[Semper911]

This sounds to me like some cockamamie extortion scheme by a few bumbling idiots. It won't take long to find these guys.

The mom was in on the scheme. There's no doubt about it. Did you see her statement for the cameras? She was about as emotional as someone who lost her sunglasses.

[Brytani]

I hate to say it but I have to agree with you on this point. I was struck by her lack of emotion, how she attempted to chastise the kidnappers seemingly like she knew them.

I hope I'm wrong on my feeling, time will tell.

[jaz.357]

I thought the same thing...no emotion.

[Shermy]

So much for my theory that they let her go on purpose, though they may have left her in a different fashion.

Children Rescue Kidnapped Philadelphia Girl

PHILADELPHIA -- In a remarkable story, a group of children rescued 7-year-old Erica Pratt by breaking into the house where she was held for over 22 hours.

Lt. Michael Chitwood of the Philadelphia police said that Pratt had been tied up in a house at 1205 Louden Street. She somehow was able to get loose and started yelling for help. A group of children got onto the porch and broke a window to get her out.

She was taken to Children's Hospital for evaluation and hospital officials said she was in good condition.

Police said Tuesday afternoon that they were looking for two men they believed may have information regarding the circumstances surrounding Erica's disappearance. ...(snip)

[hole_n_one]

Serena Gillis, the mother of 7-year-old Erica Pratt, pleads for her daughter's safe return in West Philadelphia, Tuesday, July 23, 2002. Pratt was snatched, kicking and screaming, according to police, from the front of her Southwest Philadelphia rowhouse Monday evening. (AP Photo/Sabina Louise Pierce)

[PoisedWoman]

? She was about as emotional as someone who lost her sunglasses.

I noticed that too. But if she was in on it, what did she hope to gain? Ransom money put up by whom? The news report said that ransom demanded was $150K, exact amount the mother had just collected on some insurance policy. Strange.

[My Favorite Headache]

Exactly. Not one crack in her voice. This was a scam all the way. I think sometime in the next 4 days there will be a story on this same sidebar that will read "Mother planned fake story of daughter being kidnapped", what an idiot. This kid was out close to 10:00. Huh? Yeah and mom? You might want to act a little more concerned next time when in front of the cameras instead of just saying " C'mon guys...bring her back..she is just a kid ya knows whats I'mz sayin?"