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CNN Saturday Morning News

Missing Georgia Woman Staged Own Disappearance

Aired April 30, 2005 - 08:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Jennifer Wilbanks, 32-year-old bride- to-be from Duluth, Georgia, has been found. She is alive, she is in good shape, we understand.
But what we have learned is that the entire story of her abduction has been made up. Cold feet is the case, and it is the bottom line on it.

She was nervous, concerned about this wedding, and the stress of it all, and she left her home Tuesday evening, and took a bus to Las Vegas, Nevada, then took another bus to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she finally contacted police, and eventually told the true story, not the story of the abduction that she had shared with her family and those in Duluth, Georgia, but the real story of her getting cold feet and deciding to run.

Let's get to the Duluth now, the home of the Mason family. And Charles Molineaux is standing by. Charles, good morning.

CHARLES MOLINEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and what is going to be, Tony, a very difficult moment. A morning of unqualified joy and relief has become substantially more qualified. Jennifer is OK, but now we have the word that the story of her being abducted was apparently just a story.

We are actually standing by, and any minute now, her family will be making a statement. It will probably be very brief. But the expectation is that they will be talking to the media in just a couple of minutes about what has turned out to be a very different story than the one that they thought they had only a couple hours ago, but, of course, still a better story than what they might have thought last night.

But a lot of questions now as to what exactly happened to Jennifer and what led her to the point where she ended up halfway across the country, calling in first with a story about having been kidnapped, and now according to the, of course, the police out there, the story that she may indeed have just decided that she was having some misgivings on the eve of her wedding.

A very big wedding, a wedding that had accrued an awful lot of momentum, 600 guests, 14 bridesmaids, the production. Who even wants to talk about the budget? And perhaps, a level of inevitability with which she was not prepared to contend.

And we're hoping we're going to get some more out of her eventually, and some inkling as to what might have driven her to this point.

Right now, we are standing by for word from her family, outside of the home of her fiance, John Mason, where the family, of course, has been holding vigil for the past several days, waiting for some sort of word. The word was very exciting and wonderful only a couple hours ago, now a little less so.

She's alive and well, but the story is not quite as cut and dried as it sounds, Tony.

HARRIS: Well, and Charles, let's sort of back this up just a little bit, and we can take it actually from Wednesday. And as you know, that this has been a back-and-forth theory that's been kicked around.

We learned first thing Wednesday morning that police were, in essence, dismissing this theory of cold feet. And then later that afternoon, the police chief, Randy Belcher (ph), said, Look, we're not ruling that out, we're not taking that off the table. As a matter of fact, that is very much on the table now as a working theory in this case.

Later that evening, he came back to say that that was being dismissed because of the length of time of the disappearance. It had been more than 24 hours, and the thinking at that time was, is that this could not have been a case of cold feet. After 24 hours, she certainly would have called her family to tell them where she was and what she was thinking and what she had done.

So Charles, (INAUDIBLE)...

MOLINEAUX: (INAUDIBLE) dismissed by any of the family. (INAUDIBLE)...

HARRIS: Exactly.

MOLINEAUX: ... if you talk to the family, that the bridesmaids, the friends, her parents, that the idea that she might have decided that something wasn't right, or that she didn't feel like going...

MIKE SATTERFIELD, WILBANKS FAMILY SPOKESMAN: ... (INAUDIBLE) most important fact that's occurred today.

We're so appreciative also of all the people who have supported us, that supported the family, that supported this community in all their efforts.

It has been determined that Jennifer has some issues the family was not aware of. We're looking forward to loving her and talking with her concerning these issues. The family would appreciate some time and space to assist Jennifer concerning those issues.

Again, we want to thank everyone, especially everyone. There are so many people (INAUDIBLE), we want to thank all of them. We were a team, we went forward, we accomplished what we sought to do, and that was to bring Jennifer back. And she is alive and well, and that's what means so much to us. And we thank you all so much.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How is John taking this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is the family going to Albuquerque?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).

HARRIS: Well, that is has been the family's spokesperson throughout this, coming out onto the porch of John Mason's home, Mike Satterfield, as I mentioned, he's been the family spokesperson. He's actually been a rock through this whole ordeal. And that is Jennifer's uncle, who has been giving us the reaction from the family, and asking that the family be given some time and some space to sort of deal with this most recent turn of events.

And actually, what we probably should do, it's probably a good idea to just sort of start that from the very top, so that we can share with you the very top of Mike's statement to the press.

Do we have that? OK, we don't have that.

Let's bring in Charles...

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Molineaux, who is at that home there, with the family, which has gone inside. They really are not wanting to speak any more than just that statement.

But, Charles, what's the latest that you've learned there? Because we missed that top portion of that live press conference.

MOLINEAUX: Well, what you heard pretty much summed it up, and then the family is still pulling together around Jennifer. But as you probably heard, there were concerns, there were concerns, apparently, that somehow the family was not aware of.

Now, the Satterfields, of course, Jennifer's uncle, his daughter was going to be a bridesmaid in this wedding, and very close and very much the public face as the situation looked grim over the course of the past couple of days.

Well, now, all of a sudden, things are looking an awful lot more complicated. And once again, he has stepped to the fore to be the man to speak for this family at a time that has turned out to be, all of a sudden, a very difficult one yet again.

We didn't think that he would be the one speaking to us, because, well, the family has felt a lot more excited about dealing with the media, with the news that Jennifer is alive and well.

The story about the kidnapping was of concern, but the fact that she was OK and that everything was going to be fine, and this wedding was going to be going forward, well, now, of course, things have changed somewhat, and he is once again being the public face for this family, and explaining things to the media at a time which has turned out to be, yet again, very difficult.

NGUYEN: Yes. Things have indeed changed, as has the weather there in Duluth. Kind of ironic there.

Charles, thank you. We'll checking back with you in just a moment.

Tony?

HARRIS: Let's do that right now, let's take a listen to the entire statement from Mike Satterfield, who's representing the family.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SATTERFIELD: -- I can't stress enough that is the most important fact that has occurred today.

We're so appreciative also for all the people have supported us, that supported the family, that supported this community in all their efforts.

It has been determined that Jennifer has some issues the family was not aware of. We're looking forward to loving her and talking with her concerning these issues. The family would appreciate some time and space to assist Jennifer concerning these issues.

Again, we want to thank everyone, especially everyone. There's so many people (INAUDIBLE). We want to thank all of you. We were a team, we went forward, we accomplished what we sought to do, and that was to bring Jennifer back. And she is alive and well, and that's what means so much to us.

And we thank you all so much.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: And I suppose that's part of the story that has to be emphasized here, is that on Tuesday, we didn't know what the state of affairs was with Jennifer Wilbanks. And at least now, we know that she is alive and well.

She has told quite an amazing story. She has invented a story of her kidnapping, her abduction, that she was dropped off at a convenience store in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that her hair had been shorn off. Clumps of her hair were found by authorities in one of two days, three days, of a massive, exhausted, extensive search for Jennifer Wilbanks.

We learned now that it has all been invented. It is a case of cold feet. She told the authorities in Albuquerque that she was nervous, concerned about this wedding that was scheduled for this evening. The stress of it all was just too much. She couldn't take it. So she left, caught a bus to Las Vegas first, and then to Albuquerque.

The family statement from Mike Satterfield, Jennifer's uncle, telling us all that the family now would like some time to process all of this and to make some sense of it, that Jennifer, obviously, has had some issues with this whole wedding that she had not, to this point, shared with her family.

NGUYEN: And we also want to get some more information about how it all really played out from police, the official word. We'll be hearing some of that after we take this short break right now.

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ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

NGUYEN: As we've been telling you this morning, there have been some new developments in the search for Jennifer Wilbanks. We have learned from Albuquerque police that, indeed, this was not an abduction, this was not a kidnapping, this was case of cold feet.

We want to go now to CNN's Ed McCarthy. He's with CNN Radio. He is outside John Mason's home. John Mason, as you recall in following all of this, is the fiance to Jennifer Wilbanks, for some reaction from the family on how all this has played out.

And how are they feeling at this moment, after learning that it was just a case of cold feet?

ED MCCARTHY, CNN RADIO CORRESPONDENT (on phone): Well, Betty, the momentum, if you will, the shift of high emotion, has just gone many notches lower here. An amazing scene, as everybody was just so jubilant this morning at 5:00 in the morning, when we spoke with people, the family members, just excited that she was safe. And then all of a sudden the wedding that was planned tonight, even though it won't be scheduled anyway, learning that she took a bus to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The police say no charges will be filed. The family, just a short time ago, issuing a statement saying that Jennifer has some issues. They love her very much, and they look forward to her return home, so that they will be able to deal with those issues and give her support.

So right now, it's a situation where many of the family members and friends who had been gathering here for this vigil that lasted into the night, to get the good news that she's safe, finding out that, in fact, the wedding is definitely in jeopardy now, that she took that bus to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

NGUYEN: Ed, hindsight is always 20/20. And all morning long, we have been speaking with family members, members of the wedding party, in fact, who have said this was not a case of cold feet. She loved John Mason dearly, and she wanted to go through with this wedding. She had eight showers prior to this case that we thought to begin was an abduction.

So looking back and speaking with those the family members, are they seeing some of the signs that maybe indeed it was a case of the cold feet, that they just didn't want to acknowledge those at the time?

MCCARTHY: Betty, it appears they missed all of those signs. They say that Jennifer was just very, very happy during the showers, and just excited about the arrangements and the wedding.

Keep in mind, 600 people were invited to this wedding tonight. And it was almost going to turn into a prayer vigil, but such a celebration earlier this morning to learn that she is safe and sound.

And now, I think, many people here feel rather betrayed, to learn the news. But they say they still support Jennifer and will help her in any way they can when she returns.

NGUYEN: This was a very large wedding that was planned for this evening here in Georgia, in Duluth is where it was supposed to take place. Give us a sense of what was going -- I mean, we can't determine exactly what was going through Jennifer's mind, but the size of the wedding and the prominence of this family, all, obviously, had to have factored into it. Kind of explain how that works out.

