Runaway Bride

[Wezas]

(can you tell I'm bored with WoW down for maintenance?)

Suprised no Bride topics yet.

So, if you've been in a cave:

Bride dissappears a week ago (last Tues) - said she was going out jogging and never comes back. Wedding was to be held on Saturday (600 guests, 14 bridesmaids). Did not take her wallet, keys, etc.

Massive search for her in Georgia eventually involves the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. (estimated cost of FBI involvement is in the millions)

3 days pass when she calls the police and say that she'd been abducted by two people (a hispanic male and a white woman) and they had left her in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

She later retracts her story and admits that she lied about being abducted. It comes out that she had purchased a greyhound ticket 7 days prior to being missing. She called a taxi from a gas station prior to going on her jog.

"She is somewhat remorseful for what she had done, but she didn't come out and appologize"

She could face a charge of making a false police report, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 12 months in jail, or making false statements to authorities -- a felony that carries a maximum of five years' imprisonment.

Also, the city of Deluth had spent quite a bit of money in her search effort - they are possibly looking to recoup $40-60k of it.

[StrayRogue]

BURN HER. Only a woman could do this...

[Wezas]

The community service isn't something that any officials have said on the news - just something that I think might get the point accross.

I figure 500 hours = 10 hour days, 5 days a week, for 2 1/2 months.

Also I think if they can recoup some of the money from the cancelled wedding (600 guests - rumors of wedding being over $100,000) - they should give that to Deluth.

Though it was likely paid by her parents and they should not be the ones to suffer.

[Kia]

I think the media has hyped this just a little too much. If someone forced a 600 person wedding with 14 bridesmaids and 8 showers down my throat, I might just take off too. Of course, I'd pick a lot better location than New Mexico...

Anyway, the FBI, local police, and volunteers spent the gazillions of dollars searching for her BEFORE she ever called to say she was kidnapped simply because her family said she would never have left.

Maybe they should be fined? See... that makes no sense.

She's looked like an idiot all by herself already. I do not think she should be fined (or jailed) for trying to cover up her stupidity after the fact.

Kia

[theotherjohn]

pay

just like I feel those people getting rescued at sea, on mountains and in the desert should pay

[Kia]

Originally posted by theotherjohn
pay

just like I feel those people getting rescued at sea, on mountains and in the desert should pay

One could argue that we already pay for these services with our tax dollars.

Kia

[CrystalTears]

I think she should pay AND do community service. Sorry but after the first news site of seeing my face splattered all over the news that I was missing and being searched, I'd call the authorities to call it off, that I was just hiding. That was inconsiderate and deceitful on her part.

Ideally I'd have her pay and then have her join other missing person searches so that she know what people went through looking for her.

[Myitkyina]

Clearly, she wasn't mature enough to be getting married in the first place. I feel really sorry for the guy and the families involved, and I feel like they've all suffered enough. I voted for the community service option--I think she should have to work with people who are disadvantaged in some way so she can get a bit of perspective, grow up, and stop being so selfish.

[CrystalTears]

Originally posted by Kia
If someone forced a 600 person wedding with 14 bridesmaids and 8 showers down my throat, I might just take off too. Of course, I'd pick a lot better location than New Mexico...

Where has it said that this wedding was forced on her?

[Gan]

I'm with CT... pay, community service, and a public apology.

I had a big wedding and understand the pressures, and remember how much hell my wife went through and dont doubt that it could push someone to bail like that; however calling and claiming that two men had abducted her was a little over the top. I'm suprised that the fiancee is still intent upon marrying her to be honest. Sheesh.

[Jorddyn]

I don't think you can justifiably fine/sentence her for running away. There's no law that says you must keep in contact with anyone. I think she does deserve at the very least a fine and community service for reporting that she had been kidnapped, with the degree dependent on how quickly she told the truth.

I still think she's spoiled rotten and didn't consider how her actions would effect those around her, and would probably shake her violently if she was my sister.

[CrystalTears]

Running away? No. Lying that she was kidnapped when she really wasn't? Yes.

[Jorddyn]

Originally posted by CrystalTears
Running away? No. Lying that she was kidnapped when she really wasn't? Yes.

Up until the point that she called the police to say she had been kidnapped, she hadn't committed any crimes that I know of. Had she called, said "I've been kidnapped!" and then disappeared, it would be a different story.

