Vanishing Major: Runaway Bride or Kidnap Victim?
EmailU.S. defense officials tell ABC News that serious inconsistencies have emerged in the investigation of the strange disappearance of Air Force Major Jill Metzger. Maj. Metzger vanished without a trace while shopping at a store in Kyrgyzstan on Sept. 5 until she just as mysteriously reappeared three days later.
Sources tell ABC News that surveillance video taken in the store contradict the Major’s story that she was abducted after someone put a hard object in her back pocket along with a note saying that it was an explosive. The video indicates that she left the store of her own free will, and alone, according to sources who have seen the video.
As investigators gather all the facts surrounding the case, they are exploring the possibility that she was attempting to flee a recent marriage, according to one source close to the investigation. When she was found, her hair had been cropped short and dyed. If Maj. Metzger was abducted, investigators will continue to work with local police in a criminal case. However, if she left on her own and she was not DUSTWUN — Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown – she will be reclassified as AWOL — Absent Without Leave– and open to punishment by the Uniform Code of Military Justice. A lower ranking enlisted person might just get a reprimand, but officers are held to a higher standard.
Maj. Metzger is currently at Landstuhl Air Force Base undergoing medical treatment and debriefing. She will return to the U.S. within the next three to four days to undergo further care and debriefing at Walter Reed Medical Center. Despite the fact that she is a two-time winner, Metzger will not be running in this weekend’s Air Force Marathon as planned.
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Hmmm, people can disappear, reappear, get away with muder (O.J. Simpson), and if you are rich get away with anything including drunk driving.
Posted by: B. Smithey | September 11, 2006, 9:45 pm 9:45 pm
As I watched “The Path to 9/11″ I felt like I was watching the J.F.K. movie again. Conspiracy? our government is still hiding important information from its people. Even if half of the movie, (The Path to 9/11), is true we as Americans should brace ourselves for another attack on our soil. We are not any safer today then we were on 9/11/2001. I have three children ages 12, 10, and 5. I wonder everyday when I leave to go to work if I will ever see them again. We live in fear now and forever. If we can’t take a bottle of water on an airplane we should not be able to walk into a farm store and purchase Ammonium Nitrate without a back ground check. I have been a high school hockey coach for 11 years and I was finger printed, questioned, and went through a back ground check. It seems if we know about something that can cause harm to us, we will not take action to prevent more harm. Examples (Oklohoma city, 9/11, and ammonium nitrate bombs) I think we should pay close attention to our informants we have in other countries. I hope to God we will never have to relive another 9/11/2001, but I think that is wishfull thinking. I am very proud to be an American, we live in the best country because we have other Americans that are fighting for our freedom. I salute all those who defend us everyday!!
Sincerely,
D. Scott Little
Posted by: D. Scott Little | September 11, 2006, 11:29 pm 11:29 pm
Well, doesn’t matter if you are a runner or not. Do the crime pay the time.
Posted by: L. Floor | September 11, 2006, 11:50 pm 11:50 pm
Dear Mr Smithy,
Your words hit home with this reader. Thank you for writing them as I’m sure most of our country totally agrees with you.
Sincerely,
Jim Heintzelman
Posted by: James T Heintzelman | September 12, 2006, 1:05 am 1:05 am
I applaud ABC for its “Path to 911″ While it may have been extrapolations and approximations combined with facts, it raises serious questions about Who is running the show and why can’t we stop protecting departmental turf in the interests of national security?
Citizens deserve more than our government has given us.
Thank you ABC for your courage in this presentaion.
Sincerely,
Paul Lingren
Posted by: Paul Lingren | September 12, 2006, 1:26 am 1:26 am
Bill Clinton should not be the whipping boy for the GOP. Let’s face up to the fact that George W. Bush has caused the loss of trust of the United States as well as the greatest debt the country has ever had. Instead of making friends and being able to help financially, Bush has caused us to be hated and to lose the ability to provide financial aid.
Posted by: George Robison | September 12, 2006, 1:40 am 1:40 am
I have to give ABC credit for allowing this movie to air. Although it was obvious the Clinton administration was given a pass on several accounts in the movie, I still think people will come away knowing that there were definite failures under their watch. Had they spent the 8 years of their term responding to the threats of these terrorists, we might not have had a 9-11. The Bush administration was also asleep at the wheel when the 9-11 attack occurred, but I do feel safer with President Bush’s policies they are trying to implement now despite tremendous opposition from the Democrats. If the Democrats had been more supportive and cooperative instead of more concerned with gaining their power back, we would be in a much better position in our fight against terrorism today.
Posted by: Keith Whatley | September 12, 2006, 1:52 am 1:52 am
” the path to 911″ was very well done, airing it without commercial breaks was a stroke of genius..unfortunately it only confirmed my belief that politics as usual trumps intelligence…GOD help us as we refuse to face and understand the threat facing us….I really dont particurly care if, for example, the French dont like us…I just sort of like being alive…….and expect my tax dollars to be utilized to keep me and my family that way….