MCCARTHY: Well, you know, these are two very well-known families getting together for this wedding, very prominent individuals. Jennifer's father, of course, a doctor. And, you know, they just looked so forward to this. It was going to be a lavish affair with 600 people attending. That's a very, very large wedding, and you can imagine the cost of what it would be.

So everybody here was just excited. In fact, this morning I was told by Jennifer's father that we're going to invite the whole town for this wedding.

NGUYEN: Right.

MCCARTHY: We're just so excited that she's safe. And she says, We're going to invite everybody to come to the wedding. So they were planning on many more than 600.

And now this news that they got after they huddled with the FBI and the Duluth, Georgia, police chief inside this home, that she had taken the bus. Of course, that news broke in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and when the family learned here and huddled with the FBI.

So no charges, apparently, will be filed, but we'll be learning more in the days ahead about the family reaction and the reaction of friends.

NGUYEN: And a lot of family members were planning on taking a flight out to Albuquerque, New Mexico, around 11:00 Eastern time today. Have some of them backed off on that since hearing that this indeed was a case of cold feet?

MCCARTHY: I know the very closest of the family is leaving. And, of course, they have their flight scheduled a little later this morning. So they are definitely heading out, and as the family spokesman, who is actually the uncle of Jennifer, told to the media just a short time ago, you know, they're going to support her. So they obviously will be looking to get her back here, and I'm sure find out what exactly her mindset is right now.

But at least police know that they've definitely expended many, many man-hours here with this search, and the media has been holding vigil to wait for word whether or not she was dead or alive. And after all this work, and all the friends and everybody who have rallied around her safe return, they're finding out now that after her bus trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico, she'll be headed home on a plane here to Atlanta, Georgia, and then on to Duluth, Georgia, just northeast of Atlanta.

HARRIS: Hey, Ed, Tony Harris. My friend, we spent some time on this yesterday. Good to talk to you.

Have to ask you, what are some of the questions that you're looking for answers to? I got to tell you that we were told that she left her home Tuesday evening with no money, no keys, no identification. I know one of the questions that I have is, what help, if any, might she have had in making this trip to first Las Vegas, then Albuquerque? What are some of the questions that you might have and would like to have (INAUDIBLE)...

MCCARTHY: Well, Tony, that, in fact, is the million-dollar question. If she had no identification and no funds, how did she get there? But she probably tucked some money away, obviously, to take a Greyhound bus and get a bus ticket.

But as far as the theory that she was abducted, and her hair was cut here to change her identity before she left, we know now that that's out the window.

And just so many questions are going to be asked here, you know. How elaborate a scheme was this? You know, we knew something was amiss this morning when the mood here changed, Tony, to be quite honest with you, and cars started pulling out from in front of this house and leaving.

And at one point, a police officer told me, he says, There's some new developments. That's all I can tell you, stay tuned. And then we knew that the tide had turned.

HARRIS: OK. Ed, thanks for your reporting. We appreciate it.

MCCARTHY: Thank you, Tony.

NGUYEN: We want to go now to Charles Molineaux, outside the home of John Mason, the fiance to Jennifer Wilbanks.

What's the latest you're hearing there from folks who are coming in and out of that house?

MOLINEAUX: Well, this is, of course, a real stunner for this family, especially you really have to feel for John Mason. This is the guy, of course, who was concerned about his bride suddenly disappearing, then having a cloud of suspicion float around him, then having this joyous news that she's OK. And now, suddenly, well, some misgivings about the wedding itself, and he's right back in the middle of it again.

Actually, we have a friend of the two of them. This is Melinda Larson.

You've actually been close to both John and Jennifer. How is this going over with the people who are closest to them?

MELINDA LARSON, FRIEND OF JENNIFER WILBANKS AND JOHN MASON: I'm certain that it's just a wave of emotion people are experiencing right now. It's shocking, it's overwhelming, and it's baffling.

MOLINEAUX: Now, actually, you're a little closer to Jennifer on this than just about every single person involved, because you actually are on your way to a wedding too, in just at few weeks, and you've been dealing with this together. Can you give us any clue about where her head might be?

LARSON: Well, anyone that's planning a wedding knows that it's stressful, there's drama, it's challenging, it's overwhelming. There's so much pressure involved that 95 percent falls on the bride.

So the fact that there's stress and concern regarding the pressures involved with the wedding is of no surprise to anyone that has ever planned a wedding.

MOLINEAUX: What would you want to say to Jennifer?

LARSON: We love you. We're glad you're OK. That's all that matters.

MOLINEAUX: What about John? John's got to be having a real hard time as the guy who's suddenly once again back in the center of all this, after what looked like a break. What about him?

LARSON: John, it's just -- we love you. And whatever you need right now. John and Jennifer are going to take this one day at a time, and at this point, the overriding factor is that Jennifer is alive.

MOLINEAUX: Early on in this investigation, from the family and from police, we heard that the idea that she might have just had cold feet and taken off was pretty much not in consideration. What's, where would that have sat with you if the idea was broached?

LARSON: Having cold feet is a joy compared to what the alternative could have been.

MOLINEAUX: What about the idea that it might have been that with her? Did you discern anything along those lines, as you were doing the same thing together, planning your weddings?

LARSON: No. It did not cross my mind at all.

MOLINEAUX: Was she stressed? Did she look like she might have had some deep dread, anything along those lines?

LARSON: No deep dread. Stress, absolutely. Weddings are extremely challenging, overwhelming. A wonderful occasion, but tend to consume your time, your life, and all of your energy in the actual planning. So stress is a definite.

MOLINEAUX: It looks like we're not going to see this great big wild party, this joyous reunion that we anticipated. But she is OK. What do you think will happen now? What should happen now with this family?

LARSON: Jennifer and John need space. They need time, and they need privacy to deal with things at hand.

MOLINEAUX: Can you see how something like this might have materialized, as someone in a very similar situation?

LARSON: I think Jennifer had no idea that this would turn into a criminal investigation. And if -- had she known, I think things would have been handled probably a little differently. But sometimes things take a life of their own, just like weddings.

MOLINEAUX: Thank you very much. Melinda Larson, appreciate your talking to us. A friend of both Jennifer and John's on a day that is turning out to be relieved, happy, but also a little more difficult for this family, Tony, Betty.

NGUYEN: Not only difficult, but very shocking to all of us, who have not only been following it, we've been covering it, those who have been searching for Jennifer Wilbanks.

But as we've learned today, that it -- she just really became nervous about the whole wedding and decided she needed to get away.

We have more coverage on this. We'll be hearing from Albuquerque police in just a moment.

But right now, we're going to take a short break. We'll be right back.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

HARRIS: And good morning again, everyone, 8:26 here in the East.

We want to replay to you the moment that we all learned that Jennifer Wilbanks had been found, that she was alive and well. That was about 7:20, just about an hour ago Eastern time that we learned that she was fine, that she was alive, but that her story of a kidnapping, an abduction, had been created.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Approximately 4:00 a.m. this morning, Miss Wilbanks informed agents and detectives that she had not been abducted, as she had originally claimed. Agents and detectives learned that Miss Wilbanks had become scared and concerned about her pending marriage, and decided that she needed some time alone.

Miss Wilbanks had traveled from the Georgia area to Las Vegas, Nevada, via bus. Earlier today, she traveled from Las Vegas back to the Albuquerque area, again, via bus, arriving this evening. She remained in the Albuquerque area, traveling around the southeast area heights, until approximately 2338 hours, when she called 911, at which time officers responded and met her at the 7-Eleven.

Miss Wilbanks is being assisted by the FBI and APD, victims's assistance unit. We have her presently, and later today we will be rejoining her with her family, who will be flying into Albuquerque.

As far at the Albuquerque Police Department goes, and the Albuquerque FBI office, our investigation is closed. We will be turning this investigation over to the Atlanta FBI office, as well as the Duluth Police Department in Georgia.

Any questions?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are there are going to be charges filed in connection with this, or -- a lot of resources were at stake trying to find Miss Wilbanks.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There will be no charges at this time charged here in Albuquerque or the state of New Mexico. That will be left up to the authorities back in Georgia.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was she saying she just had a case of cold feet?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Basically, she was just very concerned about the pending wedding and very nervous about it, yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Could you go through overall condition? Or (INAUDIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's just -- she's obviously very concerned about the stress that she's been through, the stress been placed on her family. So she is -- she is very upset.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What about the blue van that (INAUDIBLE), blue van, (INAUDIBLE)...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was no blue van involved. She was on a bus.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But did she initially (INAUDIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She originally responded to the 911 dispatcher as well as the responding officers that she had been, yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is she still here in the (INAUDIBLE), and is she going to be (INAUDIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She is no longer here at the substation. She in the custody of victims' assistance specialists, who will stay with her till her family gets here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Has she talked to her family?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, she has.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How long was she in Albuquerque (INAUDIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're not exactly sure. She arrived sometime on Saturday -- I'm sorry, Friday evening or afternoon.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From Las Vegas, Nevada?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On Greyhound?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe it was a Greyhound bus, yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did she call her family first, or...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She did make more than one phone call. We're not exactly sure who she called or in which order.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) her appearance?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Her appearance is different, but I'm not exactly sure. I know her hair has been cut.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Any indication that she was traveling with anyone else (INAUDIBLE) family member (INAUDIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She was not with any family members or friends. She did meet some folks, however, while she was on the bus.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She maintained the kidnapping story for four hours after she had made the 911 call?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was a period of time before she eventually told us what the true story was, yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can you give us any indication of where she had gone?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Las Vegas, Nevada.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, she was just wandered the southeast area. Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did she make any statements that -- when she got to Albuquerque, met people? I mean, you said she made some friends on the bus. And she just meander around aimlessly according to her? Or (INAUDIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. Basically, she just walked around town for a while until she made that 911 call.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Does she have any personal connection to Albuquerque at all in terms of reason why she...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is there any particular turning point that made her decide to tell the truth? (INAUDIBLE). In terms of questioning, how did she finally tell the truth?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know. I just know she was in discussion with detectives and agents. And she decided that she needed to do the right thing and tell the right story, the true story.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: So there you have it. Jennifer Wilbanks was never abducted. She just was nervous about the wedding, took off, headed out of town to Las Vegas and then Albuquerque, New Mexico.

