Hundreds of residents from Minnesota traveled to Madison, Wisconsin to help.
Residents of the community stopped what they were doing for 4-5 days to help.
Hundreds prayed. Hundreds searched. Posters were put up. Buttons were made.
The police and law enforcement of the local community poured hundreds to thousands of man hours in this investigation. The local and national media poured tons of resources into this story in order to ‘get it out there’ - in the hope of helping and aiding the poor girl.
People searched. Citizens locked their doors, scared.
Alas! The girl was found in a marsh area not two miles from the location of her apartment. She was in good health - just a little dehydrated and exhausted. She was abducted an knife point in this Midwest town! The police released a composite drawing of the suspect. They searched and investigated.
A candlelight vigil turned into a celebration; a local Domino’s sent free pizzas and the Rockford Fire Department brought a ladder truck that hoisted an American flag.
Until . . . things just didn’t add up. Police found a video surveillance tape from a local store that showed her purchasing rope and duct tape. Items, she said, were used in her abduction. A search of her computer revealed her interest in local marshes and parks - - and a report of the weather conditions for 5 days.
It turns out - she was lying. Audrey Seiler LIED about being abducted. Why? A cry for attention can be my only conclusion. She staged the abduction in order to all attention to herself - a straight A, 4.0 college student whom people around her describe as “happy - and not someone you would think would do something like this.”
Two things come to mind.
Why would the national media be so quick to pick up on a story of a missing 20 year old, adult woman in all of it’s Amber Alert fashion? I mean, yes- it’s always better to be safe, than sorry - - but why pick up on the story so immediately? How many adults take some time to be alone? How many adults take off for a day, or two? She explains herself by saying she just ‘wanted to be alone’
The city of Madison has released a preliminary figure of $70,000 that it cost the city, so far, in the investigation. Not to mention the cost to this girl’s family, friends and community. Do I think she is a disturbed woman who is in desperate need of some quality mental health assistance? Yep! Do I think she should be brought up on charges, at the very least, for obstruction of justice? Yea - I do. I mean, poor poor college girl with mental problems, and all that - but I also think she should pay SOME price for the disruption she caused to a community.
9:12 pm on April 2nd, 2004
I so agree with you. And am equally baffled how the media picks which cases to exploit.
8:55 am on April 3rd, 2004
She wanted time alone? So take it. Don’t create a media circus. That’s why if you make a false report that has the fire dept off somewhere else, you can be charged - you are pulling away resources that could otherwise be used for their original purpose! Good grief.
2:46 pm on April 4th, 2004
My mother was upset over this girls disappearance down in Georgia. I wasted my long distance minutes talking about this girl. She is definitely in need of some therapy but she should be brought up on charges. The next time a college girl goes missing this episode will pop into peoples’ minds and it won’t be forgotten…
1:11 am on April 5th, 2004
Isn’t that just the thing, Sandy? As if we weren’t cynical enough in life - along comes this girl, crying wolf - hopefully she doesn’t ruin it for the next person who really does find themselves in trouble. Pathetic!
4:14 pm on April 5th, 2004
Completely agree. Charge the girl: actions have consequences. Also, agree that the media makes those consequences inordinate sometimes.