Thank you for the ping. I can see by the responses that I stand pretty much alone. Actually, I don't know what's happening since I have no contacts with the family. But while I believe that Kara has some very difficult days ahead, I don't think she has to have the dreadful life that is predicted for her. It really depends on her. I think she'll be helped by family and community.
This family was/is Christian. No, they're not perfect (no one is) and Kara messed up huge time, but Christians are in the forgiveness business. That's not easy either. But her siblings just lost their parents. I doubt that they want to lose any of their siblings either. My guess is that they'll work on their own hearts, learning a lot about how to forgive and put that into practice with Kara.
Yes, life as she knows it is at an end, but I think that at least a few people will rally behind her to help her heal in addition to her siblings. Yes, they'll no doubt be concerned about her past, but LE did not charge her with anything. From what I read in a local paper, she warned her father that David had weapons. Teen-agers do not see the world the same as adults; that's the reason they need adults. She and David had previously made plans to run away and get married. Rebel children of loving, healthy families are not all that unusual. I believe that in the shock of the moment at some level, she realized her parents were gone and reached out to the one person who, besides her parents, had promised her a stable life and a future. Now, as adults, we know that he really offered no such thing, but she didn't realize that. I don't find it surprising that she went with him. I can't imagine doing that, but then I didn't have the mindset of rebellion that she had. Not everyone reacts to events like I do.
I have friends who, after they raised four children, and were entering their retirement years, decided to do the unthinkable. They adopted a troubled young teenager. It turned out that one of her parents had killed the other. They persisted with the adoption, even in the midst of obvious mental problems that resulted from her past experiences. So, yes, there will be Christians in the community who will help this young women. Should she get the help she needs and decides to ask for forgiveness at the foot of the cross, there's no reason why she couldn't live a blessed and fruitful life. As though this never happened? No, of course not. But that's what God's forgiveness is all about. There can be supernatural joy in the midst of sadness and pain.
The graduations, weddings, births, birthday celebrations, and funerals without the presence of Mr. & Mrs. Borden will cause heartaches as the decades go by. Family members, as they age, could find themselves drifting away from Kara, even though they're Christians.