And I got to tell you, when we saw that news conference take place when it happened, our jaws dropped. Everyone I imagine watching couldn't believe what they were hearing, because this was a search for a missing woman, a bride-to-be. This was supposed to be her wedding day.

So let's bring you up to speed right now on all of these events. It's been a shocking turn of events in the case of a missing Georgia bride-to-be.

Jennifer Wilbanks is, indeed, alive and well. But all morning long, her family has said Wilbanks called home from Albuquerque, New Mexico, saying that she had been kidnapped and later freed. Well, you heard it. Now there's word that she was not kidnapped at all.

Albuquerque police say it was a case of cold feet. Albuquerque's police chief says Wilbanks was a nervous bride-to-be, who had become scared about her pending marriage. And police say she caught a bus from the Atlanta area and fled to New Mexico. So far, no charges have been filed.

I want to get an update now with our correspondent Charles Molineaux, who is outside the family's home in Duluth with the latest. And we need to make a correction. This isn't the family's home. This is not the Wilbanks home. This is her fiance's home, John Mason.

MOLINEAUX: Correct.

NGUYEN: What do you know?

MOLINEAUX: Yes, this is the home of John Mason, but this has really become the central focal point for this developing situation, as this family has gone on how many different ways and times can you say emotional roller coaster. Because we've now had, of course, this latest gut-wrenching twist just within the past hour, and one that has thrown this entire family and this community, including a whole lot of friends who were very concerned, looking forward to this wedding into a new shocked, stunned, silence.

If you look outside now, it's been raining. It's a little irony there, but this house has turned into a very quiet scene. The picture of Jennifer, which has been out on the curb, missing, and no one knew where she was, is still there. But obviously, the scene has dramatically changed from Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. The question was where was Jennifer? What had happened to her?

Then overnight, we heard this story of her being kidnapped and showing up in Albuquerque. And then finally that she apparently had some concerns about the wedding.

The family described it as issues that the family didn't know that Jennifer apparently had. And they are all promising to love her and support her, but also now a lot of concern. And this big, joyous, wild raucous party that everyone was anticipating upon Jennifer's return is likely to be a little bit different from what we'd anticipated.

The family is still planning to go to Albuquerque at about 11:00 this morning for the reunion with Jennifer. There is still a great deal of relief that she is OK, but it is now tempered with some concern about the fact that there was apparently this bogus story about her being kidnapped, as well as the fact that there were these concerns and misgivings that it seems nobody knew about.

We talked earlier with a friend of hers who talked about -- indicated that she thought perhaps Jennifer would have no idea this could have turned into a big criminal investigation. It took a life of its own, like a wedding night. And Jennifer's wedding was to be a very grand one, as we have been hearing. 600 people were going to be guests. There were going to be 14 bridesmaids. Who even wants to guess about the budget? Something like that can perhaps develop a life of its own in a sense of inevitability. And who know what it might have taken if Jennifer had some misgivings that people didn't know about. And it looks like we may be getting some idea of that.

NGUYEN: Charles, there are indeed a lot of questions surrounding all of this. So many that I can't just think of right now, but my question to you is Jennifer called home about 1:40 Eastern time this morning to tell them about this whole abduction story. Well, then we later learned from Albuquerque police that that was not the case at all. Has she called home and spoke with her family to actually tell them the truth?

MOLINEAUX: Not from what have heard. Our understanding is at this point that the people she has been speaking to have been the police investigating this case.

Obviously, when we're hearing about this being a kidnapping, we're going all the way up to the FBI out there in Albuquerque talking to her. And it was to them that she apparently finally confided that she did not in fact get kidnapped, but in fact having some concerns and took off entirely on her own.

Well, we understand from the conversations she had with the family was that she was telling them that she had been kidnapped. And she told this to her fiance, to her father, and to her mother in various conversations about two people in the van who kidnapped her, jumped her from behind while she was out running on Tuesday evening, and took her to Albuquerque and then let her go.

This was what she told people repeatedly. And apparently not the case. And obviously, a lot of guessing as to how she arrived at the point where she thought she was -- had to make up a story like that.

NGUYEN: Charles, I'm kind of interested about the reception that she is going to get when she does return back to Georgia, because 600 people have gathered for what they thought was going to be a wedding. And then they took part, many of them, in the search for Jennifer.

When she does come back, you've spoken with people there. How are they feeling? Are they angry? Are they disappointed? What's the feeling out there? And what kind of reception is she going to get when she comes back?

MOLINEAUX: There is a lot of puzzlement. And I'm sure some people will be upset. Police have obviously been looking very hard for a lot of people who were coming for a wedding, looking for an exciting occasion, were suddenly trying to help. They were enlisted in this effort to save Jennifer from whatever fate might have befallen her.

Well, they were apparently snookered by a story. And that is something that is not going to sit well, but we have already heard from her family and friends that they love her and that they want her to come home. There is a lot of concern for her and her relationship with her fiance, John, which obviously, has become an awful lot more complicated.

And no doubt, there will be some resentment and concerns. But most of all, and the one point that they do seem to keep underscoring, as we have spoken to the very few who are even speaking to us at this point is that she OK. She is alive. And she will at some point be coming home, although she's probably going to have to face some music in New Mexico as well.

NGUYEN: She might as well. But you know, for her family, I think you summed it up. They are, despite all of this, they are very glad that she, indeed, is alive. Charles Molineaux, we thank you.

MOLINEAUX: They still see that as the bottom line.

NGUYEN: Right. Thanks, Charles.

HARRIS: So many questions to have answered. Here are a couple. What are the legal ramifications of what Jennifer has done? Could she actually face criminal charges? We'll take up that issue with our regular Saturday panel of great legal minds after a break. More to tell you. We'll be right back. ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

HARRIS: And welcome back, everyone, to CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Just a stunning, shocking turn of events here. In just the past hour, we've learned a number of things.

First of all, we've learned that Jennifer Wilbanks, the 32-year- old bride-to-be, the woman scheduled to be married to John Mason of Duluth, Georgia, this evening has in fact been found alive and well. And you can imagine what kind of a reaction that brought from her family, who had been on this constant vigil since Tuesday evening at 8:30, when she left to go on a jog.

But we have come to know, actually, left because she was nervous about this wedding. Just last hour, we learned from the Albuquerque police department, the chief, (INAUDIBLE) Schultz that Jennifer Wilbanks left, became nervous, concerned. The stress of this wedding, a huge wedding by all accounts, 600 invited guests and 14 members of the bridal party, the stress of it all had become too much for Jennifer. She left, took a bus first to Las Vegas and then to Albuquerque. We don't know how long she was in Las Vegas. We don't know how long she was in Albuquerque, New Mexico before she contacted authorities.

She called her folks at about 1:40 a.m. Eastern time to tell them that she been abducted by a man and a -- possibly a Hispanic man, that she been abducted, but that the coverage, all of this intense interest in coverage had somehow prevailed upon her kidnappers. They released her.

She was found at a convenience store. She finally called authorities. And at about 4:00 a.m. Mountain time, she told authorities there that she had created this story, that the kidnapping, the abduction story had been created, and that she had become nervous, and stressed out over the plans for this wedding, which was scheduled to go off this evening.

NGUYEN: We want to get the latest from Albuquerque police right now. We have with us Trish Ahrensfield, who is with the department there to really explain how this all played out and how they finally got the truth out of Jennifer Wilbanks.

Good morning. Thanks for being with us. I guess the first question is, what did she tell you to begin with? And how did you determine that that indeed was not the case? Are you with us, Trish Ahrensfield?

TRISH AHRENSFIELD, ALBUQUERQUE POLICE: I can't hear anything.

NGUYEN: All right, we're working on that audio. And we'll try to get that for you in just a moment. But we do have someone else that we want to bring up right now in Duluth, the police chief there. He's been a part of this search, and now has this to say about what we have learned today that, indeed, it was not an abduction after all.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As you all know, the last three or four days, we've been looking for Miss Jennifer Wilbanks, who came up missing after she had gone for a jog last Tuesday afternoon.

I'm happy to announce that this morning at 2:00 a.m., we located Miss Wilbanks. And she was in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The police, through direction, was able to find her. The FBI then took Miss Wilbanks, and took her to their headquarters, and began talking to Miss Wilbanks to determine what had taken place.

Originally, it appeared that she been kidnapped. But after talking to the FBI, it turns out that Miss Wilbanks, basically, felt the pressure of this large wedding, and could not handle it.

And therefore, she got on a Greyhound bus. And she went to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

So at this point in time, we're just waiting for Miss Wilbanks to come back. The family will be making a statement shortly. And right now, we expect that when she comes back, her and the family will go through a time where they can try to heal one another, and put this behind them. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will there be criminal charges pressed?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No criminal charges.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: OK, let's pick it up now in Albuquerque, New Mexico with Trish Ahrensfield. She is with the police department there. And I want to take this step-by-step, if you will, with us. When did you pick her up? And what did she tell you about what had happened to her?

AHRENSFIELD: We received the phone call about 11:38 p.m. last night that a woman was at Salano and central in reference to possibly being abducted from Georgia.

When officers arrived there, we contacted her. And actually, an officer actually recognized her because he'd been following the news story.

And she stated who she was. We confirmed that. We took her back to our substation here, when the FBI, as well as our detectives started interviewing her.

At that time, she still stated that she had been abducted, and that she was brought here to Albuquerque and then released. And that actually went on for quite some time. And I think with the experience of the detectives, as well as the FBI detectives, they kind of all thought that there was something more to the story.

And that's when, I think, that she finally stated that she needed to tell the truth and then stated that with the stress of the upcoming wedding, that she needed some time. And that's how the rest of the story played out.

NGUYEN: What did she appear -- what was her -- I guess her demeanor at the time? Was she nervous? Was she upset? Was she hysterical?

Because we heard many different descriptions on the phone with her parents this morning when she made that call to tell them that she was OK, and told them about this whole abduction story. Was she calm? Was she collected? What did she seem like during that interrogation?

