Maj. Jill Metzger another runaway bride?

The three-day disappearance of U.S. Air Force Maj. Jill M. Metzger in Kyrgyzstan sounds an awful like “runaway bride” Jennifer Wilbanks’ case last year.

In this case, Metzger already had married Joshua Mayo, an Air Force captain, in April. However, they haven’t seen each other in months. He’s in Colorado Springs, Colo.

When she turned up yesterday, her blond hair had been cut and dyed a dark color. She said she had been kidnapped by three young men and a woman in a minibus. Boy, this sounds familiar.

Frank Warner

SEE ALSO: U.S. military officials: Inconsistencies in Maj. Jill Metzger's kidnapping story.

SEE ALSO: Everyone wants to know about Maj. Jill Metzger.

Comments

[Kuba Kyrgyz]

The thing I cannot comprehend about Jill’s behavior, that she refused to cooperate with local police to give details about her abductors.

On the day of alleged abduction, she took a taxi to Surgery Clinic in Bishkek, acorrdingly to taxi driver’s testament. Security cameras around shopping mall picked up her taking a taxi, and deliberately separating her from her group at TSUM (shopping mall).

Her photo was placed on Kyrgyz national television, and eyewitnesses told to police seeing her at payphone making a call to someone after her disappearing.

She is now claiming that she was in trance and cannot remember anything.

Several days after disappearing, she’s been found near Russian military base with her hair dyed dark brown. She would not remember who kidnapped her. And she is not willing to cooperate with local police at all.

Was it an alien abduction, gypsy hypnosis, or psychiatric disorder?

The latter might be the case!

I remember a case of one guy, who was a latent schizophrenic. He had a top marks at university, was a brilliant student, accomplished guy, but one day, he disappeared. Police was searching him all over the places.

One day he was found, totally insane, in the woods. He tried ty bite policeman. Police asked one of my mates to calm him. But he was totally nuts. Police restrained him, and shipped him back home, to Armenia. And this case went totally confidential. No information leaked to local papers. Local journalists were informed that the guy just got lost in unfamiliar place.

[mdiamond]

Kuba Kyrgyz, Do you have inside info that the rest of us don't? I haven't seen anything in the news articles about a taxi ride to a Surgery Clinic. And perhaps you cannot comprehend Jill's behavior because you do not know her personally nor, I would assume, have you been in a traumatic situation such as this.

From the accounts I have read, Jill Metzger DID talk to the Kyrgyz police and was then taken into the care of the Embassy. The US military has stated that if the police need to speak with her, she doesn't need to be in the country for them to do so. The Kyrgyz police were not so concerned about Jill Metzger in the beginning - they ruled out kidnapping within a mere two days of her disappearance. Now that she's saying she was kidnapped, they don't want to look like fools, so they're releasing statements that imply that she's not telling the truth. If her account was "confused" then maybe we should take into consideration that she was likely in shock and that she doesn't speak the local languages - many things can get lost or confused in translation.

I'm seriously dismayed by the number of people who want to pull scandal out of this story. People would rather go online and write their own sordid mysteries stories and to think about this girl as a PERSON who has family and friends and a life, who has made a career of serving her country. And to people who would call her a runaway bride just because she's recently married. Guess what - young American women don't run away and start new lives in countries like Kyrgyzstan.

[jj mollo]

There is a tradition of kidnapping the bride in some Islamic countries. It could be that someone took a fancy to the Major and proposed marriage in that peculiar way. It's understandable that things might get confusing since the Major might not be aware of the custom.

[Frank Warner]

90 percent chance she ran off on her own.

[jj mollo]

A Major? I suppose it's possible. Brain spasm I guess. Thirty-three is a little old for onset of schizophrenia. How many female officers are there in the Air Force? This isn't the first time that one has gotten into hot water. It's a lot of pressure.

[mdiamond]

Frank, the only reason I can think of to explain why you're suggesting such a thing, with no evidence to back it up, is to sensationalize the story and draw readers to your site. One of the reasons this world can be such an awful place is because of people like you who would prefer to be devisive and encourage cynicism as opposed to being respectful and compassionate.