Jorddyn

[CrystalTears]

How the heck do you disappear AFTER you say you've been kidnapped? :?:

[Kia]

Originally posted by CrystalTears
How the heck do you disappear AFTER you say you've been kidnapped? :?:

There was that girl in Wisconsin that faked her own kidnapping. She was eventually charged, I believe.

Kia

[Jorddyn]

Originally posted by CrystalTears
How the heck do you disappear AFTER you say you've been kidnapped? :?:

"This is Jorddyn, I've just been kidnapped. They say they want money. They'll call you back with where and when to meet."

Click.

Jorddyn

[CrystalTears]

Hi. I know what a kidnapping consists of. I mean that the statement that you disappear after the phone call doesn't make sense because usually you disappear BECAUSE of the kidnapping.

Although this is all semantics at this point, because the truth of the matter is that she lied about being kidnapped and the search for her continued.

[Edited on 5/3/2005 by CrystalTears]

[Jorddyn]

Originally posted by CrystalTears
Although this is all semantics at this point, because the truth of the matter is that she lied about being kidnapped and the search for her continued.


Actually, her phone call was more "Hi, I've been kidnapped, but I'm free now."

If you read the news stories, she called her fiance from a payphone "Late Friday" to say she had been kidnapped. The police came and got her and then questioned her. Around 4 A.M. Saturday she told them the truth.

There was no additional search than picking her up from the pay phone.

I totally agree with tagging her for filing a false report. Anything beyond that? Nope. We all have the right to disappear if we so choose.

Jorddyn

[CrystalTears]

You're right. We all have the right to get up and go whenever we want. However if my loved ones are expecting me and don't hear from me for many hours, perhaps even a day, I HOPE that they go looking for me.

If it was just me being a pussy for not wanting to own up to my responsibilities, and then saw my face plastered all over the news, I'd ease their mind, or at least call to ask to call off the search, all lying aside.

[Edited on 5/3/2005 by CrystalTears]

[Jorddyn]

Originally posted by CrystalTears
You're right. We all have the right to get up and go whenever we want. However if my loved ones are expecting me and don't hear from me in days, I HOPE that they go looking for me.

If it was just me being a pussy for not wanting to own up to my responsibilities, and then saw my face plastered all over the news, I'd ease their mind, or at least call to ask to call off the search, all lying aside.

As would I.

The fact that she didn't isn't criminal, though.

Jorddyn

[Leetahkin]

The last I read, she didn't know anyone was looking for her because she hung around bus stations.

It's one thing to say, "Hey, I don't want to do this. I'm going away, so don't bother looking for me." It's another to up and leave without telling anyone.

The posts I've been reading on this are making it sound like no one should have looked for her. When a person is kidnapped, there often aren't signs of it, are there? So why should the family think that she wasn't kidnapped?

I can't believe that if your brother/sister/loved one (whoever) disappeared one day that you wouldn't try to find them.

[Jorddyn]

Originally posted by Nobody Cares
I can't believe that if your brother/sister/loved one (whoever) disappeared one day that you wouldn't try to find them.

Well, if you knew my brother...

All joking aside, yes, I would look for family members. No, there was no reason anyone around her wouldn't have thought she was kidnapped. Yes, I do think they should have looked for her.

Still, she did not commit any crime by just up and leaving. It is still a free country, and we are still all allowed to get a wild hair and drive to New Mexico/Idaho/wherever the hell we want for no reason and without telling anyone.

Jorddyn

[Myitkyina]

Right, it's not criminal to run away... just really irresponsible and selfish. Filing a false police report is illegal, and also incredibly stupid in such a high profile case.

And, if I were her fiance, I'd be running for the hills unless she had a really good explanation for her actions... and honestly, unless she has some severe psychiatric problem that caused her to actually think she had been kidnapped, I can't imagine what that explanation would be. She screwed up, big time, and hurt a lot of people. Imagine how worried he must have been, and how embarrassed he must be now.

[Skirmisher]

Originally posted by Jorddyn
Well, if you knew my brother...

All joking aside, yes, I would look for family members. No, there was no reason anyone around her wouldn't have thought she was kidnapped. Yes, I do think they should have looked for her.

Still, she did not commit any crime by just up and leaving. It is still a free country, and we are still all allowed to get a wild hair and drive to New Mexico/Idaho/wherever the hell we want for no reason and without telling anyone.

Jorddyn

Yes, there are many things you can do that are not illegal, but that are just wrong.

I am not against twisting whatever laws need to be twisted to somehow inflict some punishment upon this staggeringly selfish individual to ensure that people will not act so in the future.