AHRENSFIELD: You know, I actually -- when I first came to the substation I contacted her. And I think we're all shocked at the fact that we were so glad that she was safe. And she did seem upset. She looked tired. And she seemed worried and seemed upset. Genuinely upset.

NGUYEN: Can you hear us?

AHRENSFIELD: Yes. Anyway, she did seem very upset. And then the interviews continued after that.

NGUYEN: OK, so she seemed very upset. And she continued on with this story about being abducted. When in there did -- did the agents learn that -- or decided, or determine that indeed this was not the case? Was she not telling the story the same every time she was being asked it? Was she not keeping - was she not being consistent about her answers?

AHRENSFIELD: There were some inconsistencies in her story. And I think her body language, I'm sure, again, with the experience of the detectives, and what they see when they talk to victims. And it was finally several hours later, she finally said that -- they asked her, do we need to look for the blue van anymore? And she said, no.

And so, there was a turning point there. And I think she finally stated she needed to tell the truth. And then she said of the stress of everything and she needed some time again. And so, it took several hours, but she did the right thing by finally telling the truth.

NGUYEN: So what happens to her now? Where is she?

AHRENSFIELD: She is no longer at the substation. She is with the FBI victim assistance, as well as our victim advocates. And they've taken her to another location to get her showered and cleaned up. She's tired. She's had a long couple of days. And she will be reunited with her family later today.

NGUYEN: Do you expect her to face any kind of charges? AHRENSFIELD: Not on our end. As far as our police department goes, our investigation is done. She will not be looking at any charges here, nor from the FBI here. We are going to turn everything back over to Georgia. And if they decide to do anything, then that's -- in their investigation then that's up to them.

NGUYEN: All right, Trish Ahrensfield with the Albuquerque, police department. We thank you for your time and your information.

AHRENSFIELD: Thank you.

HARRIS: Well, here's the question -- are there any remaining legal issues? We'll take that question up with our legal panel when CNN SATURDAY MORNING returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

HARRIS: We are still following the amazing developments out of two locations, actually. First Duluth, Georgia, and in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

As you know by now, 32-year-old Jennifer Wilbanks has been found. She is alive and well. She was found in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

She left her home Tuesday evening. She said she was going for a run. In fact, she left, jumped on a Greyhound bus, first for Las Vegas. Spent some time in Las Vegas. We don't know yet how long there before jumping on another bus for Albuquerque, New Mexico. Spent some time there.

At 1:40 this morning, she called her family members to tell them this amazing story of her abduction and ultimate release. She told her family members that all of the press coverage around this had somehow prevailed upon the kidnappers and they released her at a convenience store where she was able to call them. And then later, she called authorities.

At about 4:00 a.m., Mountain time, she told authorities the true story. And the true story is that she had become nervous about the upcoming wedding, the wedding that was scheduled for today, a massive affair by all accounts.

600 invited guests, 14 members in the bridal party, the bridesmaids. She had become nervous, concerned about it all, stressed out by it all, and that she had decided that she needed some time.

So she left. We want to know what some of the legal ramifications are in this case, and if, if Jennifer could face charges because of all of this.

Civil liberties attorney Leda Rodriguez Tassette joins us and Nelda Blair. Former prosecutor Nelda Blair joins us as well. Ladies, good morning.

NELDA BLAIR, FMR. PROSECUTOR: Good morning.

LEDA RODRIGUEZ TASSETTE, CIVIL LIBERTIES ATTY.: Good morning.

HARRIS: Well, a different set of issues than we thought we would be talking about this morning.

But Nelda, let me start with you. Give me a sense, first of all, of this case and whether or not there are other legal issues that still need to be determined, that are hanging out there unresolved?

BLAIR: Well, there are a host of legal issues that we could talk about regarding this matter. You know, it's not a crime to try to impersonate Julia Roberts of "Runaway Bride." It's not a crime to lie to your friends and family, but it is a crime to lie to authorities. And it's a crime to file false criminal complaints.

Now this woman didn't file a complaint against anyone specifically, like her next door neighbor, which certainly would have been a crime. But she has caused a lot of action in the criminal authorities, including the FBI. And it would not surprise me if back in Georgia that she might be charged with some false statements.

HARRIS: And Leda, there's no doubt about the fact that she allowed authorities to be misled.

TASSETTE: Well you know, Nelda, it's time to let this thing go. Basically what happened is this woman got cold feet. She has a constitutional right to do that. She then got on bus. She also had the constitutional right to do that. And then went off without telling her family. She has a constitutional right to do that.

What basically led to her misleading authorities, only for about four hours, and after all the money had been spent searching for her, was the media coverage. That's why she lied. She lied not because she intended to lie from the start, or this was a hoax, or this was an attempt by her to mislead authorities, she lied because after all this media coverage, she figured, oh, my God, I have to tell them something. And it didn't last very long.

So there is no intent here. There's no reason to prosecute this woman. We just got to close the chapter in on this and just let be.

HARRIS: Nelda?

BLAIR: And that may well be what happened. But Leda, we really don't know that that was her intent or that she had no intent. We don't know that at all.

I mean, she fled across several states. We're not talking about a gal who just went to her girlfriend's house. And it's not illegal to spend her daddy's money, no. But it is a problem when authorities -- she knows authorities are looking for her. She knows it's a major manhunt out there.

You know, we've had other young women who have disappeared while jogging and had much more - much worse consequences. And so we are very, very attuned to that. So I think it's -- at least something that the Georgia authorities will look into, because this woman has caused not only grief, but she's caused a lot of problems and a lot of investigation within authorities.

You know, Martha Stewart was also charged with making false statements. It's not a small deal.

TASSETTE: I disagree, Nelda. Because look, think about it. You're saying that she fled. What did she flee from? She wasn't charged with anything. She wasn't committing a crime. She simply decided to leave. It's her constitutional right to pick up and go.

HARRIS: Leda, Leda, Leda -- you know I love you, but Leda, hang on a second. She -- we may eventually learn that she -- she cut her own hair. She left...

TASSETTE: She sure did!

HARRIS: ...a swath of hair down there. And she had to know that this was a case that, her disappearance, just days before her wedding, this huge social event in Duluth, Georgia, was going to draw all kinds of interest.

TASSETTE: Well you know, Tony, next time you choose not to the go to your barber and decide to cut your own hair, let me know so I can call authorities on you.

That's absolutely not the case. Look, even if she was running away and hiding, she wasn't committing a crime. The crime here, if you're thinking about it, is the fact that media picks up on this. And the family and friends go, oh, no, this woman could not have run away. No, no, no, no. She couldn't have gotten cold feet.

HARRIS: So are you blaming the media?

BLAIR: Yes.

HARRIS: Leda, are you blaming the media for this? What are you saying to me?

TASSETTE: How could you say I ever -- I'm a civil libertarian. I would never blame the media for anything!

HARRIS: Right.

TASSETTE: Tony, you got to think about - go ahead.

BLAIR: But you certainly say that the constitutional rights protect this lady? Give me a break, Leda. The media didn't file a missing persons report. The media didn't have the FBI looking for her. The media aren't the ones that made up the abduction story.

This woman did this to herself. And if the Georgia authorities decide, or the FBI decides to file charges, they're absolutely justified in doing that. This isn't a situation where she was an innocent bystander and the media made something of it. She made this. And there's - by the way, we haven't even gotten into the civil part, but how about breach of promise? How about all those presents...

HARRIS: Uh-oh!

BLAIR: Oh, we've got a host of civil suits that we can have - we can file now.

TASSETTE: Well, you know, here - Nelda, why don't we just leave a calling card for the fiance? You know, this is fascinating because I think what we're looking for is we're looking for a way of making somebody be responsible for the fact that we have a police force in this country that cares about people, and that, you know, it doesn't matter what your resources are in this country. If somebody's missing, we try to do our best it find them, even when they're not really missing.

So if you basically start prosecuting this woman, what you're doing is you're destroying a system that allows people to report when they're afraid that their loved ones have gone missing without fear that they're going to be prosecuted for doing so.

HARRIS: You know what? I don't want this woman prosecuted. I really don't. My instinct is probably the same as yours, Leda, which is that, you know, this woman, we don't know what she's been going through. Clearly stressed out.

She made some bad mistakes and some misjudgments here. And you certainly don't want to be prosecuted. Do you? For every misstep or bad mistake that you make in your life.

TASSETTE: Go ahead, Nelda. Tell us why you should be.

BLAIR: I agree with that. I agree that, you know, this may not reach the point of being something we want to pursue, at least through the authorities.

HARRIS: Yes.

BLAIR: But the point is, this woman -- I mean, there's a bunch of us out there that may have wished we'd have run away from the altar. But let me say this. This woman needs to understand that it is not OK to have a manhunt, a national manhunt after you from authorities. It is not OK to have authorities spending their resources looking for you, when there are other people out there's that are legitimately in trouble.

Yes, Leda, we are a country that goes and tries to protect our people no matter what status they are. But you cannot take advantage of that. You cannot waste that. And that's what she's done.

HARRIS: Do you think at the very least, the family should be responsible for the cost of this search? TASSETTE: Well you know, whatever the family does, if they have the wherewithal and ability to contribute to their police department, they probably should.

But there should not be a legal obligation to do so. Why? Because you're basically discouraging people from reporting crimes or suspected crime. And you're punishing people based on their ability to pay for their police forces.

We don't -- that's why we all pay taxes, because this is what the police are supposed to do. If you start imposing these sorts of fines, you're basically creating private police forces, where you're telling people, gee, the only way we're going to protect you is if you're prepared to pay for it. That just doesn't make sense.

BLAIR: Well, we need a deterrent for people that are going to falsely claim that something's happened to them. We certainly don't want that happening.

But I do agree. I don't believe there's any legal mechanism in place that could force her family to pay for this search.

HARRIS: OK, ladies, that was good. Thank you. Thank you for discussing all of these - there's a bunch of stuff out there on this.

Leda and Nelda, we'll see you again next week.

BLAIR: All right.

TASSETTE: Thanks, Tony.

