Posted on 05/03/2005 5:58:00 AM PDT by SofSpoken
Runaway bride and the cry of wolf!
It happens all too often, a person is reported missing. The police have rules on the reporting of a missing person, wait 24 hours, and if they have not made contact, an investigation begins. This is common knowledge to over half of all Americans.
The authorities begin their search, the investigating commences, and usually, the media is alerted. If it should be a child missing, Amber Alerts and Levi's Calls go out to all media. In the day and age of satellite news channels, nationwide television networks, and the internet, it is almost difficult to avoid the stream of information about the person reported missing.
Police agencies call in officers for a search, usually with overtime authorized by the county politicians. After all, who would want to be on a ballot for re-election and have an opponent say they did not support the resource expenditure necessary for the search and possible rescue of the missing person. Tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent in hope of returning the missing person home. I, as an American, applaud the tireless efforts of the authorities to locate these people, and their success rate, that too often, goes unnoticed.
Jumping to the Duluth Georgia runaway bride. She got cold feet and left, of her own volition. This is not a crime. Although she went jogging, it was the classic "I'm going for a pack of smokes" scenario with a healthier twist. If it would have been the man missing, would the reaction have been as swift and involved?
Fast-forward to five days later, and a late night collect phone call. First stated as a kidnapping, then the truth emerges there was no crime. These facts were not available to Police when they began the extensive search, "turning over every leaf in the city." The runaway bride claimed to have not seen any of the news reports, a possibility in Las Vegas, where they do not like any form of distraction from visitors gambling at the casinos.
If "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" is an indication of human nature, will the police not respond as swift or as thorough in future missing persons cases?
If the coffers of the City of Duluth Georgia are depleted after the expenditure of resources (time and money) will they be able to respond as swift and thorough in future missing person cases?
If the family had offered a $100,000 reward for the safe return of the missing person, should that reward now be delivered to the agency that successfully returned the missing person home?
My fear would be a real abduction, when a person's life is at risk, be minimized, due to the careless actions of a thoughtless person. This missing person case, and the repercussions from it, are far from over. Time will be the deciding factor. The media, the authorities, and the population of the country, may be jaded the next time a person doesn't return home when expected.
And now an added post-script: She did not see a television in a bus station. The bus station security/police never noticed a thin 5'8" woman with brown hair sitting there for hours, as she stated, and ask for ID. Airline, train, and bus passenger manifests apparently were not checked. In a time of heightened security, it is amazing how easily a sought after person can cross thousands of miles and never be detected.
Interesting, but breaking news?
After watching her fiance on Hannity and Poems last evening, I don't blame her for splitting.
Mr. Fiance was joined by his daddy and his pastor, said he prayed 33 times, quoted the bible (with verification from the pastor), and had his daddy finish sentances for him.
In other words, Mr. Fiance couldn't stand up for himself (let alone what else) and came across as a gutless wonder that perhaps needs a stint some military boot camp instead of trying to come across as Mr. Sensitive with dishpan hands.
Well someone please tell me then, what was the reason for her cutting her hair? Didn't she say she didn't want to be recognized? And how would a Duluth woman be recognized thousands of miles from home if she wasn't on the newscasts? i.e. this "I didn't watch the news reports" excuse doesn't synch with the "hair cut" story.
You are mistaken. That was the fiance, the pastor and HER daddy. Don't think you read this relationship between the two very well with that omission.
heh.
Any guy fixing to hook-up permanently with a girl who looks THAT crazy can't be too bright his'self!
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