If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed or email alerts. Thanks for visiting!
The local lass from Georgia, Jennifer Wilbanks is setting an absurd example and a dangerous precedent to get rich quick. Yup, she is the infamous ‘runaway bride’ that sent rescue squads on an imaginary “woman hunt” after she fled to New Mexico, developing cold feet upon her impending wedding. Latest news confirm that she has signed on a book deal (I had always suspected this!) for $500,000. She hasn’t yet offered to repay the whole cost of the search, totalling almost $43,000. But with such a cushy book deal in her lap, what is stopping her from reimbursing the state for her search. But even if she pays up, should she be absolved of her misdemeanor (dunno if I can call it a crime yet). This can set a bad example and render all missing cases incredible and subject to confirmation, wasting precious time. The state definitely will suffer from the classic case of “crying wolf!” Of course, in a free society, we cannot stop her from publishing her story but can definitely punish her to the fullest extent of the law (possible jail time) for misleading the government and setting a deterrent policy for imitation cases. You can do your part by not buying her stupid book.
by Patrix | on Wednesday, June 22nd, 2005 at 7:00 pm | 
Business . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
June 22nd, 2005 at 7:53 pm reply
Hi Patrix
I had thought that when a person commits a crime, and revenue associated with it (via books, movies, etc) could be claimed by the victim or the state. I think that the state could sue her if she profits from this.
June 22nd, 2005 at 10:08 pm reply
title of the book ‘this happens only in georgia.’ :)
June 23rd, 2005 at 10:21 am reply
Michael, I am not sure about this. Is there a precedent of the government claiming profits from other criminals’ book deals?
Sqrl, why give Georgia a bad name…but then there are plenty of loonies here.