I agree IF that is the correct timeline. But you don’t find it odd that you would wait over 30 minutes to call anyone when it is freezing temps outside, garage door open, and you have a sick 12 year old girl who was home alone for 1.5 hours and notice that she isn’t home? Or would you also wrap some presents first? I think the first thing any normal person would do is call the person who dropped her off to confirm.
*If* the timeline is correct. Good point, we don’t know if it is or isn’t.
I am a very overprotective parent, so yes, I find it very strange. But looking at this from a different lens, I grew up in the 80’s and am just a couple of years younger than Jonelle. I was allowed to come and go as I pleased. My parents would not have been worried in the slightest. They would have assumed I was at a friends. As far as being sick goes, I remember a few times where I stayed home sick from school and by the time the evening rolled around if I was feeling better I was allowed to go play, ride my bike, or go to a friends.
I can absolutely see my parents calling a friend before calling the police. I just sent my mom a text and she said she would have assumed I was with a friend, just like every single other time I wasn’t home. She said that back then parents didn’t have to assume the worst like we tend to now.
My parents were very relaxed. I am over the top opposite, but growing up the way I did I can understand why Jim did what he did.
As far as wrapping presents goes, no I don’t think I would. But, I guess if we go with the premise that Jim wasn’t as concerned as you or I would be then maybe he was just trying to give her a bit of time to get home. He was probably trying to convince himself everything was okay and wrapping presents would be a good distraction.
As far as Jonelle being sick goes, I would imagine that wasn’t a big deal as far as her not being home goes. If she was well enough to go to school and well enough to perform in a concert after school I wouldn’t be too worried about the sick angle.
In the 80’s, I was home by myself all the time from as early as third grade. Same with most of my friends too.
Absolutely I would call the friend’s dad who gave her a ride home to see where she was. Immediately! But, here’s the thing, according to the Crime Junkie podcast released this week, Jonelle’s ride home wasn’t prearranged. So, Jim wouldn’t have known who took her home so how would he have called?
I can’t imagine not having a ride prearranged. No way! But, again, looking at this through the lens of how my parents would have done things, they would have left it up to me to arrange my own ride home. They would have known I had friends at the concert, maybe even friends who lived in the same neighborhood. I’m sure Jim and Jonelle had the conversation that he wasn’t going to be able to pick her up and she needed to find a ride home. Come to think of it, of course they had that conversation, because if they didn’t, Jonelle would have expected her dad to pick her up.
I totally understand people saying they wouldn’t have done things the way Jim did. I wouldn’t have either. I feel very bad for him. I’m sure he regrets that he didn’t do things differently.
