Replies

"I think that law enforcement does a respectable job of probing the complaint before going off."

Usually, but not in this case. I think all the talk of charging her is due to the police being embarrassed for being so throughly hoodwinked into mounting such a massive search so early. This isn't the normal procedure for a missing person, unless it is a child.

I think the DA and city of Duluth are going after her now because they got many complaints after the police chiefs initial remarks that they weren't going to charge her with anything.

Usually, but not in this case. I think all the talk of charging her is due to the police being embarrassed for being so throughly hoodwinked into mounting such a massive search so early. This isn't the normal procedure for a missing person, unless it is a child.

I was just talking about the contact at the end of her adventure. Nobody was seriously hoodwinked by her cover story, and she recanted her cover story.

The Audrey Seiler case, in Wisconsin, was different. After the search for Audrey was concluded, Audrey sent the cops off on a phantom abductor chase, complete with composite sketches. Wilbanks recanted before it got that far.

I think there are several motivations for wanting to charge her. The search was in fact a waste. But I sure don't see a clear case for billing her for it, as a matter of law, or as a matter of good public policy.