiced that she was safe, telling reporters that the media coverage apparently got to the kidnappers.
But Wilbanks soon recanted, according to police.
Ray Schultz, chief of police in Albuquerque, said Wilbanks "had become scared and concerned about her impending marriage and decided she needed some time alone." He said she traveled to Las Vegas by bus before going to Albuquerque.
"She's obviously very concerned about the stress that she's been through, the stress that's been placed on her family," he said. "She is very upset."
The scene at the house Wilbanks shared with Mason went from jubilant, with Mason hopping from one TV interview to the next and joking about meeting Sean Hannity, to more subdued.
Everyone but immediate family was told to leave the house, and the blinds were drawn and the front door closed. Police put up crime scene tape to keep people away.
"Having cold feet is a joy compared to what the alternative might have been," friend Melinda Larson, who had planned to attend the wedding...
(Excerpt) Read more at ajc.com ...
Technically, yes. But I bet the authorities had enough horse sense to not expend resurces looking for the phantom abductor. Once she made the call, they probably figured she was a runaway. Not happy with the conclusion, I'm sure, but out no more effort than they already spent as a missing persons case.
Even if the police had taken her photo to the bus station after her disappearance, she probably wouldn't have been recognized because she had purposedly altered her appearance. That to me is criminal intent.
Not sure on that one. Obviously she had forethought and perhaps planned the eventuality of being found. She set up a cover story for her motive. Like I might have done by taking books to my girlfriend's house. The books are to support the cover story that we were studying. ;-) The bride has bigger issues, no doubt. And I find her faking abduction as a means of cover to be despicable. Either way, without a trace or with a fake trace, the search would be on.
"You are wrong. The so called false information charges took place in New Mexico and Gwinnett cannot prosecute for things out of the jurisdiction. If NM decides to prosecute, so be it, no jury will convict her for running off from marrying a jerk like John Mason. Hey I live in right in the county I know what kind of jerk she was fixing to marry till she came to her senses..."
excuse me?
The GA authorities and police should be reimbursed for their costs. And if it is interstate then the Feds can surely file charges...
Actually, no. I don't think she has committed a crime until she fills out a (false) police report, and puts her signature to it.
She lied to her boyfriend... if that was illegal, the jails would be one hell of a lot fuller than they are now!
"I was right! I was right! Neener, neener, neener."
neener, neener, neener?
right about what?
let us know when you GROW UP!
That's what I wonder too. ($$$) I saw a bridal announcement in our local small town newspaper once, that listed the itinerary of all the "themed" showers and couldn't believe it...(and I always thought bridal registries were somewhat presumptuous: ie: "I want you to buy gifts for ME at this chosen/preferred retailer") LOL...geeesh!
Yes I guess I have been missing from the Houston meetings. But it so much more fun just to imagine what you all are like from reading your posts. I am an artist, I have a very active imagination. %;9)-8-0==# <<<<Can you tell me what my little diagram means?<<<
Maybe, maybe not.
It certainly is not illegal for an adult to decide to simply leave. Immature and inconsiderate as hell, yes. Illegal, no.
If, however, to avoid the embarrassment of canceling her big wedding at the last minute, she plotted to make it appear as if she had been abducted with the intention of latter announcing that she had been released or had escaped, then yes I think she should be liable for every cent of the search costs.
If, on the other hand, she simply decided to run away, panicked when it hit the national media, and then made up the story about being abducted, then I think she should be prosecuted for making a false report but should not be liable for all of the search costs.
Odds are this marriage will never take place now.
Blown out of proportion? Can't blame the press for this one! I'll bet Greta is furious.
If John marries her, they will make a perfect couple..LOL.
sw
It's one of those "I told you so situtations". I avoided threads on the run-away-bride because most people already had her fiancee,arrested, tried and sentenced to life in prison. My husband included.
Now all they have is a nutty brunette that has pi$$ed everybody off.
Charges for what? Kidnapping herself? Seriously, was the FBI involved in this for some reason? When did this bimbo disappear? Why was the FBI involved, if it was? Damn, I just don't think someone who is 32 should face charges for taking a trip without telling her overbearing mommy or mommy-in-law and having family and police overreact. If she filed a false police report in NM, then the NM authorities should consider whether they'll file charges.
Maybe she is a Weird Al Yankovic fan????
"Albuquerque"
And, by the way, if one day you happen to wake up
And find yourself in an existential quandry
Full of loathing and self-doubt
And wracked with the pain and isolation of your pitiful meaningless existence
At least you can take a small bit of comfort in knowing that
Somewhere out there in this crazy mixed-up universe of ours
There's still a little place called
Albuquerque
Albuquerque
Albuquerque, Albuquerque
Albuquerque, Albuquerque
Albuquerque, Albuquerque
Albuquerque, Albuquerque
There is no such thing as a "lie detector" and only a fool would ever consent to a polygraph test.
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