HARRIS: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired April 30, 2005 - 08:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Jennifer Wilbanks, 32-year-old bride- to-be from Duluth, Georgia, has been found. She is alive, she is in good shape, we understand.
But what we have learned is that the entire story of her abduction has been made up. Cold feet is the case, and it is the bottom line on it.

She was nervous, concerned about this wedding, and the stress of it all, and she left her home Tuesday evening, and took a bus to Las Vegas, Nevada, then took another bus to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she finally contacted police, and eventually told the true story, not the story of the abduction that she had shared with her family and those in Duluth, Georgia, but the real story of her getting cold feet and deciding to run.

Let's get to the Duluth now, the home of the Mason family. And Charles Molineaux is standing by. Charles, good morning.

CHARLES MOLINEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and what is going to be, Tony, a very difficult moment. A morning of unqualified joy and relief has become substantially more qualified. Jennifer is OK, but now we have the word that the story of her being abducted was apparently just a story.

We are actually standing by, and any minute now, her family will be making a statement. It will probably be very brief. But the expectation is that they will be talking to the media in just a couple of minutes about what has turned out to be a very different story than the one that they thought they had only a couple hours ago, but, of course, still a better story than what they might have thought last night.

But a lot of questions now as to what exactly happened to Jennifer and what led her to the point where she ended up halfway across the country, calling in first with a story about having been kidnapped, and now according to the, of course, the police out there, the story that she may indeed have just decided that she was having some misgivings on the eve of her wedding.

A very big wedding, a wedding that had accrued an awful lot of momentum, 600 guests, 14 bridesmaids, the production. Who even wants to talk about the budget? And perhaps, a level of inevitability with which she was not prepared to contend.

And we're hoping we're going to get some more out of her eventually, and some inkling as to what might have driven her to this point.

Right now, we are standing by for word from her family, outside of the home of her fiance, John Mason, where the family, of course, has been holding vigil for the past several days, waiting for some sort of word. The word was very exciting and wonderful only a couple hours ago, now a little less so.

She's alive and well, but the story is not quite as cut and dried as it sounds, Tony.

HARRIS: Well, and Charles, let's sort of back this up just a little bit, and we can take it actually from Wednesday. And as you know, that this has been a back-and-forth theory that's been kicked around.

We learned first thing Wednesday morning that police were, in essence, dismissing this theory of cold feet. And then later that afternoon, the police chief, Randy Belcher (ph), said, Look, we're not ruling that out, we're not taking that off the table. As a matter of fact, that is very much on the table now as a working theory in this case.

Later that evening, he came back to say that that was being dismissed because of the length of time of the disappearance. It had been more than 24 hours, and the thinking at that time was, is that this could not have been a case of cold feet. After 24 hours, she certainly would have called her family to tell them where she was and what she was thinking and what she had done.

So Charles, (INAUDIBLE)...

MOLINEAUX: (INAUDIBLE) dismissed by any of the family. (INAUDIBLE)...

HARRIS: Exactly.

MOLINEAUX: ... if you talk to the family, that the bridesmaids, the friends, her parents, that the idea that she might have decided that something wasn't right, or that she didn't feel like going...

MIKE SATTERFIELD, WILBANKS FAMILY SPOKESMAN: ... (INAUDIBLE) most important fact that's occurred today.

We're so appreciative also of all the people who have supported us, that supported the family, that supported this community in all their efforts.

It has been determined that Jennifer has some issues the family was not aware of. We're looking forward to loving her and talking with her concerning these issues. The family would appreciate some time and space to assist Jennifer concerning those issues.

Again, we want to thank everyone, especially everyone. There are so many people (INAUDIBLE), we want to thank all of them. We were a team, we went forward, we accomplished what we sought to do, and that was to bring Jennifer back. And she is alive and well, and that's what means so much to us. And we thank you all so much.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How is John taking this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is the family going to Albuquerque?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).

HARRIS: Well, that is has been the family's spokesperson throughout this, coming out onto the porch of John Mason's home, Mike Satterfield, as I mentioned, he's been the family spokesperson. He's actually been a rock through this whole ordeal. And that is Jennifer's uncle, who has been giving us the reaction from the family, and asking that the family be given some time and some space to sort of deal with this most recent turn of events.

And actually, what we probably should do, it's probably a good idea to just sort of start that from the very top, so that we can share with you the very top of Mike's statement to the press.

Do we have that? OK, we don't have that.

Let's bring in Charles...

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Molineaux, who is at that home there, with the family, which has gone inside. They really are not wanting to speak any more than just that statement.

But, Charles, what's the latest that you've learned there? Because we missed that top portion of that live press conference.

MOLINEAUX: Well, what you heard pretty much summed it up, and then the family is still pulling together around Jennifer. But as you probably heard, there were concerns, there were concerns, apparently, that somehow the family was not aware of.

Now, the Satterfields, of course, Jennifer's uncle, his daughter was going to be a bridesmaid in this wedding, and very close and very much the public face as the situation looked grim over the course of the past couple of days.

Well, now, all of a sudden, things are looking an awful lot more complicated. And once again, he has stepped to the fore to be the man to speak for this family at a time that has turned out to be, all of a sudden, a very difficult one yet again.

We didn't think that he would be the one speaking to us, because, well, the family has felt a lot more excited about dealing with the media, with the news that Jennifer is alive and well.

The story about the kidnapping was of concern, but the fact that she was OK and that everything was going to be fine, and this wedding was going to be going forward, well, now, of course, things have changed somewhat, and he is once again being the public face for this family, and explaining things to the media at a time which has turned out to be, yet again, very difficult.

NGUYEN: Yes. Things have indeed changed, as has the weather there in Duluth. Kind of ironic there.

Charles, thank you. We'll checking back with you in just a moment.

Tony?

HARRIS: Let's do that right now, let's take a listen to the entire statement from Mike Satterfield, who's representing the family.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SATTERFIELD: -- I can't stress enough that is the most important fact that has occurred today.

We're so appreciative also for all the people have supported us, that supported the family, that supported this community in all their efforts.

It has been determined that Jennifer has some issues the family was not aware of. We're looking forward to loving her and talking with her concerning these issues. The family would appreciate some time and space to assist Jennifer concerning these issues.

Again, we want to thank everyone, especially everyone. There's so many people (INAUDIBLE). We want to thank all of you. We were a team, we went forward, we accomplished what we sought to do, and that was to bring Jennifer back. And she is alive and well, and that's what means so much to us.

And we thank you all so much.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: And I suppose that's part of the story that has to be emphasized here, is that on Tuesday, we didn't know what the state of affairs was with Jennifer Wilbanks. And at least now, we know that she is alive and well.

She has told quite an amazing story. She has invented a story of her kidnapping, her abduction, that she was dropped off at a convenience store in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that her hair had been shorn off. Clumps of her hair were found by authorities in one of two days, three days, of a massive, exhausted, extensive search for Jennifer Wilbanks.

We learned now that it has all been invented. It is a case of cold feet. She told the authorities in Albuquerque that she was nervous, concerned about this wedding that was scheduled for this evening. The stress of it all was just too much. She couldn't take it. So she left, caught a bus to Las Vegas first, and then to Albuquerque.

The family statement from Mike Satterfield, Jennifer's uncle, telling us all that the family now would like some time to process all of this and to make some sense of it, that Jennifer, obviously, has had some issues with this whole wedding that she had not, to this point, shared with her family.

NGUYEN: And we also want to get some more information about how it all really played out from police, the official word. We'll be hearing some of that after we take this short break right now.

You're watching CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

NGUYEN: As we've been telling you this morning, there have been some new developments in the search for Jennifer Wilbanks. We have learned from Albuquerque police that, indeed, this was not an abduction, this was not a kidnapping, this was case of cold feet.

We want to go now to CNN's Ed McCarthy. He's with CNN Radio. He is outside John Mason's home. John Mason, as you recall in following all of this, is the fiance to Jennifer Wilbanks, for some reaction from the family on how all this has played out.

And how are they feeling at this moment, after learning that it was just a case of cold feet?

ED MCCARTHY, CNN RADIO CORRESPONDENT (on phone): Well, Betty, the momentum, if you will, the shift of high emotion, has just gone many notches lower here. An amazing scene, as everybody was just so jubilant this morning at 5:00 in the morning, when we spoke with people, the family members, just excited that she was safe. And then all of a sudden the wedding that was planned tonight, even though it won't be scheduled anyway, learning that she took a bus to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The police say no charges will be filed. The family, just a short time ago, issuing a statement saying that Jennifer has some issues. They love her very much, and they look forward to her return home, so that they will be able to deal with those issues and give her support.

So right now, it's a situation where many of the family members and friends who had been gathering here for this vigil that lasted into the night, to get the good news that she's safe, finding out that, in fact, the wedding is definitely in jeopardy now, that she took that bus to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

NGUYEN: Ed, hindsight is always 20/20. And all morning long, we have been speaking with family members, members of the wedding party, in fact, who have said this was not a case of cold feet. She loved John Mason dearly, and she wanted to go through with this wedding. She had eight showers prior to this case that we thought to begin was an abduction.

So looking back and speaking with those the family members, are they seeing some of the signs that maybe indeed it was a case of the cold feet, that they just didn't want to acknowledge those at the time?

MCCARTHY: Betty, it appears they missed all of those signs. They say that Jennifer was just very, very happy during the showers, and just excited about the arrangements and the wedding.

Keep in mind, 600 people were invited to this wedding tonight. And it was almost going to turn into a prayer vigil, but such a celebration earlier this morning to learn that she is safe and sound.

And now, I think, many people here feel rather betrayed, to learn the news. But they say they still support Jennifer and will help her in any way they can when she returns.

NGUYEN: This was a very large wedding that was planned for this evening here in Georgia, in Duluth is where it was supposed to take place. Give us a sense of what was going -- I mean, we can't determine exactly what was going through Jennifer's mind, but the size of the wedding and the prominence of this family, all, obviously, had to have factored into it. Kind of explain how that works out.

