Runaway Bride May Face Criminal Charge

On what was to be her wedding day, Jennifer Wilbanks wore not a white veil but an orange towel over her head to prevent the media from taking her picture. Instead of being led down the aisle by her father, she was led by police to an airplane that flew the runaway bride home.

Now officials say the 32-year-old woman’s cold feet may have gotten her in hot water.

On Sunday, Gwinnett County Dist. Atty. Danny Porter vowed to look into whether she violated the law by reporting a crime that didn’t take place.

Wilbanks initially told authorities she was abducted while jogging but later disclosed she took a cross-country bus trip to Albuquerque to avoid her lavish 600-guest wedding.

Porter said Wilbanks could face a misdemeanor charge of false report of a crime or a felony charge of false statements. The misdemeanor carries a penalty of as much as a year in jail; five years in prison is the maximum sentence for the felony.

“If there’s criminal responsibility, that’s something I have to do something about,” Porter said. “I think it’s really going to depend on the circumstances on how this was done.”

Meanwhile Sunday, members of Peachtree Corners Baptist Church said prayers and expressed concern for Wilbanks and her fiance, John Mason, who did not attend services.

The Rev. Bob Horner thanked church members who had helped in the search for Wilbanks and had provided support for family members.

“Number one, we are so thankful that Jennifer has been found,” Horner told the congregation.

“Number two, I want to publicly thank all of you who prayed and you who went to Duluth to be with the family.”

An FBI spokesman said Saturday that Wilbanks apparently made a sudden decision to flee and did not realize hundreds of people were looking for her.