OPINION

Jennifer Wilbanks: My Official Opinion On The Runaway Bride Story

Written by Alonzo Mosley (FBI)
Published May 02, 2005

I don't give a flying fig.

Furthermore, my sincerest wishes for the Today show and all the other morning programs and news channels is that I am not subjected to, for the remainder of this week, to interviews with the groom, the father of the groom, the mother of the groom, the father of the bride, the mother of the bride, the uncles and aunts of the bride, the various brothers, sisters and cousins of the bride, the bride's High School friends, the bride's High School Sweethearts, the bride's High School prom date, the bride's High School bus driver, woodshop teacher or cheerleading coach.

I also have no interest in hearing from the Georgia State police, the New Mexico State police, the North Dakota State Police (because they have nothing to do and have been watching the current coverage intently and have therefore become experts on the story), the Mayor of Duluth, Georgia, the District Attorney of Duluth, Georgia, the entire City Council of Duluth, Georgia (concerning current plans of naming a local sinkhole after the bride), and Gore Vidal, who once wrote a novel titled Duluth (but not about the one in Georgia).

I also have no interest in hearing from guest psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, therapists, physicists, astrophysicists, marriage counselors, grief counselors, camp counselors, Dr. Phil, Dr. Drew, Dr. Joyce Brothers (There's an old reference), Dr. Frist, Dr. Pepper, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson or Pope Benedict XIV.

I also have no interest in hearing from the wedding planner, the wedding caterer, the wedding florist, the wedding band (renowned winner three years running of "Best Foghat cover band in North Georgia"), any and all of the twenty-eight groomsmen and bridesmaids, the minister, the usher, the limo chauffeur, the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker, the tinker, the tailor, the soldier, the spy and, for no particular reason, Donald Trump.

Finally, I most definitely don't want to see a live via satellite interview from the Hollywood Hills with Julia Roberts, Richard Gere and Garry Marshall on the plans for filming their next new film this summer, Runaway Bride II: Georgia on my Mind.

Back to you, Katie.

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Jennifer Wilbanks: My Official Opinion On The Runaway Bride Story
Published: May 02, 2005
Type: Opinion
Section: Culture
Filed Under: Culture: Media
Writer: Alonzo Mosley (FBI)
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Comments

#1 — May 2, 2005 @ 08:52AM — sapere aude [URL]

Her fiance should reconsider marrying her. After all, her lie created a chain reaction that cost taxpayers a lot of money. I hope she gets charged!

#2 — May 2, 2005 @ 09:01AM — Eric Olsen

"FIGS IN SPACE!"

#3 — May 2, 2005 @ 09:13AM — Kim Davis

As this media hype has gotten so far out of control, I wonder, what happened to the wedding plans? We have heard how big this wedding was, how much money has been lost in this wedding caper?

As I try and make sense of how a wedding of an Office Manager and Medical Assistant could be SO large, it makes you wonder when exactly she lost touch with reality.

Add up the man hours that have been spent and lets see her pony up for the costs incurred.

It is apparent this girl hasn't had to accept responsibility in much of her life, Mommy and Daddy had to fly her home first class? Maybe a little public shame would have made the public more forgiving.

#4 — May 2, 2005 @ 09:18AM — Not a fan of the bride [URL]

Runaway bride or Runaway racist? Wilbanks cynically assumed that by giving a description of Hispanic kidnappers, she would be home free.

This is reminiscent of the 1920's lynchings of Black males, often based on the lies of white Southern "christian" women, just like Wilbanks.

It's interesting that the mainstream media haven't picked up on the subtext of the 911 call.


#5 — May 2, 2005 @ 09:20AM — Steve [URL]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Glad someone finally just said it. This story got very old, very fast.