I point out this, how many man hours were spent by local, state and/or federal authorities to search for this woman who got a "wild hair"? All those resources could have gone towards helping those victims of ACTUAL crimes and were instead wasted and all of them spent needlessly as she had day after day to call and tell people it was just a mistake but did not call untill she ran out of money. Hell, if she had more cash on her we might still be looking for her.

How many people put their own time, money and energy into looking for this arrogant woman? People looked in sewers for gods sakes. If I looked in a sewer for you and you turned up just not dead or kidnapped, you better get dead or kidnapped before i catch up with you.

[Vixen]

I think there should be payback of some kind. She had a whole town in a crazy uproar looking for her, her family and friends, and kind strangers, all praying and searching, nevermind the police and town manhours spent trying to locate her ass.
If she was overwhelmed and just took off that would be one thing. But to actually lie and say she was kidnapped because she couldn't own up to the fact that she had to bail... thats just wrong.

[Kainen]

Pay back the city AND a public apology.. regardless of how she felt.. she put people through hell. And that is just fucked up.

[Skeeter]

Her Fiance got a get out of jail free guard. This lucky bastard found out she was a raving psychopath BEFORE the marriage. Most guys don't find out untily year 2 or 3. I hope he's smart enough to read the writing on the wall and get the fuck out.

[Wezas]

I do think it's cool of him to say in the beginning "I know I'm the number one suspect" when the first thoughts of foul play arrived.

[Kia]

Originally posted by Skeeter
Her Fiance got a get out of jail free guard. This lucky bastard found out she was a raving psychopath BEFORE the marriage. Most guys don't find out untily year 2 or 3. I hope he's smart enough to read the writing on the wall and get the fuck out.

I heard on the news this morning that he plans on sticking with her.

Kia

[Wezas]

Originally posted by Kia

I heard on the news this morning that he plans on sticking with her.

Kia

Yeah, he's been interviewed and "faith this" and "god that" and they're meant to be together.

They need to get more (they have had some previously) therapy before they think of going forward in the relationship.

Maybe it's just me, but I'd be pissed off enough about a $100,000 wedding.... but then you don't even show up and pull a stunt like this? You bought a ticket 7 days prior and didn't say shit?

Goodbye psycho bitch!

[CrystalTears]

Especially that now she may have to pay up to $60,000 for this stunt? I wouldn't be too jazzed to stay with her either.

[Skeeter]

I hate when guys are too pussy whipped to realize the time to run for cover.

Poor bastard's in for one hell of a lousy 6 months of marriage.

[Jorddyn]

Originally posted by Skirmisher
How many people put their own time, money and energy into looking for this arrogant woman? People looked in sewers for gods sakes. If I looked in a sewer for you and you turned up just not dead or kidnapped, you better get dead or kidnapped before i catch up with you.

I totally agree. I think she should make restitution to friends, family, and law enforcement agencies of her own accord. She really doesn't strike me as the kind of person to do so, though.

I do not think that she can (or should) be forced into consequences beyond those for her only criminal action - lying to the police.

Jorddyn

[CrystalTears]

Lying to the police is a serious offense. Try making a fake claim when calling 911 and see how fast you get in trouble for it.

Hi. Martha Stewart. Lied to feds. Went to jail. Say no more. :D

[Edited on 5/3/2005 by CrystalTears]

[Jorddyn]

Originally posted by CrystalTears
Lying to the police is a serious offense. Try making a fake claim when calling 911 and see how fast you get in trouble for it.

Hi. Martha Stewart. Lied to feds. Went to jail. Say no more. :D


Totally agree.

The thing is I'm differentiating between her running away (which led to everyone searching for her, crying, rewards, news stories, etc), and her lying to police (which led to her being found and coming home).

She can and should be punished within the bounds of the law for the latter. There is no law that I know of that punishes competent adults who run away from home.

Jorddyn

[CrystalTears]

It seems to me that you're getting the impression that they were going to jail her for only running away. Was that stated somewhere? Seems that they really only got upset and decided to press charges and charge her for time spent when they were lied to.

I don't believe in jailing her or charging her as though she were this major felon. However I DO feel that she shouldn't get off lightly just because she "ran away". It doesn't boil down to that simple of a situation anymore.

[Sean of the Thread]

I hate Richard Gere.

[Skirmisher]

Originally posted by Jorddyn
Totally agree.

The thing is I'm differentiating between her running away (which led to everyone searching for her, crying, rewards, news stories, etc), and her lying to police (which led to her being found and coming home).

