Posted on 11/13/2005 2:15:56 PM PST by grjr21
Pennsylvania State police are searching for a 14-year-old girl reportedly kidnapped at gunpoint after her parents were murdered.
Authorities have issued an Amber Alert for Kara Beth Borden, who was last seen at 8 a.m. in Warwick Township, Lancaster County.
Police reported that the teen was taken by 18-year-old David G. Ludwig. Authorities say he was last seen driving a red Volkswagen Jetta with Pennsylvania registration E-H-H-0-9-9-4.
Borden is described as white, 5-feet-1, and 100 pounds, with brown hair with blond highlights. She was last seen wearing a black sweat shirt with "Pillar" across the front, blue jeans and black sneakers.
Ludwig is a white male with brown hair and brown eyes.
State police are urging people in the following counties or cities to be on the lookout for Ludwig: Lancaster, Lebanon, Dauphin, Perry, Juniata, York, Cumberland, Mifflin, Snyder, Northumberland, Franklin, Berks, Chester, Montgomery, Bucks, Philadelphia, Delaware, Schuykill, Lehigh and Northamption counties.
It was not immediately clear how authorities discovered the killings.
Neighbor John Hohman, 40, said he first noticed an ambulance on the street around 8:15 a.m. About 25 minutes later, he said he got a phone call from Lancaster emergency management officials telling his family to stay inside.
Looking out the window, Hohman said he saw teams of police running through the neighborhood; around 10:15 a.m., authorities told him to go into his basement and wait there until further notice.
"We were really upset; we didn't know what going on," Hohman said.
Hohman said Borden, who played soccer, occasionally babysat for him. "She's a very nice girl," Hohman said.
Neighbor Tod Sherman, 47, has lived in the quiet suburban development for 12 years and said that Borden was one of five children.
The Borden family has lived on the street in a tan, two-story house for several years, he said. Kara's father, Mike Borden, worked for a printing company, said Sherman.
"He was very smart and focused, a nice guy. They were super people," Sherman said. "They were just a fine family."
The Bordens home-schooled their children and knew Ludwig through a home-schooling network, Sherman said.
Sherman's son Tyler, 11, played with Kara's youngest brother, David. Tyler said he sometimes saw Ludwig at the Borden house, frequently dressed in black.
"I didn't find him to be very friendly," said Tyler.
The eldest two Borden children, both male, are in their 20s and no longer live at home, Sherman said. The whereabouts of David Borden and Kara's older sister, both of whom still live at home, were not immediately clear.
The Amber Alert system uses a state's emergency notification system to give broadcasters a description of a missing child and a suspect's vehicle. The information is also displayed on electronic highway signs.
It is named for 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was kidnapped and killed in Arlington, Texas. It is used in 47 states.
Amber Alert: http://www.amber.state.pa.us/amber/site/default.asp
Gotcha. Pretty much agree. When I look at these kids I see what look like good kids that got into a situation that spun totally out of control.
Even for kids that have a "normal" amount of misbehavior or rebellion, there are thousands of ways for things to ultimately work out harmless for everyone. Heaven knows I got through high school by the skin of my teeth.
Sometimes you can't see it coming because there really isn't anything to see.
But there are a few ways that things can develop, however unlikely or rare... where even good kids can let really horrible things happen. Tiny little decisions and little moments in time that could go one way or the other-- in this case all went bad.
This boy's life is over, just as surely as it is for her parents that he killed. The girl's life still depends on what her involvement was, but in any case, at best, she's going to be really messed up for the rest of her life.
They are goners. Now the only hope is to save the other kids. They'll be messed up too, but hopefully retreivable.
"Their parents didn't approve of them being together" because of the age difference, she said. "It wasn't because he was a shady character, because he wasn't."
Hey Stephanie, I say you're wrong.
Works for me, Dear....I'm with ya 100%! We follow the exact same conviction/commitment to raising our son. Did it with our first who is now 25 and very happily married and we're doing the same with our second son, who just turned 16.
This is exactly my plan. Of course, my children are pre-adolescent (my dolls more interested in dolls. my son more interested in Legos and armor) right now, but I tell them now, "This is how it will be." I was boy crazy when I was younger. Looking back now I realize how much I missed by not just being friends with more guys, instead of "dating". A few years ago I threw a birthday party for my husband. His brother had a prom the same night. His other brother was the chauffer for his prom date and him. They stopped off at the party for dinner before their "chauffer" drove them to prom. (we knew if she could put up with all of that, she was a keeper. they're getting married on Monday) If my children like a certain boy or girl they get to hang around with the family until after the high school years.
I agree. If my kids were into something that destructive I would WANT to know and feel betrayed if someone knew and didn't tell me. To think that others knew and might have been talking about it behind my back, and no one had the courtesy or thought enough of me or my family to mention it would hurt deeply. At least, that's how I'd feel. OTOH, I've tried talking to some parents about their kids and just about had my head ripped off. It depends on the parents but in this case, it sounds like your friend really ought to know. I hope it works out.
We did pretty much the same for my kids. A few years ago, they were where yours are now. Now they are teens, 17, 15,and 13, and not one of them is obsessed with the opposite sex. I guess we did OK after all because they have great self esteem and are not easily swayed by the opinions of other kids. They look like any other ordinary kids but don't particulary care for a lot of popular culture. I've told them for years that getting involved in a relationship young is foolish and a waste of time. For one thing, it won't last and they'll only end up getting hurt, and another is that they can't get married before 18 without a parents permission and THEY AIN'T GETTING IT. So why waste time in a relationship that isn't going to last anyway. There's also the getting a college education and being able to support yourself aspect, too. (Just some ammo to use on your kids when they get older.) I was boy crazy as a teen, too, and I'm sooooo glad that I don't have to deal with raising a *me*.