MCCARTHY: Well, you know, these are two very well-known families getting together for this wedding, very prominent individuals. Jennifer's father, of course, a doctor. And, you know, they just looked so forward to this. It was going to be a lavish affair with 600 people attending. That's a very, very large wedding, and you can imagine the cost of what it would be.

So everybody here was just excited. In fact, this morning I was told by Jennifer's father that we're going to invite the whole town for this wedding.

NGUYEN: Right.

MCCARTHY: We're just so excited that she's safe. And she says, We're going to invite everybody to come to the wedding. So they were planning on many more than 600.

And now this news that they got after they huddled with the FBI and the Duluth, Georgia, police chief inside this home, that she had taken the bus. Of course, that news broke in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and when the family learned here and huddled with the FBI.

So no charges, apparently, will be filed, but we'll be learning more in the days ahead about the family reaction and the reaction of friends.

NGUYEN: And a lot of family members were planning on taking a flight out to Albuquerque, New Mexico, around 11:00 Eastern time today. Have some of them backed off on that since hearing that this indeed was a case of cold feet?

MCCARTHY: I know the very closest of the family is leaving. And, of course, they have their flight scheduled a little later this morning. So they are definitely heading out, and as the family spokesman, who is actually the uncle of Jennifer, told to the media just a short time ago, you know, they're going to support her. So they obviously will be looking to get her back here, and I'm sure find out what exactly her mindset is right now.

But at least police know that they've definitely expended many, many man-hours here with this search, and the media has been holding vigil to wait for word whether or not she was dead or alive. And after all this work, and all the friends and everybody who have rallied around her safe return, they're finding out now that after her bus trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico, she'll be headed home on a plane here to Atlanta, Georgia, and then on to Duluth, Georgia, just northeast of Atlanta.

HARRIS: Hey, Ed, Tony Harris. My friend, we spent some time on this yesterday. Good to talk to you.

Have to ask you, what are some of the questions that you're looking for answers to? I got to tell you that we were told that she left her home Tuesday evening with no money, no keys, no identification. I know one of the questions that I have is, what help, if any, might she have had in making this trip to first Las Vegas, then Albuquerque? What are some of the questions that you might have and would like to have (INAUDIBLE)...

MCCARTHY: Well, Tony, that, in fact, is the million-dollar question. If she had no identification and no funds, how did she get there? But she probably tucked some money away, obviously, to take a Greyhound bus and get a bus ticket.

But as far as the theory that she was abducted, and her hair was cut here to change her identity before she left, we know now that that's out the window.

And just so many questions are going to be asked here, you know. How elaborate a scheme was this? You know, we knew something was amiss this morning when the mood here changed, Tony, to be quite honest with you, and cars started pulling out from in front of this house and leaving.

And at one point, a police officer told me, he says, There's some new developments. That's all I can tell you, stay tuned. And then we knew that the tide had turned.

HARRIS: OK. Ed, thanks for your reporting. We appreciate it.

MCCARTHY: Thank you, Tony.

NGUYEN: We want to go now to Charles Molineaux, outside the home of John Mason, the fiance to Jennifer Wilbanks.

What's the latest you're hearing there from folks who are coming in and out of that house?

MOLINEAUX: Well, this is, of course, a real stunner for this family, especially you really have to feel for John Mason. This is the guy, of course, who was concerned about his bride suddenly disappearing, then having a cloud of suspicion float around him, then having this joyous news that she's OK. And now, suddenly, well, some misgivings about the wedding itself, and he's right back in the middle of it again.

Actually, we have a friend of the two of them. This is Melinda Larson.

You've actually been close to both John and Jennifer. How is this going over with the people who are closest to them?

MELINDA LARSON, FRIEND OF JENNIFER WILBANKS AND JOHN MASON: I'm certain that it's just a wave of emotion people are experiencing right now. It's shocking, it's overwhelming, and it's baffling.

MOLINEAUX: Now, actually, you're a little closer to Jennifer on this than just about every single person involved, because you actually are on your way to a wedding too, in just at few weeks, and you've been dealing with this together. Can you give us any clue about where her head might be?

LARSON: Well, anyone that's planning a wedding knows that it's stressful, there's drama, it's challenging, it's overwhelming. There's so much pressure involved that 95 percent falls on the bride.

So the fact that there's stress and concern regarding the pressures involved with the wedding is of no surprise to anyone that has ever planned a wedding.

MOLINEAUX: What would you want to say to Jennifer?

LARSON: We love you. We're glad you're OK. That's all that matters.

MOLINEAUX: What about John? John's got to be having a real hard time as the guy who's suddenly once again back in the center of all this, after what looked like a break. What about him?

LARSON: John, it's just -- we love you. And whatever you need right now. John and Jennifer are going to take this one day at a time, and at this point, the overriding factor is that Jennifer is alive.

MOLINEAUX: Early on in this investigation, from the family and from police, we heard that the idea that she might have just had cold feet and taken off was pretty much not in consideration. What's, where would that have sat with you if the idea was broached?

LARSON: Having cold feet is a joy compared to what the alternative could have been.

MOLINEAUX: What about the idea that it might have been that with her? Did you discern anything along those lines, as you were doing the same thing together, planning your weddings?

LARSON: No. It did not cross my mind at all.

MOLINEAUX: Was she stressed? Did she look like she might have had some deep dread, anything along those lines?

LARSON: No deep dread. Stress, absolutely. Weddings are extremely challenging, overwhelming. A wonderful occasion, but tend to consume your time, your life, and all of your energy in the actual planning. So stress is a definite.

MOLINEAUX: It looks like we're not going to see this great big wild party, this joyous reunion that we anticipated. But she is OK. What do you think will happen now? What should happen now with this family?

LARSON: Jennifer and John need space. They need time, and they need privacy to deal with things at hand.

MOLINEAUX: Can you see how something like this might have materialized, as someone in a very similar situation?

LARSON: I think Jennifer had no idea that this would turn into a criminal investigation. And if -- had she known, I think things would have been handled probably a little differently. But sometimes things take a life of their own, just like weddings.

MOLINEAUX: Thank you very much. Melinda Larson, appreciate your talking to us. A friend of both Jennifer and John's on a day that is turning out to be relieved, happy, but also a little more difficult for this family, Tony, Betty.

NGUYEN: Not only difficult, but very shocking to all of us, who have not only been following it, we've been covering it, those who have been searching for Jennifer Wilbanks.

But as we've learned today, that it -- she just really became nervous about the whole wedding and decided she needed to get away.

We have more coverage on this. We'll be hearing from Albuquerque police in just a moment.

But right now, we're going to take a short break. We'll be right back.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

HARRIS: And good morning again, everyone, 8:26 here in the East.

We want to replay to you the moment that we all learned that Jennifer Wilbanks had been found, that she was alive and well. That was about 7:20, just about an hour ago Eastern time that we learned that she was fine, that she was alive, but that her story of a kidnapping, an abduction, had been created.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Approximately 4:00 a.m. this morning, Miss Wilbanks informed agents and detectives that she had not been abducted, as she had originally claimed. Agents and detectives learned that Miss Wilbanks had become scared and concerned about her pending marriage, and decided that she needed some time alone.

Miss Wilbanks had traveled from the Georgia area to Las Vegas, Nevada, via bus. Earlier today, she traveled from Las Vegas back to the Albuquerque area, again, via bus, arriving this evening. She remained in the Albuquerque area, traveling around the southeast area heights, until approximately 2338 hours, when she called 911, at which time officers responded and met her at the 7-Eleven.

Miss Wilbanks is being assisted by the FBI and APD, victims's assistance unit. We have her presently, and later today we will be rejoining her with her family, who will be flying into Albuquerque.

As far at the Albuquerque Police Department goes, and the Albuquerque FBI office, our investigation is closed. We will be turning this investigation over to the Atlanta FBI office, as well as the Duluth Police Department in Georgia.

Any questions?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are there are going to be charges filed in connection with this, or -- a lot of resources were at stake trying to find Miss Wilbanks.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There will be no charges at this time charged here in Albuquerque or the state of New Mexico. That will be left up to the authorities back in Georgia.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was she saying she just had a case of cold feet?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Basically, she was just very concerned about the pending wedding and very nervous about it, yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Could you go through overall condition? Or (INAUDIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's just -- she's obviously very concerned about the stress that she's been through, the stress been placed on her family. So she is -- she is very upset.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What about the blue van that (INAUDIBLE), blue van, (INAUDIBLE)...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was no blue van involved. She was on a bus.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But did she initially (INAUDIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She originally responded to the 911 dispatcher as well as the responding officers that she had been, yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is she still here in the (INAUDIBLE), and is she going to be (INAUDIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She is no longer here at the substation. She in the custody of victims' assistance specialists, who will stay with her till her family gets here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Has she talked to her family?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, she has.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How long was she in Albuquerque (INAUDIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're not exactly sure. She arrived sometime on Saturday -- I'm sorry, Friday evening or afternoon.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From Las Vegas, Nevada?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On Greyhound?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe it was a Greyhound bus, yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did she call her family first, or...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She did make more than one phone call. We're not exactly sure who she called or in which order.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) her appearance?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Her appearance is different, but I'm not exactly sure. I know her hair has been cut.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Any indication that she was traveling with anyone else (INAUDIBLE) family member (INAUDIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She was not with any family members or friends. She did meet some folks, however, while she was on the bus.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She maintained the kidnapping story for four hours after she had made the 911 call?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was a period of time before she eventually told us what the true story was, yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can you give us any indication of where she had gone?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Las Vegas, Nevada.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, she was just wandered the southeast area. Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did she make any statements that -- when she got to Albuquerque, met people? I mean, you said she made some friends on the bus. And she just meander around aimlessly according to her? Or (INAUDIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. Basically, she just walked around town for a while until she made that 911 call.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Does she have any personal connection to Albuquerque at all in terms of reason why she...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is there any particular turning point that made her decide to tell the truth? (INAUDIBLE). In terms of questioning, how did she finally tell the truth?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know. I just know she was in discussion with detectives and agents. And she decided that she needed to do the right thing and tell the right story, the true story.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: So there you have it. Jennifer Wilbanks was never abducted. She just was nervous about the wedding, took off, headed out of town to Las Vegas and then Albuquerque, New Mexico.

