My Turn For a Rant--Fake Kidnappings

[JoeyGee]

Why can't we get a law passed that makes it more than a misdemeanor (filing a false report) for claiming a false kidnapping?

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs...EWS03/71211001

I know there was one last year with a runaway bride, now we have the above local story that made national headlines. When the story first broke, I was very suspicious, as the details just didn't add up.

The FBI got involved in this, as the "incident" crossed state lines. We will all have to pay the cost of the man hours involved in this investigation. IIRC, the runaway bride last year received community service. Kidnapping across state lines is a Federal crime. Shouldn't making a false claim of the same be a similar crime?

[Slik Geek]

The problem is that a stiffer penalty will likely result in prison time, which costs society even more. How about a stiff financial penalty to pay for the associated expense, one that garnishes wages and IRS tax returns (or seizes assests). That might be an effective discouragement of false reports.

If the culprit still fails to pay their debt, then send them to work camp and get something out of them.

[cabinetman]

They should make it a felony. That's as crazy as a story here about a sheriffs deputy that stabbed herself on duty and claimed it happened in a struggle.
.

[JoeyGee]

She's a lawyer, so there is talk of her being dis-barred, but I'm not holding my breath. I don't know much about the family, but her father (a judge) and her husband (a minister) have appeared to be well-respected in the community. She herself is a former city-council woman. It's a real shame all around.

[LCHIEN]

up to her eyeballs in debt, too. Makes people do crazy things, like that couple in England who disappeared her husband for 5 years, claiming the insuarance while he snuck in the house through a secret entrance and lived in the closet. Then he faked amnesia to return to life when he got tired of his lifestyle.

[scmhogg]

Loring,

The most disgusting thing about the scam you refer to, is the fact that both the husband and wife let their two sons believe that their father was dead for five years.

Steve