#6 — May 2, 2005 @ 09:49AM — Eric Olsen

this story is SO April

#7 — May 2, 2005 @ 10:02AM — Genia

Jennifer should be charged in the court of public opinion, her husband to be should have allowed her to keep running. What a disrespect to Law Enforcement. What a disrespect to the public who took the time to assist in her search. What a disrespect to Laci Peterson to Lori Hacking to the several children who have gone missing and met tragic ends in the past months. What a human disrespect to the couple who gave her a ride to Alberque. The ones who she said abducted her. What a selfish person this women is. She should not be able to run and hide. We the tax payers derserve an public apology. She should be ordered to pay back every dime for every resource that went into her search and travel back home. She should never be allowed to file for a marriage certificate again in her life. Shamful!!!!!

#8 — May 2, 2005 @ 10:07AM — Eric Olsen

at minimum she should be charged wth excessive blank stareage

#9 — May 2, 2005 @ 10:15AM — Warren Hudson

People across the blog and the TV prattlers and squawk radio smog were ready to execute John Mason.

He must be guilty because "there are discrepancies in his stories" and "because he won't take a GBI/FBI lie detector".

Shucks, if we ship him off to Iraq, our honorable military may get him to confess anyway.

Polygraphs are modern day Ouiji boards. Pherenology is as reliable.

Let's get on with the hanging. We'll have a fair trial tomorrow

#10 — May 2, 2005 @ 10:43AM — BklynRaven

Bravo!! Should be forwarded to every major media outlet in the country!!

#11 — May 2, 2005 @ 10:45AM — Steve [URL]

Dude. It's "Ouija" boards, not "Ouiji." Parker Brothers would be pissed, not to mention the spirit world.

Signed, your old pal Steve, who already made his apology for being wrong about Mr. Mason. And who has a proclivity for poking people already mad at me with a stick just for kicks.

#12 — May 2, 2005 @ 10:57AM — Tristan

definitely charge her with eXcessive "Bug Eyes" ...!!

(could very well be an undiagnosed thyroid problem ---which could also account for the unpredictable mood swings; now the same people that are condemning those that tried to "crucify" her fiancee before she turned herself in--are crucifying HER, not being fully aware of what medical problems might have produced what happened. It is so easy to criticize when you have not walked a mile in their moccasins. Being a Monday-morning quarterback is much easier for the public than finding out what the "truth" is ....)

#13 — May 2, 2005 @ 11:21AM — Steve [URL]

I actually agree with you, Tristan. As infuriating as this is on the surface, something really is wrong that needs treatment. The thyroid, or mental illness, or a collusion between the two, perhaps. While I think she needs to have it made clear to her just how big a screw-up this was, and what it caused, I don't think she needs to be thrown in the pokey ad infinitum. Thyroidal problems, as you noted, can cause mental imbalance, and I also flashed back to the couple of times my brother 'disappeared,' when he was very manic. Either situation needs to be considered when people are talking or writing about her.

#14 — May 2, 2005 @ 11:28AM — john

I am so disgusted that I almost can't see straight....the book should be thrown at her for all of the police resources that were used to "find " her ...too bad I can't do something about all this ...she lower than any women has ever been..loser..!!!

#15 — May 2, 2005 @ 11:41AM — Lynn

I am so sick of watching new reports about "awwgm" (Another White Woman Gone Missing). Maybe after the last two "self-abductions" the media will be more cautious. I have no problem what-so-ever with the media covering missing children, but at least be fair and consistent. "Woman Missing" stories are just news outlets hoping to hit pay dirt with another Lacie Peterson story. They can cover all the "woman missing" stories as they please, but if they cover one, they should cover them all.

#16 — May 2, 2005 @ 13:32PM — sydney

How sickening was CNN's coverage of this "personal drama"? Fuck American media makes me want to be sick.

CNN: A ruthless corporation trying to dig up a sensational story to occupy the masses while ignoring the countless important issues that everyone hasn't heard of.

I think this all started back with the Elizabeth Smart coverage, or the sniper coverage or was it OJ. All this unethical coverage, masked as a concerned effort to save a life.