She can and should be punished within the bounds of the law for the latter. There is no law that I know of that punishes competent adults who run away from home.

Jorddyn

Ergo my point that although I am not yet sure there is no law that was broken besides making a false statement, I am not against using whatever arcane and or slightly obfuscated law is found to bring to bear.

Prosecutors can be quite creative when pissed off, and I'm rooting for a clever one to make an example of this person.

Now don't think I am wanting her tortured or have her entire life ruined or something, but a finger shaking accompanied with a "Now don't do that again." doesn't quite cut it for me in this instance.

[CrystalTears]

Not THAT bride! :lol: Dork.

[Warriorbird]

Her husband and her ought to pay the money, she ought to apologize.

Then he needs to get busy with enjoying his, "I have the power in this relationship." marriage. Should be fun.

[CrystalTears]

Originally posted by Warriorbird
Then he needs to get busy with enjoying his, "I have the power in this relationship." marriage. Should be fun.

:lol: My fiance has been saying that since she returned. Anytime she gives him lip, he'll just glance at her and state, "Hold on.. who ran away? Who cost us money? Oh yeah. Wasn't me! Get on your knees and start apologizing!". :D

[Apotheosis]

This situation is making me tired. WTF?

I know we don't know the "whole" story, but it basically makes her look like a complete loon, which she probably is.

I would say, the husband deserves going through what he went through for not seeing it coming.

He also goes on my "sucks at life" list, and gets a top spot if he decides to marry her.

About a hundred officers were put on patrol for her non-existent kidnapper after she made a 911 call. Doing something like that could have very possibly had the consequence of not catching a real kidnapper, or not saving a real life.

[DeV]

I agree with the sentiments of most. She should be made to apologize for her actions and offer a monetary retribution to the city as well as some form of community service. And the fact that this guy doesn't realize that this woman has granted him a HUGE look into a possible future with someone who would create such a thougtless yet eloborate scheme (to get as far away from marrying him as possible) is beyond me.

[Caiylania]

I think she owes a public apology and some monetary type money to the city.

I also agree that she should have a community service of being called in on searches for real missing persons. She may not have intended for a search to be put on for her, but that's just stupidity. I know if I dissapeared for 24/48 hours my family would have every person they could scouring the planet for me. We punish people for other crimes of 'should have known betters'

Let her see the agony she put her own family through by having her help families whose loved ones are in true danger.

[ElanthianSiren]

Originally posted by DeV
And the fact that this guy doesn't realize that this woman has granted him a HUGE look into a possible future with someone who would create such a thougtless yet eloborate scheme (to get as far away from marrying him as possible) is beyond me.

Or maybe he DOES realize. Religious types creep me out. God is between you and God, not friggin media and everyone else. Whenever someone starts spouting off God lines to me, it automatically puts me on guard for a manipulative/controlling person. Now, I don't know the guy, but if in 10 years this turns into a sleeping with the enemy thing, I can't say I'd be surprised.

Why not? The guy is just as wacko for staying with her imo; if I did that to my boyfriend, I'd hope he'd be a normal adult to me and say something like... "see you later when you grow the f up."

-Melissa

[Latrinsorm]

Originally posted by ElanthianSiren
Whenever someone starts spouting off God lines to me, it automatically puts me on guard for a manipulative/controlling person.:(

[Shari]

As soon as I heard this on the news, and heard the part of where her husband says, "She didn't leave me, she left her purse and all her clothes her....and her engagement ring. Something has happened to her."

SHE LEFT HER ENGAGEMENT RING.

As soon as I heard that I was like, "She spooked on ya, dude."

I think she should pay the city. God knows how many dollars went into her search for nothing. And I can't BELIEVE they are simply "postponing" their wedding. Scott and I said if either one of us did that to the other it would be a "Fuck you bitch, wedding is OFF."

Clearly there are some communications issues in that relationship that should be worked out should they really do get married.

[DeV]

Originally posted by ElanthianSiren

Originally posted by DeV
And the fact that this guy doesn't realize that this woman has granted him a HUGE look into a possible future with someone who would create such a thougtless yet eloborate scheme (to get as far away from marrying him as possible) is beyond me.

Or maybe he DOES realize. True. Even worse.

[SpunGirl]

I cannot imagine seeing my parents sobbing on the news and not having enough compassion to call and say, "I'm OK, I just needed to get away." I can't imagine seeing Jake being asked to take polygraph exams.