And I got to tell you, when we saw that news conference take place when it happened, our jaws dropped. Everyone I imagine watching couldn't believe what they were hearing, because this was a search for a missing woman, a bride-to-be. This was supposed to be her wedding day.

So let's bring you up to speed right now on all of these events. It's been a shocking turn of events in the case of a missing Georgia bride-to-be.

Jennifer Wilbanks is, indeed, alive and well. But all morning long, her family has said Wilbanks called home from Albuquerque, New Mexico, saying that she had been kidnapped and later freed. Well, you heard it. Now there's word that she was not kidnapped at all.

Albuquerque police say it was a case of cold feet. Albuquerque's police chief says Wilbanks was a nervous bride-to-be, who had become scared about her pending marriage. And police say she caught a bus from the Atlanta area and fled to New Mexico. So far, no charges have been filed.

I want to get an update now with our correspondent Charles Molineaux, who is outside the family's home in Duluth with the latest. And we need to make a correction. This isn't the family's home. This is not the Wilbanks home. This is her fiance's home, John Mason.

MOLINEAUX: Correct.

NGUYEN: What do you know?

MOLINEAUX: Yes, this is the home of John Mason, but this has really become the central focal point for this developing situation, as this family has gone on how many different ways and times can you say emotional roller coaster. Because we've now had, of course, this latest gut-wrenching twist just within the past hour, and one that has thrown this entire family and this community, including a whole lot of friends who were very concerned, looking forward to this wedding into a new shocked, stunned, silence.

If you look outside now, it's been raining. It's a little irony there, but this house has turned into a very quiet scene. The picture of Jennifer, which has been out on the curb, missing, and no one knew where she was, is still there. But obviously, the scene has dramatically changed from Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. The question was where was Jennifer? What had happened to her?

Then overnight, we heard this story of her being kidnapped and showing up in Albuquerque. And then finally that she apparently had some concerns about the wedding.

The family described it as issues that the family didn't know that Jennifer apparently had. And they are all promising to love her and support her, but also now a lot of concern. And this big, joyous, wild raucous party that everyone was anticipating upon Jennifer's return is likely to be a little bit different from what we'd anticipated.

The family is still planning to go to Albuquerque at about 11:00 this morning for the reunion with Jennifer. There is still a great deal of relief that she is OK, but it is now tempered with some concern about the fact that there was apparently this bogus story about her being kidnapped, as well as the fact that there were these concerns and misgivings that it seems nobody knew about.

We talked earlier with a friend of hers who talked about -- indicated that she thought perhaps Jennifer would have no idea this could have turned into a big criminal investigation. It took a life of its own, like a wedding night. And Jennifer's wedding was to be a very grand one, as we have been hearing. 600 people were going to be guests. There were going to be 14 bridesmaids. Who even wants to guess about the budget? Something like that can perhaps develop a life of its own in a sense of inevitability. And who know what it might have taken if Jennifer had some misgivings that people didn't know about. And it looks like we may be getting some idea of that.

NGUYEN: Charles, there are indeed a lot of questions surrounding all of this. So many that I can't just think of right now, but my question to you is Jennifer called home about 1:40 Eastern time this morning to tell them about this whole abduction story. Well, then we later learned from Albuquerque police that that was not the case at all. Has she called home and spoke with her family to actually tell them the truth?

MOLINEAUX: Not from what have heard. Our understanding is at this point that the people she has been speaking to have been the police investigating this case.

Obviously, when we're hearing about this being a kidnapping, we're going all the way up to the FBI out there in Albuquerque talking to her. And it was to them that she apparently finally confided that she did not in fact get kidnapped, but in fact having some concerns and took off entirely on her own.

Well, we understand from the conversations she had with the family was that she was telling them that she had been kidnapped. And she told this to her fiance, to her father, and to her mother in various conversations about two people in the van who kidnapped her, jumped her from behind while she was out running on Tuesday evening, and took her to Albuquerque and then let her go.

This was what she told people repeatedly. And apparently not the case. And obviously, a lot of guessing as to how she arrived at the point where she thought she was -- had to make up a story like that.

NGUYEN: Charles, I'm kind of interested about the reception that she is going to get when she does return back to Georgia, because 600 people have gathered for what they thought was going to be a wedding. And then they took part, many of them, in the search for Jennifer.

When she does come back, you've spoken with people there. How are they feeling? Are they angry? Are they disappointed? What's the feeling out there? And what kind of reception is she going to get when she comes back?

MOLINEAUX: There is a lot of puzzlement. And I'm sure some people will be upset. Police have obviously been looking very hard for a lot of people who were coming for a wedding, looking for an exciting occasion, were suddenly trying to help. They were enlisted in this effort to save Jennifer from whatever fate might have befallen her.

Well, they were apparently snookered by a story. And that is something that is not going to sit well, but we have already heard from her family and friends that they love her and that they want her to come home. There is a lot of concern for her and her relationship with her fiance, John, which obviously, has become an awful lot more complicated.

And no doubt, there will be some resentment and concerns. But most of all, and the one point that they do seem to keep underscoring, as we have spoken to the very few who are even speaking to us at this point is that she OK. She is alive. And she will at some point be coming home, although she's probably going to have to face some music in New Mexico as well.

NGUYEN: She might as well. But you know, for her family, I think you summed it up. They are, despite all of this, they are very glad that she, indeed, is alive. Charles Molineaux, we thank you.

MOLINEAUX: They still see that as the bottom line.

NGUYEN: Right. Thanks, Charles.

HARRIS: So many questions to have answered. Here are a couple. What are the legal ramifications of what Jennifer has done? Could she actually face criminal charges? We'll take up that issue with our regular Saturday panel of great legal minds after a break. More to tell you. We'll be right back. ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

HARRIS: And welcome back, everyone, to CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Just a stunning, shocking turn of events here. In just the past hour, we've learned a number of things.

First of all, we've learned that Jennifer Wilbanks, the 32-year- old bride-to-be, the woman scheduled to be married to John Mason of Duluth, Georgia, this evening has in fact been found alive and well. And you can imagine what kind of a reaction that brought from her family, who had been on this constant vigil since Tuesday evening at 8:30, when she left to go on a jog.

But we have come to know, actually, left because she was nervous about this wedding. Just last hour, we learned from the Albuquerque police department, the chief, (INAUDIBLE) Schultz that Jennifer Wilbanks left, became nervous, concerned. The stress of this wedding, a huge wedding by all accounts, 600 invited guests and 14 members of the bridal party, the stress of it all had become too much for Jennifer. She left, took a bus first to Las Vegas and then to Albuquerque. We don't know how long she was in Las Vegas. We don't know how long she was in Albuquerque, New Mexico before she contacted authorities.

She called her folks at about 1:40 a.m. Eastern time to tell them that she been abducted by a man and a -- possibly a Hispanic man, that she been abducted, but that the coverage, all of this intense interest in coverage had somehow prevailed upon her kidnappers. They released her.

She was found at a convenience store. She finally called authorities. And at about 4:00 a.m. Mountain time, she told authorities there that she had created this story, that the kidnapping, the abduction story had been created, and that she had become nervous, and stressed out over the plans for this wedding, which was scheduled to go off this evening.

NGUYEN: We want to get the latest from Albuquerque police right now. We have with us Trish Ahrensfield, who is with the department there to really explain how this all played out and how they finally got the truth out of Jennifer Wilbanks.

Good morning. Thanks for being with us. I guess the first question is, what did she tell you to begin with? And how did you determine that that indeed was not the case? Are you with us, Trish Ahrensfield?

TRISH AHRENSFIELD, ALBUQUERQUE POLICE: I can't hear anything.

NGUYEN: All right, we're working on that audio. And we'll try to get that for you in just a moment. But we do have someone else that we want to bring up right now in Duluth, the police chief there. He's been a part of this search, and now has this to say about what we have learned today that, indeed, it was not an abduction after all.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As you all know, the last three or four days, we've been looking for Miss Jennifer Wilbanks, who came up missing after she had gone for a jog last Tuesday afternoon.

I'm happy to announce that this morning at 2:00 a.m., we located Miss Wilbanks. And she was in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The police, through direction, was able to find her. The FBI then took Miss Wilbanks, and took her to their headquarters, and began talking to Miss Wilbanks to determine what had taken place.

Originally, it appeared that she been kidnapped. But after talking to the FBI, it turns out that Miss Wilbanks, basically, felt the pressure of this large wedding, and could not handle it.

And therefore, she got on a Greyhound bus. And she went to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

So at this point in time, we're just waiting for Miss Wilbanks to come back. The family will be making a statement shortly. And right now, we expect that when she comes back, her and the family will go through a time where they can try to heal one another, and put this behind them. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will there be criminal charges pressed?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No criminal charges.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: OK, let's pick it up now in Albuquerque, New Mexico with Trish Ahrensfield. She is with the police department there. And I want to take this step-by-step, if you will, with us. When did you pick her up? And what did she tell you about what had happened to her?

AHRENSFIELD: We received the phone call about 11:38 p.m. last night that a woman was at Salano and central in reference to possibly being abducted from Georgia.

When officers arrived there, we contacted her. And actually, an officer actually recognized her because he'd been following the news story.

And she stated who she was. We confirmed that. We took her back to our substation here, when the FBI, as well as our detectives started interviewing her.

At that time, she still stated that she had been abducted, and that she was brought here to Albuquerque and then released. And that actually went on for quite some time. And I think with the experience of the detectives, as well as the FBI detectives, they kind of all thought that there was something more to the story.

And that's when, I think, that she finally stated that she needed to tell the truth and then stated that with the stress of the upcoming wedding, that she needed some time. And that's how the rest of the story played out.

NGUYEN: What did she appear -- what was her -- I guess her demeanor at the time? Was she nervous? Was she upset? Was she hysterical?

Because we heard many different descriptions on the phone with her parents this morning when she made that call to tell them that she was OK, and told them about this whole abduction story. Was she calm? Was she collected? What did she seem like during that interrogation?