If CNN wants to help save lives they could spend those hundreds of hours of coverage showing us the atrocities going on around the world, ones in which we could do something to help prevent.

Instead, millions of Americans sit glued to their television infotainment channel, absorbed in a bit of cheesy reality TV: The story of a runaway bride.

And what guides CNN in deciding which stories to cover? There are hundreds of abductions a year in America? So they cover one or two, and sensationalize the hell out of them. Forget the war... forget the intricacies of social security system, forget GWB's corruption, forget all that shit..... we got a personal drama to cover.

... lets cover a middle-class, white girl's abduction and hope she turns up raped to death, hacked to little pieces, and lets hope the killer has a videotape it.... and all sorts of sordid goodies.

We should form a protest group and demand the editor of CNN is fired. I don't even bother to tune into fox anymore, but anymore, it doesn't matter which network it is, They're all so fucking insulting to the American people that it's embarrassing. What are we doing to ourselves?

#17 — May 2, 2005 @ 14:17PM — SFC SKI

Sydney, I agree completely that the media, (not only CNN) overhyped this story. You would have thought it was the only thing going on last weekend judging the news coverage.
I doubt most Americans were glued to their sets, however, most were probably watching whatver other programs there were on the other 300 channels.
I would hope the mdia would learn form all this and go back to actual (factual) reporting and news analysis, but I doubt it.

#18 — May 2, 2005 @ 14:58PM — NancyGail [URL]

At least we were spared the retelling of Michael Jackson's trial. Yes, she needs to be charged. If nothing else, she lied to law enforcement which is a crime for good reason.

#19 — May 2, 2005 @ 15:07PM — sydney

well.. lets not get cought up in this girls life.. lets look at the real crime here which is the news network's coverage of a non-story. A deliberate distraction from the more serious issues of the country and of the world.

Any discussion about the smaller details of this runaway bride story only distracts from the bigger problem here; The dangerous sate of NEws coverage in this country.

#20 — May 2, 2005 @ 20:43PM — loretta [URL]

We looked at the groom. He looked a little odd at first. She planted evidence that she had met with foul play. She staged the abduction. She bought a ticket a week before, apparently.

Since she turned up alive, I choose to parody her. Make comedy of this farce.

#21 — May 2, 2005 @ 22:44PM — shastanigolio

I must confess that I am in love with this oily skinned hound of a bitch. I must confess that she rode the god forbidden bus O the sacred tribes O the Israelites and the storm catching thieves O the tornado watching vultures O the Oklahoma plains for too long before she came into contact with a real stranger, or strangers, in this case me, or moi, in my van. She didnt' recognize how much I could love her at first. But compared to the puny fat boy back in Georgia, the chubby masterbator, I am Mr. Erictile Fun T Shun. So I grabbed my remote, and jacked to the tune O the newsbunnies frolicking in the lane, and then smiled as my bride in Blue made her way back to good ole Gee Eh for a test drive around my mighty sword. Let's all forgive and forget while I undo her bra strap and let those skinny little danglers do their thing. This twenty four hour news cycle is great for dreaming up stuff like this. Eh? a.

#22 — May 2, 2005 @ 23:23PM — Steve [URL]

Dude, that was SO beat. Solid.

#23 — May 3, 2005 @ 07:14AM — Steve [URL]

here

Check out the following quotes from the article:

Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter said he has been flooded with more than 400 e-mails running 7 to 1 in favor of prosecution.

"There's a minority that believe that there should be no prosecution, and then there's the same number that believe I'm a relentless publicity hound," Porter said(...)


Later...

Asked whether Wilbanks has expressed sorrow for her actions, Porter said, "Sometimes, I'm not sure she has the capability for remorse."

He continued: "I'm not even sure she really understands the magnitude of what happened here."

Porter said he knew as soon as he heard Wilbanks' story that the woman was lying, and said he was not persuaded she had come clean yet.