[Frank Warner]

M Diamond,

There's no sensationalism in my conclusion, and by the way, no big-deal scandal implied.

I'm just looking at the facts. The few facts are that she voluntarily moved in a direction to "get lost," that no witness has reported seeing her kidnapped, that no ransom demand was made, that kidnappings of Americans are unheard of in Kyrgyzstan, that she was "freed" with little trouble, that she told the police nothing that makes sense, that even her husband defends her story very weakly, and that she left Kyrgyzstan quickly when the police wanted to question her more.

How is it "divisive" or "cynical" to conclude from that list of factors that she probably was not kidnapped? It's only common sense. She wasn't running to Kyrgyzstan; she probably was running from her husband. She probably didn't want to go "home" to him. (And I don't think this is evidence of schizophrenia. She probably had semi-sane reasons.)

I'm 90 percent sure she wasn't kidnapped, and oddly, you're not even skeptical. You make no sense at all.

I'll tell you what. I'll bet you $1,000 the investigations show I'm right.

[mdiamond]

"The few facts are that she voluntarily moved in a direction to "get lost," - the video footage is a fact. Your speculation of her motive, "to get lost", is not a fact.

"that no witness has reported seeing her kidnapped" - Just because something isn't witnessed doesn't mean it didn't happen. And really what incentive would anyone have to report such an incident, especially, and this is some speculation of my own, if the people who did this are powerful enough to be intimidating to the people who live in this area.

"that kidnappings of Americans are unheard of in Kyrgyzstan" California kids joining Al Queda is practically unheard of too, but I just saw a story on CNN yesterday about a young man from CA moving to Pakistan and becoming a spokesperson for it.

"that she was "freed" with little trouble" In extreme situations, even an average person can do extraordinary things, but here we're talking about a training military officer in top physical condition so should we really be surprised that she had the strength and ingenuity to escape?

"that she told the police nothing that makes sense" Well the police are saying things that don't make sense either. The woman who contacted the police for her stated that she had bruises on her face. The police representative stated that her face looked unharmed. Come on now, it's either one or the other.

"that husband defends her story very weakly" If you have video, audio, or print to back this up, please provide it.

"and that she left Kyrgyzstan quickly when the police wanted to question her more" From what I understand, it was the Embassy and the military that removed her from the country and the military has stated that if she needs to be questioned further, she doesn't need to be in Kyrgyzstan for that to happen.

To answer your question, I am skeptical - of the Kyrgyz police and officials. They wrote off kidnapping within the first two days on the weak reasoning that they hadn't received a ransom demand. As if money is the only motive for kidnapping. With Jill's reappearance, they were proven wrong and don't you think they're going to want to cover their behinds by making her look confused, complaining about the Embassy taking her out of the country, and providing statements of doubt in her story?

In regards to your bet, I'm not interested in whether you are right or wrong. It's just disappointing to see people wanting to take the negative out of situation instead of the positive. To doubt the people who make a career of serving our government and our freedom. Don't we live by "innocent until proven guilty" in this country?

[Frank Warner]

After all that, you're not interested in whether I'm right or wrong.

You must be in a trance.

[mdiamond]

Wow. I'm blown away by the eloquence of your rebuttal.

[George]

Heh. Maybe she was hypnotized.

I just heard a great story about a hypnotist around here. He would tell them to forget their names whenever a microphone is held up in front of them. When confronted with a microphone, they couldn't remember their names to save their lives. As soon as the hypnotist turned away with the mic, they remembered. Very comical.