Sometimes parents can be really in the dark about what kids are up to. And then when you try to let them know, they get offended.
I still think that it's best to tell parents, just because there's a chance the kid/s can be helped. It's more important to do the right thing than to be popular.
Just to relieve your minds....the parents are aware of the son's activities (he's gay and into bashing Christianity) --they've tried to talk with him about it. He's off at college now, so that's made the situation even harder to deal with.
On his blog he's just discussing the wild parties, posting drag pictures, etc. It's hard for me to see it, so I don't see any reason to bring more heartache to the parents by letting them view any of it.
Also, he's made some comments about his parents (not violent comments but just snide and rebellious), and I sure don't want them reading that. Some things they are better off not seeing, I think. It would be very hurtful.
I couldn't tell that his parents were that aware from your initial post (513). It sounds like they really do know enough. At that point I certainly can see not subjecting them to any more. I think then, that you're right; they don't need THOSE kind of details.
Exactly right and why should she get over it? Can you imagine how the siblings feel? Can you imagine having this girl over for Thanksgiving and Christmas 10 years from now, because she's "family"? I can't. I would still be pissed at her in 20 years and I'm not sure there is any amount of craven apologies that help me get over it. She needs more forgiveness than I am capable of, I pity her, but would probably never let her set foot in my home again. Guess she's lucky she's not my sister.
Oh, I see. Very sad. His parents should find out about this website and video, maybe they might be able to help their son if he ever has a doubt about his course of life:
http://www.drthrockmorton.com/idoexist.asp
I Do Exist
Thanks for that link. His parents, especially his mother, have a strong faith in God. She's holding on to the Lord to deliver her son and put him on the right track.
The Bible does mention (in Corinthians, I think) that even among those early Christians, there were some who had been homosexuals before coming to the Lord, but God delivered them and they began living clean, normal lives.
Jesus is able to deliver people from any sin.
There are some other national Christian ministries who have lots of testimonies from people who had been involved in the gay lifestyle, but were delivered when they gave their lives to the Lord -- and were changed from the inside out.
Do his parents read FR? If they're interested, ping me and I can send you a list of many organizations that help people become free from homosexuality. There are literally tens of thousands of former homosexuals. Maybe if the parents read more about it, it would give them hope, and maybe some ways to reach out to their son.
Just let me know, I'll find the list.
Tomorrow, if you want. I gotta crawl to bed.
No, his parents don't go online. They don't have internet access at home -- just a computer for the kids to do homework on or print out photos from their digital camera.
They thought it best not to have the internet available -- with all of the bad stuff out there. They just didn't want the kids having any access to it at all.
Their son apparently went to the library or friend's house to write his blog.
I think TBN has had a man on their show who had a video about his former gay lifestyle and deliverance. He has a national ministry now and is doing a great work for the Lord. I might order that video for them.
They are aware of ministries out there helping people. Don't know if they've gotten any literature from them or not. That video would be an encouragement -- I'll try to get one and send it to them.
Here is a link to an article in the Lancaster, Pa. newspaper online. The article has a chat transcript from the girls website. See what you think, sounds like she & the boyfriend had a problem that her friend was aware of. To me, it sounds like she may be pregnant.
http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/18619
Hmmm... I thought it sounded like the friend didn't agree with the girl secretly dating Ludwig against her parents' wishes.
Who knows? (shrug)
You may be onto something, but hopefully that's not it. It could be that they had made the decision to become sexually active and planned to spend the night together.
She had opportunities to get away from this psycho during their fleeing police but didn't. I wouldn't be so quick to exonerate her.
Her deception of her parents and her entering into sexual intercourse with this monster behind their backs cost them their lives. She's is ultimately partially responsible for the deaths of her parents. Let's call it like it is.
Whether she is criminally liable, we will have to wait an see. I suspect they will let her skate.
I don't see it that way. This is an 18 year old *man* who had no business secretly dating a 14 year old girl, against her parents' wishes.
There is no way anyone, let alone a young girl, could have forseen that her parents would be murdered as a result of her actions. That is not a natural consequence of her actions. In fact, before this event, I would say in these circumstances that would not happen.
I mean, I can't see telling my kids "don't secretly date anyone or your Dad and I may be murdered".
Unless the girl was involved with the planning or carrying out of the murders, I can't blame her for them.
Sure, if she didn't date the guy, he wouldn't have killed her parents. But it's a long stretch from disobedience to murder.
She is an unwise, naive, immature child; Ludwig is an adult. There is a big difference between a 14 year old and an 18 year old. I can see why her parents didn't want Ludwig around before all this happened. It would be like throwing a lamb to the wolf.
I think the circumstances must be taken into account. This is not some streetwise 14 year old. It probably gave her ego a big boost that an 18 year old man was interested in her. She fancied herself in love with him, mixed him into her romantic fantasies, and followed his lead. (She definitely didn't follow her parents' lead.)
It is Ludwig himself whom I can't figure out. No matter what the circumstances, it is not normal for an 18 year old to kill his girlfriends' parents. I have never agreed with the "he just snapped" theory. If that were true, we'd all better be worried that we are bombs ready to go off at any time, and that's not the case.
Were the consequences of HIS actions forseeable? Of course! What about him?
If the girl turns out to have planned this, to have known Ludwig was bringing a loaded gun into her home, all bets are off. Would it surprise me if that were the case? Yes!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.