Lizzie Borden Society Forum

Should she face criminal charges? Should she pay for the cost of the search?

Some of these costs may not seem apparent, like the owner of the café who provided free sandwiches for the searchers, or people who took off work to look or drove many miles with high gas prices.....

If it happened every day, I'd say yes to charges. In this case somehow I think she may be mentally unwell, so I'd give her counseling and a break. I would think making her pay would be a good example and hopefully discourage others.

Needless to say there's a Jennifer Wilbanks Runaway Bride Wedding Kit for auction on EBay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :B:EF:US:1

What should she be charged with? Taking a bus trip without asking "permission?" I suppose the police in New Mexico could charge her with reporting a kidnapping which did not happen but it sounds like they learned the truth pretty quickly and did not spend many resources doing so. This appears to be a private matter between the woman, her fiance, her family, and perhaps her doctor. She is home safe; Big Brother ought to stay out of it.

The last I knew that's what they were considering charging her with. Filing a false report alleging kidnapping (a felony) is a felony. Who'da thunk it?

This morning I read in the paper and on the internet that the New Mexico police were not planning to charge this woman with anything. A spokesperson for the NM police said they want to use some discretion in this situation. That sounds sensible. But the DA in Georgia says he might charge her because she reported a "kidnapping" over the telephone to the police there.

When I first became aware of this late last week it seemed like the GA police had investigated the disappearance and were leaning toward the "cold feet" explanation. Then it became a national story and spun out of control.

I agree with Doug- no charges, no pay. For all we know, she was unaware of the hubbub...I can't believe that her fiancee or family didn't have clues about her unreadiness or instability. If I were them, I'd be pretty upset with her. Why didn't she say on Monday that she wasn't sure about all of this?

I think that as far as criminal charges go- she has been punished enough. The entire nation, if not the world had a front row seat to her breakdown.

I agree she has issues & needs help. I'm very surprised her fiance still wants to marry her. I can't imagine why someone would do such a thing or get freaked out to the point of causing so much trouble.

If he marries her he's probably taking on her possible debt to the tune of $100,000! I think I'd wait a bit.

It's a sign of immaturity that she did not take responsibility by telling people herself. The fiance seems to think she was bold in what she did and said she was "awesome."
Maybe they both are immature because he claims he will deal with her issues down the line. Maybe she is subserviant to him? Or maybe they both got off on the publicity?

That's interesting -- when you consider the wedding was going to be something like 600 guests -- that sounds pretty excessive to me & maybe indicates people who want everything BIG. Perhaps they see some way of capitalizing on all of this? I think if someone is that callous to do something like that, they should have to take responsibility for their actions in some way. The whole thing makes me shake my head, esp when there are so many situations where people really ARE in trouble. This is large scale "crying wolf".

OK. Here we go.
Those dummies who flew over Washington airspace were not arrested. They said it was an accident. If this student(?) pilot is not fined for wreaking such havok then the vanishing bride should not be fined either!!!

From what I had seen most recently, the DC pilot apparently reported fuel pump troubles at the time of the straying - in which case you get down quick as you can (by choice) or drop like a rock. Independent investigation apparently confirmed the difficulty... Hence, no charges.

Aren't they responsible for their plane?
Did the ground know that they had a MayDay?
I hope they prove those fuel pump troubles because that was outrageous.
I think what bugged me the most- and this is going to sound stupid- but it's making poor Nancy Reagan run for her life at her age and after all she's been through!

Wouldn't local air traffic controllers have been aware of the trouble ? Was the Cessna's radio broken too ?


Tracy...

I think the difference between these two cases is intent. The fliers did not intend to violate the airspace. The bride *deliberately* blew off her wedding & lied about being kidnapped.

I agree about intent- you're right in your comparison. But in civil cases fines can be incurred with no proof of intent, I think.
I don't think the flyer should be arrested, but fined, yes.
It's a matter of taking responsibility.

The latest I saw today on the AP wires, the FAA may yank the pilot's ticket and instructor's certification.

Reading the story reminded me of a feller I know of from Harry's neck of the woods. The old bugger is a riot, horribly decent and also very funny. He was also (the last I knew) a certified flight instructor - at 78! There's no amount of money in the world though that would get me to fly with the old feller. He said that when he used to fly regularly (a single-engine aircraft, possibly a Cessna) one thing he would do to conserve fuel in flight ...he'd cut the power....and glide, then after awhile start the motor again....

Gee thanks...I'll walk.

Is anyone watching this on NBC tonight? An interview with Jennifer?
I missed a bit-has she said whether she is anorexic or buillimic? (sp)

She looks like Diana, Princess of Wales!

I saw the interview, very sad yet why is she crying
on National TV? She didn't mention any eating disorders.

She sold her story for a large sum of money...

boo hoo.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4100320.stm

Thanks you guys. She says she's in therapy.
Notice how her fiance spoke for her a few times? Yikes!

Anyway, I think that's her big secret. She shoplifted and probably is bulimic. She's a long-distance runner.
Physically fit you'd think? Right?

Diana was young, fit and bulimic and before she married Charles The Royal Family thought she'd be a "Bolter." Which she was. And which this girl is, literally!
Jennifer said she had control issues. It all fits with an eaing disorder and might be why her eyes stand so wide. (imbalance in her thyroid or something like that).

I think she needs attention- I really do. Jennifer said no, but Diana wanted attention too- from her husband.
The possibility of suicide fits Diana too. The not doing it but almost doing it. That's a selfish bid for attention as well.
I see a lot of similarities, even if this girl's eyes are brown.

Frankly, I think she should have to reimburse the costs of the search. I also think she should be charged for lying to the police. I don't think she should be sent to jail for it, but by George she'd best get some counseling. My neighbor has eyes just like the runawy bride. She's bipolar & has other mental problems. She won't stay on her meds, tho so we all suffer! AND I think the fiance has a few loose screws, too.

IMHO, Zoe's got it exactly right. I've rarely seen anyone on TV (and there are plenty of nuts there) as shallow and self-centered as this RAB. Her intended should be the next one to take the bus somewhere -- but I suggest he make an announcement first and save everybody the time and trouble they'd spend looking for him. I reserve a special contempt for people who tell us what good Christians they are -- and then act like anything but!

The really great news story is that they found that little boy in Utah. I was sure he was a goner.

Kat, I think you are right about the eating disorder,
it just struck me today when my LLBean skorts and
matching blouses arrived UPS. Size 14. They didn't
fit, too tight. My daughter in law Tristy was here and cheerily said "no problem Ma, just send them back for the next size.." HA no way! Ugh, I have really worked my whole adult life to just stay at jumbo (in today's standards) a size 12/14,
metabolism changes, it gets harder. I look at Princess Di and Jennifer, getting into their 30's and trying to stay a size 4? It must be a huge eating disorder and very sad. I wish there were more TV
programs for the young gals showing healthy women with some meat on their bones. Lucy and Ethel were not skinny.

Did I hear that the Runner is making a mighty big profit from her marriage escape? Book, TV, etc. She should pay for her madness. Actually, I believe it was her daddy that paid off the Duluth, GA PD.

Need to exert control can automatically = eating disorder in certain women.
Shoplifting.
Being a long-distance runner.
(I have a relative who was a runner and had an eating disorder and also no period).
That can throw the brain chemistry off so that they are not totally firing on all cylnders, meaning poor judgement at times.
The decision to either run away or attempt suicide.
These things all point to someone who is very self-absorbed, and selfish- at the least.
I have a bad view of suicide as the most selfish thing a person can do.

Here they are!