AHRENSFIELD: You know, I actually -- when I first came to the substation I contacted her. And I think we're all shocked at the fact that we were so glad that she was safe. And she did seem upset. She looked tired. And she seemed worried and seemed upset. Genuinely upset.

NGUYEN: Can you hear us?

AHRENSFIELD: Yes. Anyway, she did seem very upset. And then the interviews continued after that.

NGUYEN: OK, so she seemed very upset. And she continued on with this story about being abducted. When in there did -- did the agents learn that -- or decided, or determine that indeed this was not the case? Was she not telling the story the same every time she was being asked it? Was she not keeping - was she not being consistent about her answers?

AHRENSFIELD: There were some inconsistencies in her story. And I think her body language, I'm sure, again, with the experience of the detectives, and what they see when they talk to victims. And it was finally several hours later, she finally said that -- they asked her, do we need to look for the blue van anymore? And she said, no.

And so, there was a turning point there. And I think she finally stated she needed to tell the truth. And then she said of the stress of everything and she needed some time again. And so, it took several hours, but she did the right thing by finally telling the truth.

NGUYEN: So what happens to her now? Where is she?

AHRENSFIELD: She is no longer at the substation. She is with the FBI victim assistance, as well as our victim advocates. And they've taken her to another location to get her showered and cleaned up. She's tired. She's had a long couple of days. And she will be reunited with her family later today.

NGUYEN: Do you expect her to face any kind of charges? AHRENSFIELD: Not on our end. As far as our police department goes, our investigation is done. She will not be looking at any charges here, nor from the FBI here. We are going to turn everything back over to Georgia. And if they decide to do anything, then that's -- in their investigation then that's up to them.

NGUYEN: All right, Trish Ahrensfield with the Albuquerque, police department. We thank you for your time and your information.

AHRENSFIELD: Thank you.

HARRIS: Well, here's the question -- are there any remaining legal issues? We'll take that question up with our legal panel when CNN SATURDAY MORNING returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

HARRIS: We are still following the amazing developments out of two locations, actually. First Duluth, Georgia, and in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

As you know by now, 32-year-old Jennifer Wilbanks has been found. She is alive and well. She was found in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

She left her home Tuesday evening. She said she was going for a run. In fact, she left, jumped on a Greyhound bus, first for Las Vegas. Spent some time in Las Vegas. We don't know yet how long there before jumping on another bus for Albuquerque, New Mexico. Spent some time there.

At 1:40 this morning, she called her family members to tell them this amazing story of her abduction and ultimate release. She told her family members that all of the press coverage around this had somehow prevailed upon the kidnappers and they released her at a convenience store where she was able to call them. And then later, she called authorities.

At about 4:00 a.m., Mountain time, she told authorities the true story. And the true story is that she had become nervous about the upcoming wedding, the wedding that was scheduled for today, a massive affair by all accounts.

600 invited guests, 14 members in the bridal party, the bridesmaids. She had become nervous, concerned about it all, stressed out by it all, and that she had decided that she needed some time.

So she left. We want to know what some of the legal ramifications are in this case, and if, if Jennifer could face charges because of all of this.

Civil liberties attorney Leda Rodriguez Tassette joins us and Nelda Blair. Former prosecutor Nelda Blair joins us as well. Ladies, good morning.

NELDA BLAIR, FMR. PROSECUTOR: Good morning.

LEDA RODRIGUEZ TASSETTE, CIVIL LIBERTIES ATTY.: Good morning.

HARRIS: Well, a different set of issues than we thought we would be talking about this morning.

But Nelda, let me start with you. Give me a sense, first of all, of this case and whether or not there are other legal issues that still need to be determined, that are hanging out there unresolved?

BLAIR: Well, there are a host of legal issues that we could talk about regarding this matter. You know, it's not a crime to try to impersonate Julia Roberts of "Runaway Bride." It's not a crime to lie to your friends and family, but it is a crime to lie to authorities. And it's a crime to file false criminal complaints.

Now this woman didn't file a complaint against anyone specifically, like her next door neighbor, which certainly would have been a crime. But she has caused a lot of action in the criminal authorities, including the FBI. And it would not surprise me if back in Georgia that she might be charged with some false statements.

HARRIS: And Leda, there's no doubt about the fact that she allowed authorities to be misled.

TASSETTE: Well you know, Nelda, it's time to let this thing go. Basically what happened is this woman got cold feet. She has a constitutional right to do that. She then got on bus. She also had the constitutional right to do that. And then went off without telling her family. She has a constitutional right to do that.

What basically led to her misleading authorities, only for about four hours, and after all the money had been spent searching for her, was the media coverage. That's why she lied. She lied not because she intended to lie from the start, or this was a hoax, or this was an attempt by her to mislead authorities, she lied because after all this media coverage, she figured, oh, my God, I have to tell them something. And it didn't last very long.

So there is no intent here. There's no reason to prosecute this woman. We just got to close the chapter in on this and just let be.

HARRIS: Nelda?

BLAIR: And that may well be what happened. But Leda, we really don't know that that was her intent or that she had no intent. We don't know that at all.

I mean, she fled across several states. We're not talking about a gal who just went to her girlfriend's house. And it's not illegal to spend her daddy's money, no. But it is a problem when authorities -- she knows authorities are looking for her. She knows it's a major manhunt out there.

You know, we've had other young women who have disappeared while jogging and had much more - much worse consequences. And so we are very, very attuned to that. So I think it's -- at least something that the Georgia authorities will look into, because this woman has caused not only grief, but she's caused a lot of problems and a lot of investigation within authorities.

You know, Martha Stewart was also charged with making false statements. It's not a small deal.

TASSETTE: I disagree, Nelda. Because look, think about it. You're saying that she fled. What did she flee from? She wasn't charged with anything. She wasn't committing a crime. She simply decided to leave. It's her constitutional right to pick up and go.

HARRIS: Leda, Leda, Leda -- you know I love you, but Leda, hang on a second. She -- we may eventually learn that she -- she cut her own hair. She left...

TASSETTE: She sure did!

HARRIS: ...a swath of hair down there. And she had to know that this was a case that, her disappearance, just days before her wedding, this huge social event in Duluth, Georgia, was going to draw all kinds of interest.

TASSETTE: Well you know, Tony, next time you choose not to the go to your barber and decide to cut your own hair, let me know so I can call authorities on you.

That's absolutely not the case. Look, even if she was running away and hiding, she wasn't committing a crime. The crime here, if you're thinking about it, is the fact that media picks up on this. And the family and friends go, oh, no, this woman could not have run away. No, no, no, no. She couldn't have gotten cold feet.

HARRIS: So are you blaming the media?

BLAIR: Yes.

HARRIS: Leda, are you blaming the media for this? What are you saying to me?

TASSETTE: How could you say I ever -- I'm a civil libertarian. I would never blame the media for anything!

HARRIS: Right.

TASSETTE: Tony, you got to think about - go ahead.

BLAIR: But you certainly say that the constitutional rights protect this lady? Give me a break, Leda. The media didn't file a missing persons report. The media didn't have the FBI looking for her. The media aren't the ones that made up the abduction story.

This woman did this to herself. And if the Georgia authorities decide, or the FBI decides to file charges, they're absolutely justified in doing that. This isn't a situation where she was an innocent bystander and the media made something of it. She made this. And there's - by the way, we haven't even gotten into the civil part, but how about breach of promise? How about all those presents...

HARRIS: Uh-oh!

BLAIR: Oh, we've got a host of civil suits that we can have - we can file now.

TASSETTE: Well, you know, here - Nelda, why don't we just leave a calling card for the fiance? You know, this is fascinating because I think what we're looking for is we're looking for a way of making somebody be responsible for the fact that we have a police force in this country that cares about people, and that, you know, it doesn't matter what your resources are in this country. If somebody's missing, we try to do our best it find them, even when they're not really missing.

So if you basically start prosecuting this woman, what you're doing is you're destroying a system that allows people to report when they're afraid that their loved ones have gone missing without fear that they're going to be prosecuted for doing so.

HARRIS: You know what? I don't want this woman prosecuted. I really don't. My instinct is probably the same as yours, Leda, which is that, you know, this woman, we don't know what she's been going through. Clearly stressed out.

She made some bad mistakes and some misjudgments here. And you certainly don't want to be prosecuted. Do you? For every misstep or bad mistake that you make in your life.

TASSETTE: Go ahead, Nelda. Tell us why you should be.

BLAIR: I agree with that. I agree that, you know, this may not reach the point of being something we want to pursue, at least through the authorities.

HARRIS: Yes.

BLAIR: But the point is, this woman -- I mean, there's a bunch of us out there that may have wished we'd have run away from the altar. But let me say this. This woman needs to understand that it is not OK to have a manhunt, a national manhunt after you from authorities. It is not OK to have authorities spending their resources looking for you, when there are other people out there's that are legitimately in trouble.

Yes, Leda, we are a country that goes and tries to protect our people no matter what status they are. But you cannot take advantage of that. You cannot waste that. And that's what she's done.

HARRIS: Do you think at the very least, the family should be responsible for the cost of this search? TASSETTE: Well you know, whatever the family does, if they have the wherewithal and ability to contribute to their police department, they probably should.

But there should not be a legal obligation to do so. Why? Because you're basically discouraging people from reporting crimes or suspected crime. And you're punishing people based on their ability to pay for their police forces.

We don't -- that's why we all pay taxes, because this is what the police are supposed to do. If you start imposing these sorts of fines, you're basically creating private police forces, where you're telling people, gee, the only way we're going to protect you is if you're prepared to pay for it. That just doesn't make sense.

BLAIR: Well, we need a deterrent for people that are going to falsely claim that something's happened to them. We certainly don't want that happening.

But I do agree. I don't believe there's any legal mechanism in place that could force her family to pay for this search.

HARRIS: OK, ladies, that was good. Thank you. Thank you for discussing all of these - there's a bunch of stuff out there on this.

Leda and Nelda, we'll see you again next week.

BLAIR: All right.

TASSETTE: Thanks, Tony.

HARRIS: Thank you.

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