Bride Wasn’t Taken, She Just Took Off

It was supposed to be Jennifer Wilbanks’ wedding day -- an elaborate affair in suburban Georgia with 600 invited guests, 14 bridesmaids and 14 groomsmen.

Instead, the bride-to-be was sobbing into a pay phone outside an Albuquerque 7-Eleven, alone and broke, as she concocted a story about kidnappers and a blue van. She later admitted that pre-wedding jitters led her to leave home without her keys and wallet, creating a mystery that left her family in anguish.

Wilbanks, 32, was picked up by police after a bus trip that took her through Las Vegas to Albuquerque, where she eventually admitted her disappearance was voluntary.

She was “scared and concerned about her impending marriage and decided she needed some time alone,” Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz said Saturday.

Police said there would be no criminal charges, although more than 100 officers led a search that involved several hundred volunteers, including wedding guests and members of the bridal party.

“She’s obviously very concerned about the stress that she’s been through, the stress that’s been placed on her family,” Schultz said. “She is very upset.”

Wilbanks arrived at Albuquerque’s main airport Saturday afternoon for a flight back to Atlanta, her head covered with a blanket as about 10 police officers escorted her.

Marshall Katz, the airport police chief who escorted Wilbanks to her plane, said she was met aboard the aircraft by her stepfather and an uncle. “Arms out, big hugs, alligator tears,” he said, describing the reunion.

Bill Elwell, an FBI spokesman in Albuquerque, said Wilbanks apparently decided to flee shortly after purportedly leaving for her jog Tuesday.

After finding herself broke in Albuquerque, Wilbanks decided to call her fiance, John Mason, and 911 with the story about the kidnapping, Elwell said.

Wilbanks cut her hair so no one would recognize her, but gave no indication that she had watched news reports of the search or realized the magnitude of the situation, Elwell said.

After police reported the hoax, the mood outside Wilbanks’ home went from jubilant to somber. Family members ducked inside and the blinds were drawn.

They later expressed relief that she was safe. “Sure, we were all disappointed, maybe a little embarrassed, but you know what, if you remember all the interviews yesterday we were praying, ‘At this point let her be a runaway bride,’ ” said the Rev. Alan Jones, who was to perform the wedding. “So God was faithful. Jennifer’s alive and we’re all thankful for that.”