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April 01, 2009
Suitable Punishment For the Runaway Bride-To-Be
Jennifer Wilbanks, who was thought to be missing, perhaps abducted, days before her wedding, was nothing of the sort. While it is shameful that she perpetrated this hoax, at least she did not meet the same fate as Laci Peterson or Lori Hacking.
Many of the people living in her town feel betrayed, and rightfully so. Countless man-hours and who knows how many dollars were spent in search efforts, only to find out she faked the whole thing.
"I'm glad that she's alive and OK, but it was a dirty trick," said Louise McCoy, waiting in line at the Duluth post office Saturday the same day Wilbanks was supposed to be married in a lavish ceremony that included 14 bridesmaids and 14 groomsmen.Police said there would be no criminal charges, but Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter said he still had some questions.
"A tremendous amount of law enforcement resources was used in what turned out to be a hoax," Porter told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for Sunday's editions.
More than 100 officers led a search that involved several hundred volunteers, including many wedding guests and members of the bridal party.
It is great she is alive, but she ought to have criminal charges brought against her. Remember, it was just over a year ago that Audrey Seiler, the 20-year-old University of Wisconsin student who faked her own kidnapping was charged with two misdemeanor counts of obstructing officers. She has been paying restitution as part of a plea bargain since August, in the form of a monthly $250 check to the city of Madison until she meets $9,000. I would like to see Jennifer Wilbanks receive a similar penalty.
Posted by Aaron at April 1, 2009 12:00 AM
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-->Comments
The difference with Seiler is that she intentionally staged a kidnapping, leaving fake evidence to make it look as though she'd been abducted. This woman just walked away. Last I checked, it was not a crime to go somewhere without telling anyone you know.
More then anything else this makes me wonder why I know who this woman is. I understand that in many cases, new coverage on a missing person is essential because someone might find information that helps to locate them. But this story, halfway across the country, was played over and over and over in the media, first they'd interview the fiance, then the bridesmaids, then the father, then the brother, ect. ect. ect. They were covering it constantly despite there being no new information.
As I said I realize the need to get the persons picture out, but how many girls (or women, or just people) go missing every 10 minutes in the US? What makes the few who get constant media attention any different? People are ticked off at her now because of all the fuss that was made...but why was there such a fuss? This girl didn't ask to be on fox news for 16 of the 24 hours every day since she's been missing.
Posted by MJohnson ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.pardonmyenglish.com//nav-commenters.gif)
at May 1, 2005 12:38 PM
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