I think it's a load of shit that she "didn't know" what was going on. National and local news agencies were all talking about it. It was in the papers. Some reports have her hanging out at Treasure Island in Las Vegas before she went to New Mexico. Believe me, if she passed by a bar, sports book, or lounge with a TV on, she would have seen it.

She's a stupid bitch that should be forced to pick up dog poop for six months. And the guy? What an idiot.

-K

[Edited on 5-4-2005 by SpunGirl]

[Gan]

Makes me wonder if she'll do the same thing when faced with the pressures of being a new mother.... thats if the marriage goes through and they do infact procreate.

Thats just plain scary, immature, idiotic, bratty, irresponsible, and yet plain scary.

[Latrinsorm]

Originally posted by SpunGirl
I think it's a load of shit that she "didn't know" what was going on. National and local news agencies were all talking about it. It was in the papers. Some reports have her hanging out at Treasure Island in Las Vegas before she went to New Mexico. Believe me, if she passed by a bar, sports book, or lounge with a TV on, she would have seen it. I didn't know about it until PB made his post after what she did was found out, and I watch a lot of TV/internet.

[Wezas]

Originally posted by Jesae
Scott and I said if either one of us did that to the other it would be a "Fuck you bitch, wedding is OFF."

So you're telling me there's a chance.....

[petroglyph]

I vote for psychiatric evaluation and potential institutionalization, frankly. Not as punishment, but because there's pretty clearly something wrong with her or her life, and there has to be a better option than shaking a finger accusingly at her or pretending everything is fine.

[Killer Kitten]

Originally posted by ElanthianSiren

Or maybe he DOES realize. Religious types creep me out. God is between you and God, not friggin media and everyone else. Whenever someone starts spouting off God lines to me, it automatically puts me on guard for a manipulative/controlling person. Now, I don't know the guy, but if in 10 years this turns into a sleeping with the enemy thing, I can't say I'd be surprised.

-Melissa

This was my thought, too. For all anybody knows this guy has a short fuse and gets handy with his fists at the drop of a hat. It'd be doubly difficult for her if her entire family loved this guy and thought he was perfect. She could be afraid that if she voiced her doubts to her own loved ones they would tell him and she'd be in for a world of hurt.

Maybe she felt running away was her only option. A person who is that cowed and defeated in a relationship might be able to plan an escape but be incapable of planning beyond the initial fact of escaping.

Bottom line is, I don't know the story so I'm not going to line up with a fistful of stones to throw at her. Things are rarely what they seem, though.

[Skirmisher]

Originally posted by Killer Kitten


Bottom line is, I don't know the story so I'm not going to line up with a fistful of stones to throw at her. Things are rarely what they seem, though.

I would respond to two things.

1.) The first would be to say that I have found that the opposite is true. Things ARE mostly as they seem. People just like to avoid unpleasantness and so often ignore the truth before them.

2.) Give me your stones if you arent going to use them.

[DeV]

She was afraid of having a huge wedding with all the attention, but now, she has the whole world watching her. Dumbass.

The next time a woman goes missing because of some valid reason, this runaway bride has opened up a world of doubt for whoever comes next.

[CrystalTears]

I thought it was rather funny that when they picked her up, on the news footage she has a towel over her head.

Hey dummy, we spent a week staring at your face. We know what you look like. Get over it.

Ah well, hopefully she'll grow a pair and deal with the pressure of the wedding or not go through with it. Spare the guy of another humiliation by leaving him stranded at the alter.

[Wezas]

Originally posted by CrystalTears
Hey dummy, we spent a week staring at your face. We know what you look like. Get over it.


Especially the creepy bug eyes.

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2005/US/04/30/wilbanks.found/vert.wilbanks.01.ap.jpg

[Parkbandit]

Originally posted by Wezas

Originally posted by Jesae
Scott and I said if either one of us did that to the other it would be a "Fuck you bitch, wedding is OFF."

So you're telling me there's a chance.....

Classic Dumb and Dumber line.

[Latrinsorm]

Originally posted by Killer Kitten
For all anybody knows this guy has a short fuse and gets handy with his fists at the drop of a hat.For all anybody knows, this woman rapes orphans to death.

How can you make such an irresponsible statement?

[Wezas]

Originally posted by Parkbandit

Originally posted by Wezas

Originally posted by Jesae
Scott and I said if either one of us did that to the other it would be a "Fuck you bitch, wedding is OFF."