Posted by: n farrell | September 12, 2006, 1:52 am 1:52 am
“Innocent til proven guilty.” Major Metzger will no doubt have her opportunity to be proven innocent or guilty by the military UCMJ. One interesting observation – without pre-judging:
I’ve never read of Al-Qaida members or any other terrorists kidnapping someone (male or female) and making them cut and dye their hair. [In fact the middle easterners prefer long hair.]
Posted by: R. Costello | September 12, 2006, 3:22 am 3:22 am
After watching The Path to 911. It reminds me of the events leading up to Pearl Harbor. It is sad that it has to take a tragedy to wake up our country to preserve our freedoms, and make our country safe for future generations. To accomplish this our people will have to be united, responsible citizens,and have trust in our government. I sometimes feel that our country has seen its best times,but I hope and pray that is not the case. God bless our troops and country. Land of the free and home of the brave.
Blue Skies Always,
Bill McKinney,Veteran
Posted by: Bill McKinney | September 12, 2006, 4:50 am 4:50 am
Another Jennifer Wilbanks? The thought crossed my mind as soon as I read the story.
Posted by: Richard Weed | September 12, 2006, 4:51 am 4:51 am
I think you should have written ‘I live in fear’ rather that ‘we live in fear’. Personally I do not live in fear, and do not leave my house everyday wondering if I will see my family again because of a terrorist attack. I do think we are at risk. I don’t think we can ever be made completely safe because there is no way to foresee every possibilty. I also believe we have a President who is doing a good job in this area. Unfortunately he not only has to battle the terrorists, but also a complicit media who seem to want the terrorists to succeed.
Posted by: J. Johnson | September 12, 2006, 8:26 am 8:26 am
A majority of Americans believe Saddam was involved in 9/11. A majority of Muslims believe Arabs were not involved in 9/11. Gosh isn’t propaganda powerful – and so very dangerous. Perhaps its time to give truth a chance. If the people of the earth were allowed to get to know one another perhaps they would stop hating one another.
Posted by: geneonlbk | September 12, 2006, 8:59 am 8:59 am
I think Major Metzger along with a few others disagree with this war and do not want to fight it. Back when WWI and WWII were going on, the soldiers agreed that the fight was necessary and saw results within a couple of years. We are not seeing any results. I believe the major wanted and could have disappeared forever. She just wanted to run the marathon this weekend!
Posted by: J. Young | September 12, 2006, 9:10 am 9:10 am
Yesterday, as i sat at my work cubical, i was compelled to log into this and other news websites and watched some of the coverage on the memorial services and the “looking back” clips. At the time of the attacks, i was 23 and had a different view of the world. As the years went by i heard about consperioscy theories and cover ups. I’ve also heard statements like people knew that this was going to take place or the government turned a blind eye to what was going to take place. In 2001 i saw the same footage of the twin towers, and at that time i didnt know what to feel. Yesterday, as i sat and watched the different coverage, it hit me like i was seeing the images for the first time. Tears streamed down my face as i saw the planes hit one after the other. The thing that stuck me the most was when i watched the special on the passengers of flight 93. One person imparticular stood out to me the most. It was a younge woman who was reflecting on the last conversation with her sister when before the plane crashed. her sister only had one phone call and a few seconds to say her good byes and express her love for her family. I could feel her pain when she talked about how her sister tried to remember last minute details like the location of her will and the combination to her safe. I could not imagine how it would feel to be a passenger on that plane or the loved one who had to sit helplessly on the other line. I sobbed openly. I realized that the emotions and the reaction i was having, was different because for the first time, the people became real to me. It was no longer about the blame game or theories of who knew. I dont think anyone living in this nation under god could knowingly let this happen to another human being. A lot of people do not agree in the way Bush is handling the War on Terror, but after yesterday i realize one thing; that after that devistating day in our nations history SOMETHING had to be done. We couldn’t stand by and debate about what to do. We had to take action and I now believe that that is what Bush ,in his own way ,was trying to do. He was and is still trying to protect our way of life. Pulling troops out of Irac will not make the problem go way. We as a nation need to stand by our leaders and stop the blaming. I dont believe that any administration would knowing let so many people be murdered or so many lives be affected.
Posted by: donielle | September 12, 2006, 10:35 am 10:35 am
D. Scott Little,
This was an article about a runaway bride. I think you want the article about national security.
Posted by: M. Johnson | September 12, 2006, 11:06 am 11:06 am
ink space taken up by trivial story. No news here……
Posted by: dreek | September 12, 2006, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
Watching the 9/11 tribute yesterday, I still cried for all the lifes lost on that horrific day. I am very angry when I read and hear the democrats blaming the republicans for what has happened.