[Kuba Kyrgyz]

Check out the following link.
http://delo.ktnet.kg/2006/30/images/0202.jpg

Jill Metzger were walking out of shopping mall on her own free will that day.
********************************
Kiyazov, who said he personally talked with Metzger, told AP that her blondish hair had been dyed dark brown and her hands were stained with dye. He said it would be necessary to question her again to get more details, "but Metzger said she really wanted to get a good sleep."
**********************************

Kyrgyz police's story seem to be more consistent regarding her hair color:

http://frankwarner.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/jill_metzger_at_moody.jpg

According to FoxNews her hair was shaved off and she was found roadside, beaten.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,213077,00.html

[Snip]

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_4318940

"Our first impression was that the woman was severely drunk ...(but) there was no smell of alcohol and we then understood that she was in shock," Svetlana Ivashenko told The AP.

** The effect of pain-killer drug?

Who had seized her, why and were they had held her all this time, she couldn't clarify," Ivashenko said. "As she told all this, she didn't weep - she just sobbed and held her head." Ivashenko said there was blood on Metzger's feet and that she said she had walked a considerable distance.

"there was blood on Metzger's feet" - as a result of [what]?

[Frank Warner]

In one version of Metzger's story, her kidnappers forced her to dye her own hair. So theoretically she could have had dye on her hands even if she were kidnapped (ha!).

Also, she apparently claimed she ran off barefoot from her captors. That could explain the bloody feet.

She ran to a farmhouse, where she asked for help. But she couldn't tell police where she ran from.

She ended up 15 miles from where she seems to have disappeared. She is a marathon runner, and it was three days after her disappearance, so she had plenty of time to walk or run those 15 miles.

[Kuba Kyrgyz]

Credit-card sized bomb in jeans' back pocket, note in English, with instructions for her, trance induced by note, getting into a taxi alone on her free will (security cameras picked that on up)
-

This was an alien abduction. Whoa!!!

[Kuba Kyrgyz]

Found interesting posting by
CdnGhost

http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/672198221/m/1090012680001/p/5

My forté is photography.
My opinions are my own based entirely upon what I have observed. If I'm in error, please alllow me to apologise in advance.

It was reported by both her family and by the military that she was beaten. I find that odd.
After increasing the pixel count, of the only available photo released since her return, to 3600 pixels per inch, I examined her face.
Other than a pimple on the end of her chin and a few smudges of dirt on her cheeks (of identical composition and colour), I found no idendications of a beating.
If she was beaten about the torso, the pain from that beating should've impeaded her 30 mile marathon run to freedom in which case it's unlikely she could've accomplished the run in a single day's time. It's unlikely that she would have found safe drinking water during the course of her run, but not impossible. Since there are no signs of dehydration, I must assume that she remained adquately hydrated throughout her run.
A thirty mile run, by a trained marathon runner, without support from the sidelines, takes about ten hours, but that marathon runner hasn't been beatn.
With these items in mind she'd have had to have started her run early the day before and run through the night.
Why then does she appear so well-rested after her gruelling ordeal?
The sides of her nose are more inflammed than the rest of her obviously sunburned nose and face, suggesting suggesting the presence of sunglasses. No sun protecting devices were reported on her person when she was found. Where are the sunglasses?

There are many questions yet to be answered about this young officer's disappearance and subsequent re-appearance.
The answers, assuming they don't conflict so diametrically as the reports thus far, should prove very interesting.

[Kuba Kyrgyz]

Screenshot from TsUM surveillance video.
Major Metzger is leaving the mall alone, with no visible coercion.
http://delo.ktnet.kg/2006/30/images/0202.jpg

[Frank Warner]

I have the feeling there will be no new developments in this case until or unless Metzger admits she was lying, or until or unless the Air Force charges her with AWOL.

[jj mollo]

When I was a bit younger I could easily have walked 30 miles in less than 10 hours, at least over relatively flat ground. We're talking twenty minutes per mile here. At night you could do it without water.

She could have gotten the sunburn before she lost the glasses, assuming your hypothesis is correct.

[Kuba Kyrgyz]

But Cloack & Dagger games cannot be dismissed. What if, Jill's case was a red herring to cover up altogether different story, just to avert an attention?

These kind of things did happen in the past in Kyrgyzstan.

