Posted on 09/08/2006 3:07:09 PM PDT by show me state
Edited on 09/08/2006 3:58:09 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2006 — Air Force Maj. Jill Metzger, who vanished Monday in Kyrgyzstan, has been found and now is back in Air Force control, ABC News has learned.
"We are elated to have Jill back with us," said Air Force spokesman Col. Scott Reese. Local police notified U.S. officials that she had been found at 1:15 a.m. local time in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Air Force officials say she was found alone and appears to have been beaten. Officials say she is "coherent," in "relatively good condition" and is talking to investigators. She is also undergoing medical evaluation.
Officials would not comment on the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and said the investigation is ongoing
The news brought elation to Metzger's family.
"It's a dream come true. The most significant event of our lives," said Kelly Mayo, Metzger's father-in-law. Mayo said he has not spoken to Metzger yet, but believes she had been kidnapped and "whoever had her dropped her off on the side of the road."
Metzger vanished on Monday afternoon in Kyrgyzstan — a poor, predominantly Muslim country in Central Asia. Since shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, Kyrgyzstan has been home to a strategically important U.S. military base that supports operations in Afghanistan. The government is generally pro-American, and in recent years has experienced sporadic clashes with Islamic fundamentalists.
Just 10 days before deploying to Kyrgyzstan in April, Metzger married Air Force Capt. Josh Mayo. They had already bought tickets for a honeymoon in Jamaica later this month, he said.
"We were going to take Jet Skis out, have a couple of romantic dinners. It is very disappointing," said Mayo
Before her disappearance, Metzger was last seen out shopping with five others from the base. The group briefly separated inside a department store in the center of Bishkek, several miles from the base. They had agreed to meet a short time later, but Metzger never showed up.
Not if Greta gets a hold of it.
I started reading the thread earlier, but quit because of the comments.
This time I started from the end of the thread, and came upon yours.
Thank you for the details...I will pray for a swift recovery; and in case I haven't said it often enough, I thank each and every one of you.
I think you may be right. Something about her story (if the media is reporting it right) doesn't add up. Especially changing the color of her hair - that's something an American would think of - not a Kyrgyz. Changing the hair color of an American woman wouldn't do a damn thing to disguise her. Plus, 3 guys and a woman? Very strange especially for Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyzstan is "muslim" in name only. The Kyrgyz are not what you would call orthodox muslim. They drink like fish and party hard.
I saw an interview with the husband and his dad this morning, and it seemed as if he thought she was dead, and he wasn't very emotional either...
When asked if he would go over there to help look he said "my place is here with my family." then the last comment was "keeping her memory alive"... That's what I found strange. As I said he did not seem distraught at all -- maybe he was in shock or something, but his demeanor still stuck me as strange...
There are a dozen interesting things that don't add up. You are supposed to stay with a "buddy" when out of the compound...so she enters the store with her "buddy" and within three minutes...they agree to separate in the store. Seven minutes later...she is seen leaving the store (video tape confirms that part). The phone calls from the cellphone (two)? Seen getting into a cab or car by witnesses at the store? Seen around the bus station (which is an absolute corrupt cop and mafia junction in Bishkek)?
And I can add that I've actually met this major (over three years ago)...and she is very professional in conduct. The naive-scale might be a tad over average...but there isn't much you can say against her. And in terms of fitness...she probably ranks in the top 20 women in the entire AF...you don't run marathons unless you are absolutely in shape. So I'm at a loss on explanations presently. I will assume that she left the store for a very stupid reason, and that this entire episode...from her leaving the store, to the group of four...were all planned prior to the event.
Bottom line....for anyone traveling in the wild east of former Russia...once you leave the confines of the hotel area...you aren't exactly safe. You must assume a threat every single minute exists.
I definitely understand what you are saying, especially being on camera in front of the world...
Yes, all interesting points. I don't want to sound like I'm slamming her, I just have some questions about her story. However, all we have now are contradicting media reports. It'll be nice to know the real story. Frankly, I'd rather it be her having a slight breakdown, or some sort of tomfoolerly instead of being kidnapped and God knows what else.
I went to Turkmenistan in 1996 as part of an US-Turkmen military assistance program. We met some Peace Corps gals in Krasnovodsk (Turkmenbashi). I couldn't believe they could stay that long and live in such conditions. But she's right - drink, drink, drink. That's all I saw. It's not "living" it's "surviving."
"It's one of the main reasons people don't want women in areas of actual battle."
In battle or semi-civilized areas that end in "-stan."
It could happen if she was commissioned as soon as she finished college.
"If they get the chance they will kill us here in our own country, combat for them is where ever they find us."
A western woman wadnering around on the ground in most muslim countries is similar to Steve Irwin dangling a pork chop in front of a croc - very dangerous for the pork chop.
... well if it is ABC News reporting, when will it be edited? Or, rewritten? Or, story pulled in full?
How are we supposed to believe ANYTHING ABC News (for that matter, the network in general) has to say any longer?
Useless network to me anymore. Gutless Cowards!
Thank God.
I am so glad that she is found!
Ahhh... I had no idea he was in the military as well. I somehow missed that info. That explains A LOT... especially why he was perhaps expecting the worst. Thank God she was found alive.
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