Hispanics: Group promises pressure
http://www.ajc.com/metro/...cUcTYWYWZV
By TASGOLA KARLA BRUNER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/04/05

A Hispanic advocacy group vowed Tuesday to stand outside Jennifer Wilbanks' home until she apologizes for telling police that a Latino was one of two people responsible for her abduction.

Calling Duluth's runaway bride "devious" for leading authorities on a two-day search, Fernando Mateo, president of the New York-based Hispanics Across America, said it's time for her to make amends.

"She's gotten her three minutes of fame," Mateo said at a Lawrenceville news conference. "She needs to understand that what she did could have led to a search for Hispanics in a blue van."

Wilbanks disappeared on April 26, and surfaced in Albuquerque, N.M., four days later, on what would have been her wedding day. She called home, and then 911, and claimed she had been abducted during her evening jog in Duluth.

Wilbanks told police she had been kidnapped by a Hispanic man and a white woman in a blue van. Through sobs, she told the dispatcher they were armed with handguns. Later, she recanted the story.

GBI Special Agent Carter Brank has said Wilbanks maintained her innocence when interviewed by GBI agents on Monday. "She didn't really feel she'd done anything wrong," he said. "She was somewhat remorseful. She didn't come to a full apology."

Mateo said "remorse is not what we're looking for."

Mateo said his group filed a complaint against Wilbanks during a 15-minute meeting Tuesday with Gwinnett District Attorney Danny Porter. Mateo said he'd like the prosecutor to make community service in the Hispanic community part of any sentence for the runaway bride.

"She needs to understand that she caused a lot of harm to Hispanics in her community and around the nation," Mateo said.

Wilbanks eventually will issue a statement, her fiancé, John Mason, told Sean Hannity on Tuesday. Family members could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Porter said he would note the group's complaint in his case file but said he can't compel Wilbanks to apologize.

He said he still has not determined whether he will prosecute Wilbanks for falsely leading authorities to search for her. Porter said he doesn't expect her apology, or lack of one, will affect his decision.

• A version of this article may appear in today's Metro section.

I feel that he is justified in asking for an apology.

I want to see her in handcuffs.

sag10 said:

Well since she said it was a hispanic male and a white woman who kidnapped her should she also be apologizing to white women?

This guy accuses her of wanting 3 minutes of fame when he is using the situation for the same thing.

lovemachine said:

Yes, to both.