So you're telling me there's a chance.....

Classic Dumb and Dumber line.

Yeah I was tempted to throw in a picture of Jim Carrey with the chipped tooth, but was hoping someone would get it.

[Wezas]

Bumpity Bump

Lets catch up.

So, it came out that she originally said she was raped by said "Hispanic Male".

She appologized, saying she was ''truly sorry for the troubles I caused".

It also came out that she was arrested in 1996 for shoplifting over $1700 in merchandise, again in 1996 for $37 in merchandise, and yet again in 1998 for stealing another $100 in goods.

Two weekends in jail, $400, and about 125 hours of community service was what she paid, overall. Not sure of the relevance to the case - except that she might be a bit mentally disturbed.

She also ran out on a previous fiance a week before the wedding (at least he got a phone call).

City of Deluth still looking at possibly recouping some of the money.

::edited to add - rofl::

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050502/050502_missing_bride_hmed4p.hmedium.jpg

[Edited on 5-10-2005 by Wezas]

[ElanthianSiren]

Holy crap. She needs help, seriously.

-Melissa

[Atlanteax]

Originally posted by ElanthianSiren
Holy crap. She needs help, seriously.

-Melissa

Probably so, because of whatever beating her self-esteem took at what is honestly a nation-wide public humiliation of herself.

If she hasn't already, she will have a nervous breakdown sooner than later... even if she does end up marrying the guy.

.

As Arkans would say, "PWND!!!oneone"

[Betheny]

By the way, they're still getting married, and the chick is likely going to get probation.

[Wezas]

Originally posted by Betheny
By the way, they're still getting married, and the chick is likely going to get probation.

What she needs is some surgery to make her eyelids cover more. She's fucking creepy.

http://warriorlibrarian.com/PICS2/eyebulge.jpg

[Leetahkin]

Runaway bride indicted

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,157601,00.html

I seriously doubt she'll get anything but probation, if that. Not when a sex offender (I don't mean all) can avoid jail time for an offense and be put on probation.

If she does time, I'm joining Backlash and starting a rebellion.

- Arkans

[CrystalTears]

Runaway Bride Sells Life Story

Thursday, June 16, 2005

ATLANTA — Runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks has made a deal with a media company that is now pitching a movie to networks.

ReganMedia, a New York multimedia company, has "acquired all media rights to the life stories" of Wilbanks and her fiancé, John Mason.

The company did not say whether any money had changed hands.

"I am looking forward to developing the scripted project with Wilbanks and Mason," President Judith Regan said in a statement. "Theirs is an unexpected and compelling story of love and forgiveness that has certainly taught me a thing or two."

But news of the deal annoyed officials who spent thousands of dollars searching for her.

"It's disturbing to me on a personal basis that she's willing to profit from this, but there's nothing I can do about it legally," Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "There was no condition of probation that could have prevented it."

Duluth Mayor Shirley Fanning Lasseter, whose city spent nearly $43,000 to search for her, also expressed disapproval.

"You want something printable?" she asked a reporter. "I think it's a shame that anybody could profit from this."

Also, Wilbanks, who had been avoiding reporters, spoke Sunday with Katie Couric, host of NBC's "Today" show.

Asked about the NBC interview, Wilbanks' attorney, Lydia Sartain, said Wilbanks should do "whatever she needs to do" to profit from her notoriety.

"She lost her job. She's got bills to pay," Sartain told The Times of Gainesville. "I think she has been so tortured by the media and some of the other wackos in the public."

Wilbanks repaid Duluth $13,249 of what it cost to search for her. And she has pledged to pay the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department $2,550 for overtime.

Wilbanks, a nurse, disappeared from her Duluth home on April 26, four days before she was to have been married at a high-profile ceremony with 600 guests and 28 bridesmaids and groomsmen.

She took a bus to Las Vegas and then Albuquerque, N.M. She initially claimed she was abducted and sexually assaulted, but later recanted and said she fled because of unspecified personal issues days before the wedding.

Earlier this month, Wilbanks pleaded no contest to a felony count of making a false statement to police and received probation and community service.

Family members say she has been receiving psychiatric treatment at an unspecified facility.

[Leetahkin]

I hope, well she better, give any proceeds of that to charity.

[Warriorbird]

You know she won't.

[Wezas]

There should be some kind of time limit on convicted felons being able to sell their life story.

Like they need to wait 10 years before it's released or make it manditory that all proceeds go to a good cause.

[Caiylania]

I agree, Wezas.