Runaway bride heads home

Roller coaster of emotions
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.”

Police said Wilbanks was tired, thirsty and “very, very distressed” but in otherwise good physical condition.

Ric Feld / AP John Mason, the fiance of Jennifer Wilbanks, celebrates in front of his home in Duluth, Ga., early Saturday upon hearing that his bride-to-be was alive.

Jones said the family had no idea that Wilbanks had fears about the wedding, and he believed she “probably had no clue how it had been blown out of proportion” while she was traveling across the country.

He said Mason had no hostility toward his fiancee.

“I have never met such a strong person in all my life,” Jones said. “He’s an incredible man.”

Just hours before Wilbanks called her fiance, police in Duluth said they had no solid leads in the case and began dismantling a search center. Relatives offered a $100,000 reward for information and were planning a prayer vigil.

Search consumed tight-knit town
The hunt for Wilbanks had consumed the tight-knit town. Her picture and newspaper articles about her disappearance were on telephone poles and shop windows. Police had also seized three computers from the home she shared with Mason.

Mason did not speak publicly after Wilbanks said she lied about being abducted. Her uncle, Mike Satterfield, thanked people who had helped in the search.

“Jennifer had some issues the family was not aware of. We’re looking forward to loving her and talking to her about these issues,” he said.

Ryan Kelly, owner of the Park Cafe a few blocks from Wilbanks’ house, which gave out coffee and sandwiches to searchers, said he was glad Wilbanks was alive and healthy.

“But that being said, this is one of the most selfish and self-centered acts I’ve ever seen. We saw her parents, and you could see the anguish in their eyes. It was terrible,” he said.

“I don’t care where you are — unless you’re in the Amazon rain forest, you’d know everybody was out looking for you.”

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