Jennifer Wilbanks Found, Cold Feet
Jennifer Wilbanks Found, Cold Feet
April 30, 2005Posted By weddings
More articles on the Weddings topic: Wedding News
Updating our previous story, Jennifer Wilbanks has been found. She turned up in New Mexico, at first claiming she was abducted, then later admitting she had cold feet. She said that she "needed some time alone." There is a lot of pressure put on a bride with such a large wedding coming up.
"It turns out that Miss Wilbanks basically felt the pressure of this large wedding and could not handle it," said Randy Belcher, the police chief in Duluth, Ga. No criminal charges are pending.
Wilbanks, whose disappearance set off a nationwide hunt, called her fiance, John Mason, from a pay phone late Friday and told him that she had been kidnapped while jogging three days before, authorities said. Her family is excited that she is safe, and credited the media with causing the capture of Jennifer's captors.
After hours of interrogation, she recanted her original story.
Ray Schultz, the Albuquerque chief of police, said Jennifer Wilbanks "had become scared and concerned about her impending marriage and decided she needed some time alone."
"She's obviously very concerned about the stress that she's been through, the stress that's been placed on her family, She is very upset."
Jennifer travelled to Las Vegas by bus before heading to Albequerque, where she found herself out of money. The press speculation is that the lack of money is her reasoning for calling her family when she did, but that kind of speculation is just mean hearted.
Ms. Wilbanks had actually changed her appearance by cutting her hair, but she gave no indication that she had seen any media coverage of her disappearance.
The mood outside Wilbanks' home went from jubilant to somber after Wilbanks changed her story. Family members ducked inside and the blinds were drawn.
The groom has shown strength and honor in not having any animosity towards his fiance.
Wilbanks was disheveled, tired and thirsty, but was not complaining of any injuries, officials said.
Jennifer Wilbanks Found, Cold Feet Commentary
May 3, 2005 05:19 AMDeb
What a crock. I hope they charge her for wasting police resources and for lying to the police about her 'abduction'.
She could have called it all off and kept it a private matter but now it's a public spectacle and she ought to be ashamed of herself.
May 5, 2005 11:59 AMBig Gay Sam
My co-workers and I were laughing about that. It always seems that people in trouble end up in New Mexico. Is there some kind of brochure out there in the rest of the nation that says, "if you're in trouble, run to New Mexico?"
On behalf of my fellow New Mexicans I would like to ask you all to STOP IT!! You're scaring the hell out of us. :op