"There's something about the statement she gave today that doesn't ring completely true and, to tell you the truth, I think that her absorption with herself is so great that she just really doesn't understand what the consequences of what she did are," Porter said.

"She said that she never thought there would be a search for her. Well, that just doesn't make sense."


Go get 'er, Danny.

And John-Boy still thinks she's just the bees knees, yo. Now he's gone from being the whipping boy for those of us who went all Peterson case on him (Guilty) to just being 'whipped.

#24 — May 3, 2005 @ 09:42AM — Kim Davis

I live in the Tampa Bay area, and I am quite sure that the families that have buried 2 separate children would say that the what the future holds for future missing people is up in the air. The first case of Jessica Lunsford was a heart wrenching story that grabbed ahold of everyone. The second case didn't garnish the amount of media play because it was suspected at first she was just a girl that ran away, because she had a history of this in the past.

So will all missing persons be deemed "runaways" from here on out until the body is discovered? Or will runaways never come home because they fear being "fined" or held responsible for the search.

I believe this woman owes the public an apology, and I believe the police have a right to collect restitution. It has been mentioned that a possible book and movie might come out of this, the prosecution would be doing a better service to lien or levy a Civil Judgment against this woman and family members for future profits made from this ordeal. That repayment be made to the towns and agency's that spent time and resources.

If any state in the Union can do this, I believe Georgia can. They have some of the most straight forward laws I have ever seen.

#25 — May 3, 2005 @ 09:52AM — Carol woodward

The problem is that she is a HE....CHeck out the Adams Apple.

THis is a problem....Why the heck do you think they are virgins????????????????????????????

#26 — May 3, 2005 @ 13:16PM — Steve [URL]

"Spineless glutton for punishment can't get enough of his crazy-eyed cracker bride"

That headline courtesy of one of FARK'S wags. Click the headline to read the ABC article so nastily re-titled by the Farker.

And I feel bad, being a cracker myself, but I laughed my ass off.

#27 — May 3, 2005 @ 13:25PM — DrPat [URL]

The North Dakota State Police have their own "instant headlines" story to concentrate on now: Kohl's Chocolate Custard Con Carne.

#28 — May 3, 2005 @ 15:33PM — Natalie Davis [URL]

So let's see... she's a bitch, she's a "cracker," she's bugeyed, she's not worthy of EVER getting married, she's a MAN?????

Perhaps she is ill? Maybe?

Why don't we let the justice system figure out what it is going to do. Perhaps this is a mental thing. If not, then yes, she should have to deal with the consequences, particularly compensating society for the money it spent in searching for her.

As for her husband-to-be(?), it's apparent he is serious about the "for better or worse" part of marriage. Good for him, I say. Don't know if I could be that forgiving, but he is right: People make mistakes. The law will do what it must, but the couple has to deal with its own issues and should be allowed to do so.

And those who need to pontificate on the matter have a great focus: the media. The coverage of this story, be it by Faux or the Commie News Network or the other sensationalism channels, was tailor-made for Access Hollywood. Where's the footage from the Roberts-Gere flick? Seriously, that would be a worthwhile topic, and thank you, Mr. Mosley, for addressing this. As a news consumer and journalist, I can tell you, the "major" media are not doing their jobs responsibly. How do we bring them to their knees and stop the ongoing madness???

#29 — May 3, 2005 @ 15:43PM — Eric Olsen

by not responding to such coverage, which we collectively seem to be miserable failures at

#30 — May 3, 2005 @ 15:53PM — Natalie Davis [URL]

Indeed. So my question, restated, becomes how do we promote ignoring and not responding to such coverage?

And then, shouldn't we let the networks know we are dissatisfied with them? Problem is, there aren't enough people in the US who give enough of a damn to do anything more than gripe or go along...

#31 — May 3, 2005 @ 17:25PM — ghostrider

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says that Jenny bought her bus ticket, under a false name, a week before she used it.

