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 ...
I saw this alos. Who was that nutty anchor? I thought the profiler (I believe her first name is Pat - she has been on "I Detective" on Court TV) was very good.
If I were the fiance, I'd be having thoughts of disappearing her for real....
"I wouldn't marry the infantile brat on a bet!"
Hmmm...does this mean they won't live together any more?
LOL...
My favorite psychobabble pet-peeve word: ISSUES
The credibility issue is always there. This lady's case doesn't make a difference one way or the other for the next case that comes along.
The Wisconsin gal was Audrey Seiler. She was convicted of filing a false report or obstruction, and odered to pay $9,000. One thing that distinguishes her case is that she persisted with the "there's a bad guy out there with rope and a knife" story, when she knew it was false. The cops looked for the phantom abductor. That is where her liability kicked in. Being missing, with nothing else, does not create liability.
Great point regarding pissant. I was in total agreement as well on that thread and could not see why all the criticism was being unfairly heaped on pissant. When something smells, it SMELLS.
Maybe he wanted to slap those crazy eyes to the back of her cold lyin' head. That's what he should do, IMO.
As I posted on another thread:
The fiance may be found now to have not been entirely truthful about what had gone on in the day or days preceding Tuesday. Were there anxieties expressed, or harsh words exchanged, and he, frightened that harm may have come to her, could not bring himself to being totally honest about those because of his and his family's "status" in the community? He also may share with her a great deal of the blame for allowing the expenditure of people's energy, emotions, and money costs of the past three days by not being totally straightforward about what was going on in their relationship.
Either that, or he was not tuned in to her and her emotional needs, which may help to explain her extremely bizarre actions. His words this morning, as quoted by the minister, while to some in the faith community may sound loving and forgiving, need to be examined in depth to determine exactly what he was saying, and what it might say about his own interpretation of love. If the minister quoted him correctly, what he really did by his words was to label her a "sinner," and himself as the "saint" victim who would "forgive" her.
One thing is certain: this was not solely about the pressures of a "wedding." As a psychologist said on Fox this morning, her actions have more to do with the prospects of a "marriage" (with all that implies) than with the "event" (wedding).
""Don't preachers preach the word anymore?????? What kind of preacher would gush & condone this kind of lifestyle? If we could get back to an old-fashioned approach to abstinence & getting married before the children are born, social stigmas on people who sleep around promiscuously - especially in front of their children....living together before we get married & then expecting everyone to celebrate our eventual matrimony....""
I couldn't agree more. I'd been thinking about the pastor and the things he said and then I heard that it was a Baptist church. Well, in today's world, I guess those things are happening but not when I was a young 'un.
Also have acquaintances in Duluth who were told they could not be married in the church they attended if they didn't stop living together. The couple were appalled. I was delighted. Have plans of relocating to the Duluth area soon and that's the church I want to attend. All other churches preach "anything goes"......Call me old but old fashioned "shame" had its rightful place in society. Don't believe it; look around at society today.
Fox says he's not going to NM. Fox also says the hair LE found was Jennifer's.
You seem very fond of the word "jerk". Have you been looking in the mirror?
apologies regarding that CNN exchange, I posted mine well before I read yours. Totally agree!!
You hate CNN. Here is my reply on another thread
CNN Rethinking its political coverage?
Before you rethink you have to think, I think or am I rethinking when I think I'm thinking?
We're delighted that Jenn is home safe and sound, with only a red face. They'll work things out, maybe marry, maybe not, but they're both alive and well. It would be nice if the family could throw a big party for friends and family anyway, as a way for Jenn to break the ice and make amends. With a few drinks, it will all seem pretty funny.
Oh good grief, there's NO ONE here who is disappointed over her being found alive. Hear me? NO ONE.
Second marriage was in a one room log cabin with only two witnesses and the preacher. I couldn't say "I do" fast enough. That was 39 years ago and we're still in love.
Not that it matters, but when I look at the picture of John and Jennifer together they don't seem to "fit". When a couple fit one another there is usually something similar about them. We find something "familiar" in the people we fall in love with. For females it can be someone who resembles her father in some way. For the guys it can be someone who reminds him of mom. Generalizations of course.
Depression and desperation...but that qualifies for therapy.
Maybe it was Mama who wanted the big wedding.
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