• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

In short, I come down firmly on all sides of the issue.

It’s a new day. Light all those Biden polls of young people on fire and throw away the ashes.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

“In the future, this lab will be a museum. don’t touch it.”

American History and Black History can not be separated.

It’s easy to sit in safety and prescribe what other people should be doing.

The media handbook says “controversial” is the most negative description that can be used for a Republican.

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

I was promised a recession.

Balloon Juice, where there is always someone who will say you’re doing it wrong.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

Fani Willis claps back at Trump chihuahua, Jim Jordan.

Republicans in disarray!

Polls are now a reliable indicator of what corporate Republicans want us to think.

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

Happy indictment week to all who celebrate!

Insiders who complain to politico: please report to the white house office of shut the fuck up.

Republican also-rans: four mules fighting over a turnip.

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

People are complicated. Love is not.

Cole is on a roll !

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

This must be what justice looks like, not vengeful, just peaceful exuberance.

Mobile Menu

  • Four Directions Montana
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • COVID-19 Coronavirus
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2024 Elections
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Wilbanks Update

Wilbanks Update

by John Cole|  May 27, 20059:38 pm| 10 Comments

This post is in: General Stupidity

FacebookTweetEmail

Via Photodude, I see this story on Jennifer Wilbanks, including this delightful quote:

A bench warrant will be issued today for Wilbanks, but it was not clear when she would be arrested. Her attorney, Lydia Sartain, issued a statement Wednesday saying Wilbanks is undergoing intensive psychiatric treatment at an undisclosed mental health facility.

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « Very Interesting Rumor
Next Post: Kitchen Knives- Sharp, Pointy, and a Dire Threat to the British Empire »

Reader Interactions

10Comments

  1. 1.

    Reid

    May 28, 2005 at 12:51 am

    Ol’ Danny Porter is also in the news locally because of an as yet unprosecuted incident. A year ago yesterday, a man who was handcuffed, shackled, held down by five deputies, and then Tased repeatedly while he begged for his life … died in police custody. The whole thing is on videotape. It’s appalling.

    But Ol’ Danny didn’t think the video was worth showing the grand jury, has lied to the local paper (he first told them the case was closed, and when they filed for the public records a closed case represents, he said, “nope, not closed”), and generally stalled for a year.

    But he slapped a felony on Jennifer Wilbanks in about four weeks.

  2. 2.

    Far North

    May 28, 2005 at 12:58 am

    It’s truly amazing that a story so unworthy of national coverage can be whipped up into a national obsession by the likes of FOX, CNN and MSNBC. That’s exactly what kept this non-story nonsense alive. People like Nancy Grace, Anderson Cooper, Hannity and all the other blithering idiots manufactured this thing into a national obsession. What’s laughable is that these mouthpieces think they are news people. Really, they are nothing more than glorified “entertainment tonight” hosts.

    I expect this from FOX but it’s really sad to see what’s become of CNN.

  3. 3.

    scs

    May 28, 2005 at 1:42 am

    Yes, there are people out here that think charging Jennifer is more than grandstanding. And I’m one of them. I don’t know what your aversion is, John, to prosecuting this woman. Is it because she is the ‘girl next door’ type that you wish to defend her so much? Did you run away from your own wedding too? Who knows, it’s beyond me.

    Yes of course, there is such a thing as prosecutorial discretion. For instance, obviously we all jaywalk, and are not thrown in jail for it. (Its always funny to see the European vistors in my town who wait patiently until the light turns green.) But attempting to lie about a kidnapping and rape, two of the most serious crimes there are, after planning and staging a disappearing act for days, is beyond the pale.

    Yes, she confessed her story a few hours later. But do you really think that was her ORIGINAL intent – to confess? She had obviously planned to play this out to the hilt. Fortunately, she got cold feet with her fake story plan too after she saw she was trapped by disbelieving cops and she knew the jig was up. She may be crazy but she ain’t stupid.

    Reporting a fake kidnapping and rape is not the same as jaywalking, John. Maybe I’m crazy here but I think kidnapping and rape are serious matters. Every week on the news we see more women and children raped and murdered. Fake stories about them is nothing that should be played around with, not for the amusement or the utility of schemers like her and they should be punished accordingly.

  4. 4.

    aw

    May 28, 2005 at 9:35 am

    It’s not a crime to back out of a wedding by running away. It’s not national news when a grown woman disappears for a couple of days (or it shouldn’t be).

    She was (and is) obviously emotionally troubled and panicked when she saw her disappearance was national news and reacted badly–but criminally, not really.

    They are going to waste more money on this case than they ever will recover. It’s just stupid.

  5. 5.

    Molly

    May 28, 2005 at 9:46 am

    SCS…

    Agree that Wilbanks should face consequences of her actions if for no other reason than to discourage copycats — but it was the media that blew this way out of proportion, ended up looking silly and now are exacting their own kind of revenge by pushing for criminal charges against a sad, silly and apparently not-too-bright individual. The DA is obliging because he gets lots of face time on local and even national news.

    Enough of it already.

  6. 6.