Few years back, US spy Edmond Pope was arrested in Kyrgyzstan by Russian FSB for trying to get details on new Russian secret lightning fast SKVAL (sqall) torpedos. Those torpedos are tested in Kyrgyzstan. (Kyrgyztan used to be traditional torpedo manufacturer for Soviet Military Complex during Soviet Times, these military ties with Russia seem to be reviving again for the first time since the break-up of the USSR. Russians are interested in investing to former Soviet Military plants in Kyrgyzstan. Some of the factories already started functioning.)

http://www.listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?A2=ind0101&L=cloaks-and-daggers&T=0&P=193

Lightning Stab

The Pope case centers on the Squall, a fearsome weapon that has fascinated western military officials for years. It screams through the water at up to 300 mph, five times the speed of other torpedoes. One Russian submarine designer, resorting to braggadocio in an essay, compared a Squall attack to "the lightning stab of a dagger."

Unique in maritime history, the 27-foot-long torpedo can go so fast because at top speed its oddly shaped nose creates a vapor bubble around its entire length. Water does not touch its metal skin, so drag is dramatically reduced.

Hoping to reverse-engineer the torpedo to learn how to defend against it, the Pentagon and its allies have tried for years to lay hands on the Squall. Some British arms experts were deported from Russia several years ago after asking questions about it.

At his trial, Pope's lawyers hammered on the point that one version, the Squall-E, has been described in books and magazines, and has even been marketed at defense expositions. But despite attempts by various governments to buy it, only one deal is known to have been consummated: China bought as many as 40 Squalls in the mid-1990s.

[Kuba Kyrgyz]

Hmmm. Very interesting.
******
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4980313,00.html

The couple met in 2003 at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Not long after they met, Mayo broke his leg making a slide tackle.
***
Then, there was a bad omen then for poor Josh. Sort of Heaven's warning.
***
Maj. Jill Metzger, 33, and Capt. Joshua Mayo, 26, on their wedding day this year.
***
This one makes me ponder about unusual age difference. Not very much ordinary couple, I'd say.

[jj mollo]

She keeps in good shape and outranks him. That makes her more attractive. I don't believe it's that unusual anyway.

Supercavitation weapons cannot be steered. The same trick that reduces friction makes it impossible to change direction without collapsing the bubble. So, it seems to me that they are short range weapons. Which implies that the enemy has to get close to make them effective. Which implies that they will not be used against US warships, at least not since the Cole. Why would they be testing these things in Kyrgyzstan, which is, I believe, a landlocked nation of mountains?

[Kuba Kyrgyz]

"Why would they be testing these things in Kyrgyzstan, which is, I believe, a landlocked nation of mountains?"

1) Issyk Kul in Kyrgyzstan is the third biggest lake in the world.
And the lake never freezes, making it perfect round-year test site.

USSR used to test torpedoes in the Black Sea first. But after some incidents with torpedoes falling into hands of Western spies, test site was transferred to Kyrgyzstan. Used to be convenient place with no spies around.

Well, supercavitation torpedoes are meant to be used from submarines.

There are reports that China is ordering squall torpedoes, antiship Granit missiles and submarines and heavy bomber aircrafts from Russia in large quantities. I guess, that China will try to invade Taiwan next year. There are some indications for that. It is a perfect time when US is tied up with foolish anti-Arab crusade, I guess.

[Kuba Kyrgyz]

Shkval - unguided

"Shkval 2" - Current version; guided, much longer range.

The Granit is anti-ship guided missile designed to sink American aircraft-carriers.

[Pam]

Anything new on this, Frank? I've been following the story, but there's not much on the news about it. As the wife of a career military officer, I am very supportive of our military men and women. But it has sure sounded strange to me from the beginning. God bless her if she's telling the truth. But many of our men and women, including one of my husband's buddies and the husband of one of my friends, have been killed bravely performing their military duties. If she's lying, it's an abomination, and I hope she is punished.

[Frank Warner]

Nothing new, Pam. There's a 99 percent chance she wasn't kidnapped. The Air Force and Jill Metzger are trying to figure out a way to tell the truth.