I am also hearing reports from Atlanta that her parents may face complicity charges because Jenny did the same thing to two previous fiances, & they failed to reveal that. I do not know if these reports are true.

But I've thought all along that there is something seriously wrong in this Wilbanks family & that's the real story here....

#32 — May 3, 2005 @ 17:39PM — Natalie Davis [URL]

BS. IF the Wilbanks have a problem, it's THEIR business. If the runaway bride broke laws, she should be punished for them. But THIS IS NOT NEWS.

#33 — May 3, 2005 @ 22:22PM — Steve [URL]

"THIS IS NOT NEWS."

Ultimately, that's really all there is to say.

#34 — May 4, 2005 @ 06:01AM — dietdoc [URL]

sydney writes: "CNN: A ruthless corporation trying to dig up a sensational story to occupy the masses while ignoring the countless important issues that everyone hasn't heard of."

Reply: You are so right. I am so tired of watching (actually, not watching) cotton candy news. But, when I thought more about it, I relaized they are only giving us what they know the majority will watch. Junk food for the mind. Elizabeth Smart, Scott Petterson (tragic but, really!), and now this tripe. It is a sad commentary on the American mindset when people actually care about this issue while thousands are being butchered in Darfur without a peep of interest. If you want racisim, the "Hispanic male" thing aside, that is racism. We fixate on the "evolving human drama" of this histrionic ditz and turn away from the true tragedies of the world.

What drives me (almost) to the bottle is the fact that I foresee the following unfolding in view of my mind's eye:

1. Paid interview with some major interview host in prime time; Dr. Phil will also rush tape a show on "premarital stress" and use the phrase "What were you thinking?"

2. Book deal in 6 figures

3. Made-for-TV movie - two actually, authorized and unauthorized - run on different channels at the same time. In prime time, of course.

She, and the "tragedy-struck family," will actually make money off this silliness.

If you want to know how low the media in the West has sunk, you need no more proof than this. But it speaks volumes, also, about our collective consciousness.

#35 — May 23, 2005 @ 11:46AM — miriam [URL]

My grandmother had a saying in Yiddish, which trasnlates into: " adog acts like a dog, every time."
Jennifer is a bolter, and she will bolt, every time. Any guy who wants to marry a girl who has more troubles than he does is going to have an interesting life.

#36 — June 17, 2005 @ 13:18PM — Davie Burton

I definitly have a comment. I saw last night where this runaway c**t had an interview on a prime time talk show. And I've also read that a book deal is being made about her "life" story. This mental case not only wasted hard working tax payer's money, but now is going to make money off the hoax she pulled. I have been sexually assaulted in the one of the worse possible ways and I struggle every day just to maintain my sanity, work my ass off and take care of my daughter. I find it unbelievably insulting that this bitch not only LIED about being sexually assaulted and blaming it on a hispanic couple, but she's actually getting attention and making money off it!! What about a book deal or interview of people who have had REAL, NOT IMAGINED horrible life experiences and survive them everyday? I am appalled by this and I hope that everyone else out there is too. Wilbanks needs to be locked up in a mental hospital and the key needs to be thrown away or shoved up her backside.

#37 — June 17, 2005 @ 13:22PM — SFC SKI

Dude, you are so last month.

#38 — June 17, 2005 @ 14:13PM — davie burton

If you are referring to me, I'm not a "dude". And I am not "so last month". I'm just now making a comment because I'm so fucking fed up with this bitch. Normally I try to keep from judging others but unfortunately, in this case, I just had to let off a little steam. With that written, I will now attempt to put this shit out of my mind because I'm allowing it to take up too much of my mental energy. Not to mention the fact that I need to get back to work.

#39 — October 10, 2006 @ 15:27PM — John B

Over a year on, and the wide-eyed dufus is suing her ex-fiance' for up to $500,000.

Fight it boy!

Counter-sue the crazy woman for the emotional harm she did you!

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