    John Cole

    May 28, 2005 at 9:49 am

    Reporting a fake kidnapping and rape is not the same as jaywalking, John.

    I am sending this post and that comment to the Fallacy Files to be used as a definition of a ‘straw man.’

    I never said that jaywalking and reporting a false crime were the same thing. Period.

    I am saying that her lying to the police for two hours was not that as big of a deal as you and the Gwinnett County DA are making it out to be.

  7. 7.

    scs

    May 28, 2005 at 11:44 am

    Well John, I hope you are taking my comparison figuratively, because by the sound of it, you aren’t. I was using jaywalking as an example to illustrate the difference between a minor infraction and a more serious infraction. But if you use your imagination a little, I think the comparison still has merit. There is no need to send it to your special files, you just need to stop taking things so litterally.

    I used jaywalking as an example because jaywalking is the only infraction that I can think of right now that police don’t bother to charge. Maybe public spitting, too. Hmmm, what else, playing your stereo too loud? Well you get a warning for that usually the first time.

    By not giving charging Jennifer for what she did, flirting with charges of rape and kipnapping, two very serious crimes usually against women, you are placing her act and the minor infractions police don’t usually charge in the same category. And those two don’t compare to me. And if you think they do thats an insult to women.

    And although I do believe what Jennifer did was serious, you act like it’s not serious at all! C’mon a little fine and some weekends in jail is not all that serious! I mean you get a fine for double parking, why not fake rape stories?

  8. 8.

    scs

    May 28, 2005 at 11:55 am

    By the way,aw, I have a totally diferent take on the path of this story. Obviously Jennifer did not just freak out and impulsively come up with the kidnapping story after she saw the national attention.

    She obviously came up with that one before she left the house without her car keys and money and all her hair, and with an already bought bus ticket. My theory is she planned to see her old boyfriend who lived in New Mexico, but she wanted a backup story to explain her absence to her fiance if her old boyfriend rejected her, so she could keep her fiance on the backburner. And maybe at the same time get sympathy from her old boyfriend. Hey Audrey Seiler in Wisconsin did it. This was all about planning to me.

  9. 9.

    Levi

    May 28, 2005 at 5:39 pm

    Hey Guys!!! We LOVE Danny Porter here in Gwinnet County!! He had overwhelming (70% to 30%) support here to prosecute her. Most of us have made it clear to her family and John’s family that they will NOT be welcome as residents of our county. This bug eyed freak of a woman is in the local psych unit with “ANXIETY”. Not really considered a mental illnes! She should’ve faked hallucinations and some paranoia and maybe gotten a diagnosis of schizophrenia if she wanted any compassion! Anxiety just isn’t going to cut it!!

  10. 10.

    Samsung

    May 29, 2005 at 4:25 pm

    Quote:
    ___________________________
    I am saying that her lying to the police for two hours was not that as big of a deal as you and the Gwinnett County DA are making it out to be.
    ___________________________

    Some interesting details for you:

    From a TCS column:
    ______________________________
    …it was discovered that Wilbanks had taken a bus to Las Vegas, and that she had told whoppers to the police about being abducted and sexually abused by a Latino man and his white female accomplice in a blue van …

    http://www.techcentralstation.com/052705D.html
    _____________________________

    The local Latino community might beg to differ, Mr. Cole. For someone who wasn’t too bright she seemed pretty adept at exploiting prejudice against Latin Americans in order to make her story more plausible. This is a slur against the character of the ethnic group in question and will probably not improve race relations in her town. I don’t care if statistics DO show that latinos are more likely to commit felonies; the allegation is still inexcusable. Plus, that’s not even counting the impact that her lies will have on REAL victims of abduction in the future and the money wasted (yes, I do believe the regional authorities have a right to be angry at the squandering of resources over what turned out to be a hoax).

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Comments

  • Geminid on Take the Fucking Win (Apr 15, 2024 @ 5:27pm)
  • lowtechcyclist on Righteous Rant Open Thread (Apr 15, 2024 @ 5:27pm)
  • HumboldtBlue on Righteous Rant Open Thread (Apr 15, 2024 @ 5:26pm)
  • Redshift on Righteous Rant Open Thread (Apr 15, 2024 @ 5:26pm)
  • SiubhanDuinne on Righteous Rant Open Thread (Apr 15, 2024 @ 5:26pm)

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Balloon Juice Meetups!

All Meetups
Talk of Meetups – Meetup Planning
Proposed BJ meetups list from frosty

Fundraising 2023-24

Wis*Dems Supreme Court + SD-8
Virginia House Races
Four Directions – Montana
Worker Power AZ
Four Directions – Arizona
Four Directions – Nevada

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
Positive Climate News
War in Ukraine
Cole’s “Stories from the Road”
Classified Documents Primer

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Mailing List Signup
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)

Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

Balloon Juice for Ukraine

Donate

Twitter / Spoutible

Balloon Juice (Spoutible)
WaterGirl (Spoutible)
TaMara (Spoutible)
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
ActualCitizensUnited

Political Action 2024

Postcard Writing Information

Balloon Juice for Four Directions AZ

Donate

Balloon Juice for Four Directions NV

Donate

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2024 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!