9/11 was bound to happen. The USS Cole was attacked, our bases in Africa were attacked and we did NOTHING. Why? Was that Bush and the republicans fault too. Today in NY blame is being placed on former Mayer Juliano because it was his “responsibility” to make sure the people were safe. All I can say all of you who have big mouths now, where were you on 9/11/01???? Nowhere to be seen. Eveyrone one of you made your big appearance at a baseball stadium or week slater. So if you didn’t put up then, SHUT UP now. Maybe if you were telling the people what YOU are going to do if you get in office instead of blaming the other guy, more people would get out and vote. I am proud to be an American, I support my troups and I am ashamed of our polititians, placing the blame on the other guy
Posted by: M Burns | September 12, 2006, 4:58 pm 4:58 pm
Thank you abc for having the guts to air “The Path to 911.” The American people need to understand that 9/11 wasn’t a one time thing ….We’ve been under attack for more that 10 years.
Posted by: Bell | September 12, 2006, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
Oh wonderful, a bunch of professed ABC viewers fawning over an ABC fantasy production of a fantasy world that never existed (on a board that is supposed to be about a kidnapped US Soldier).
What else could we expect from the cough syrup crowd?
Their kids watch Disney and they watch Disney for “gwownups.”
Posted by: droid | September 12, 2006, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
Something doesn’t sound right here to me yet I am not saying Maj Metzger wasn’t kidnapped. If she pulled the object out of her back pocket and held it long enough in her hand to read and follow the instructions, why didn’t she scream out loud that it was a bomb to warn others rather than follow the instructions and put herself in harms way of being kidnapped? Why didn’t she contact the authorities immediately or have the store employees contact them? If she only understands English, the note must have been written in English. She left on her own free will from the store? So, this tells me that no one else must have been in the video threatening her physically. No one grabbing her arm…no one escorting her out with force. Again, why would anyone take this object out of their pocket, read that it is a bomb, and follow the instructions? Doesn’t sound like most would trust the instructions if they came from someone that just placed a bomb in their pocket. Nothing was said about it being strapped to her. My question is, what else did the note say to make her take these actions? Did it say the bomb was being radio controlled from a distance? If so, then I could understand. Maj. Metzger…glad you are safe.
Posted by: Peggy | September 12, 2006, 7:08 pm 7:08 pm
p.s.
Other questions to consider. Did she remember someone bumping into her or have some explanation as to how the object got in her back pocket in the first place? How long might it have been in her pocket before she noticed it there?
Posted by: Peggy | September 12, 2006, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm
nothing but sheep.
who cares about a major in the air force who is mentally unstable.
this is not news.
Posted by: the onion | September 12, 2006, 9:02 pm 9:02 pm
everyone is innocent until proven guilty… i think it’s time to get our soldiers out….. maybe she was kidnapped.. or maybe she just snapped after being deployed for so long in a war that should of ended a long time ago….god bless our troops!!
..proud military wife of a soldier who is also deployed….
Posted by: cg | September 12, 2006, 11:25 pm 11:25 pm
Regarding Major Metzger,AWOL is one thing but filing a false police report is entirely another. This situation is considered an international incident and if it turns out to be false, will cause great embarrassment to the US which the Brass will not let pass without serious penalty.
Posted by: Charlie | September 13, 2006, 12:14 am 12:14 am
Story sounds fishy to me. The embassy lawyers figured it out early and ‘spirited’ Maj Metzger out of the country. Otherwise, she could be charged in a local court with filing a false report. As it is, if she made up the story, she will be accused of violation of Article 86 (Unauthorized Absence – AWOL) and making false official statements. Her military career will be over, but no jail time.
She was probably having one last fling with a boyfriend prior to having to leave the country and resume her married life. Might make a good TV “Movie of the Week.”
Posted by: JimyKing | September 13, 2006, 5:52 am 5:52 am
The liberal media doesn’t want you to know that she was kidnapped by aliens. Unfortunately, they weren’t the same friendly aliens who gave the US Velcro, microwave ovens, and most of our politicians. As such, they were forced to go to Iran for nuclear fuel and tried to use her in trade.
Posted by: Poor Richard | September 14, 2006, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm
I’ve been stationed and Manas Air Base and have been to the Tsum Market countless times. The Kyrgyz people are a decent people and conditions are safe. We have a huge American ExPat community there. Ok, here’s what happened. Our good Major had a fling behind her husband’s back while assigned to Manas and got knocked up. She wanted to have an abortion before she returned home. She sought the help of a Manas Air Base Third Country National (TCN) employee thinking she could undergo a same day outpatient abortion. It didn’t happen as planned. She experienced complications. The doctor wouldn’t release her. She panicked and faked her abduction once she realized she wouldn’t make Col Reese’s stupidly imposed 22:00 hour curfew. That’s what happened. Period. She’s embarrased her nation and in the process, she has strained relations with the American Embassy in Bishkek and the Kyrgyz Ministry of Interior. Next time I go to Kyrgyzstan I’ll be scorned by the local population and the Ministry officials and businessmen with whom I must interact. Thanks Jill Metzger. If the Air Force has any sense of integrity and honor, they’ll throw the UCMJ book at her – Adultery, Conduct unbecoming, Unauthorized Absence. Her career is over. What a dumbass. No wonder the Air Force made her a Personnel Officer. She might be a champion marathoner, but she can’t run away from this idiotic episode.
Posted by: Buster | October 5, 2006, 7:28 am 7:28 am