Runaway Bride

[Connie]

So what do you all think about the missing bride, Jennifer Wilbanks thing? Here's my thoughts...

Last night I stayed up late to watch the rerun Greta VanSustran had on Fox News because I wasn't able to watch it live. She was supposed to be interviewing bridesmaids of Jennifers. About 2 AM, a Fox News Flash came on saying that Jennifer was alive and in New Mexico. She had called her fiance and told him she'd been abducted by a Hispanic man and a White woman. She said they had cut her hair and she didn't know where she was...she knew she wasn't in Duluth but didn't know where she was...she was calling from a pay phone. He talked to her on the phone until police got there to rescue Jennifer.

I was relieved that she was alive, but I thought, "There's something fishy going on here." and I wondered if the story was all made up. Sure enough, when I got up this morning I find that she was lying...she was not abducted...had gotten cold feet about the upcoming wedding and left.

Here's what I think and this is just my opinion, but I think she wanted attention. She knew she'd have her pictures on all the TV stations and it would make a big story. If she just had the wedding jitters, why didn't she tell them that when she called instead of making up a big story about being abducted. I truly think that she thought she could pull this off and get national attention and sympathy. I think it's terrible what she put her family and friends through, not to mention the resources used to search for her and the amount of money spent, the many people who took off time from work and whatnot to help search and volunteer their time. The police and FBI spent much time on her search, when there were other things that were most likely put on hold in order to search for her. I think it's terrible what she did and I think she should be prosecuted in some way.

So, what to you all think?

[luv4yorkies]

When i first heard this story i thought omg another scott peterson thing. But this mornung i seen the story was made up and thought omg she had cold feet so why couldn't she just let her fiance know that she needed sometime.

[bkessler]

It was like the college girl last year, the one who faked her own abbduction.. Remeberthat.. She brought the duct tape and rope, etc

[PZGunstar]

Well she did have something like a little over 600 people invited personaly I find that very stressfull and kind of dont blame her for needing the space. I probably would of got cold feet infront of that many people too. Im terrible at public speaking.

[Bentley&BitsysMom]

Hi COnnie I totally agree with you! I think she went way beyond the "I have cold" feet thing. I don't feel sorry for her at all but for her fiancee and family.

[eensor]

I feel sorry for all of them--her too. I think she must have psychological problems.

[bettyeanne]

I totally agree! She is 32 years old ... hardly a child ... everyone gets a little cold feet, but I believe this was planned and it was all for attention! I feel soooo sorry for her fiancee' and her family! I cannot imagine the hell they went through!! With a large support group of family & friends that are obviously as close as those people are ... she had plenty of people to confide in! There is simply no excuse for what she did!!

[eensor]

No-there is no excuse, but I do think she has a bad problem. I wonder if he'll take her back???

[lily's mom]

Sounds like she has done this a time or two before. Just think what her mother and loved ones went through. And the wedding party purchased clothes, gifts , etc. What a deal! She needs to say a few "sorry's".

[DomLee]

I haven't heard of the news yet....so your news is the first one that I've heard about this case.

I would prosecute her. There is no excuse. She could've been upfront w/ her fiance and asked to postpone the wedding a bit. She could've spoken to her mom for some advice. She could've taken a small vacation...to help clear her head.

But she chose to fake a SERIOUS incident. Assuming this did happen, these crimes alone carry criminal (and some times death) sentences.

I find it quite disturbing that people make up stories of kidnappings and the like...w/o realizing the consequences of their actions. Think of the other people that truly needed the help of law enforcement, instead their time was "wasted" on a made up false story.

I think we need more severe punishments for stuff like this. Ones that get publisized to help people understand the severity of this stuff.

If I was in need of 911 or the FBI when she faked this incident, I would be so incredibly pissed off...

[DomLee]

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/05/03...und/index.html

"She didn't feel like she really had done anything wrong."

"She could face a charge of making a false police report, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 12 months in jail, or making false statements to authorities -- a felony that carries a maximum of five years' imprisonment."

"The city of Duluth may also take civil action to recoup about $40,000 to $60,000 from Wilbanks for costs incurred in her hometown's search for her..."

I could speculate on why she ran from this wedding,...but I will not. Just amazes me that she thinks what she did was...not wrong!

[StewiesMom]

She seems crazy. I think her family should pay that reward money ($100,000) to the PD for their overtime.

[mickeyisagyrl]

Faking abductions isn't uncommon, unfortunately. Usually, it's a call for help or a plea for more attention (are you surprised?).
But come on- wouldn't you get jitters if there 600 people at your wedding? 28 brides and groomsmen?
Enough neutrality. I think she should be tried for faking her own abduction, since it's against the law anyway.

[wollfy]

My aunt and I were talking about i in the car. How could get all the way from Georgia to New Mexico...Hmm. I don't no maybe airplane. I think she had a fake ID or something and plotted the whole thing. I think it was stupid for what she did. I mean she could of canceled the wedding are then and there but not she had to pretend she was kidnapped.

[mickeyisagyrl]

Originally Posted by wollfy

My aunt and I were talking about i in the car. How could get all the way from Georgia to New Mexico...Hmm. I don't no maybe airplane. I think she had a fake ID or something and plotted the whole thing. I think it was stupid for what she did. I mean she could of canceled the wedding are then and there but not she had to pretend she was kidnapped.

Bus ticket. Use cash, the bus systems don't look carefully at photo IDs. It's easy to do.