WI - Audrey Seiler for faking abduction, Madison, 2004

[mindys]

Did you guys catch in one of those links, Audrey's Mom is a Behavior Specialist at a Middle School!? :doh: I couldn't believe it, I thought, oh man and she couldn't see/sense things were really wrong??

 

[Marthatex]

Since when do schools hire "behavioral specialists"? Is that a fancy name for counselor? Here in Texas we just have teachers and counselors. Maybe Minnesota is not having the financial crunch that we are having in Texas public schools. That would be pretty ironic if her mother were a psychologist more or less. But, then again, maybe that was why Audrey had to be "perfect". I have heard the joke that psychologist and psychiatrist's children are often some of the most messed up. Don't know if that is true or not. But at least the family can probably afford help for their child.

 

[LvsAMystry]

Why not spend the money on paying back society and teach your daughter the lesson of culpability and responsibility, instead hiding behind a high-priced lawyer thereby making society/police spend more resources/time trying to get straight answers?

I don't think the parents should pay for any of it because she is of adult age. Also, paying society back for her wouldn't teach her responsibility and culpability, that would only come if she herself paid the money back.

That all said, I'm not sure yet where I stand on her being fiscally responsible. I guess I'll stay on the fence until I learn more about her mental health status.

 

[Invisible]

I would be out of my mind with worry. I would think of all of the terrible things that could be happening to her. I would probably just have to be sedated...I could not stand it for one minute not knowing where she was and if she was still alive.

My daughter is a freshman in college and lives in a dorm. I worry about her, but I know I have to let her grow up. This story particularly caught my interest because I just worry about my daughter out there on her own with so many creeps out there lurking. It's one of my biggest fears.

If something happened to my child, I honestly think I would just give up living. I couldn't bear to think of what might have happened to her and the fear and pain that she might have felt had she been abducted. So, I am just devastated and sadly disappointed that someone would do this to their parents. I don't know what should happen to her and I will try and understand what happened, but this has left a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[BirdieBoo]

Since when do schools hire "behavioral specialists"? Is that a fancy name for counselor? Here in Texas we just have teachers and counselors. Maybe Minnesota is not having the financial crunch that we are having in Texas public schools. That would be pretty ironic if her mother were a psychologist more or less. But, then again, maybe that was why Audrey had to be "perfect". I have heard the joke that psychologist and psychiatrist's children are often some of the most messed up. Don't know if that is true or not. But at least the family can probably afford help for their child.

Courtney Love's mother is a well-known psychologist. Take that however you want.

 

[WISCer]

Marthatex, a behavior specialist in Texas is probably what Louisiana calls a behavior interventionist. In LA, the Beh Int is usually a school psychologist who specializes in writing behavior modification plans for students.

BTW, I hope that it isn't true that psychologist and psychiatrist's having "messed up" kids....I'm doing the best I can. :crazy:

 

[Marthatex]

I love Louisiana; used to live in Baton Rouge. I think most of us are doing the best we can - I have one child that copes well and another who goes to a different drummer. Love 'em both. I have several psychologists and psychiatrists between my and my husband's family. We're an interesting bunch.

 

[WISCer]

I love Louisiana; used to live in Baton Rouge. I think most of us are doing the best we can - I have one child that copes well and another who goes to a different drummer. Love 'em both. I have several psychologists and psychiatrists between my and my husband's family. We're an interesting bunch.

I've always been told it didn't matter how many children you had, they would all be different. Well, I've found it to be true. My 4 year old was soooooo "easy" as a baby. I told my husband that our 4 month old would be the one to give us a run for our money.

 

[Lilybug1]

I don't think the parents should pay for any of it because she is of adult age. Also, paying society back for her wouldn't teach her responsibility and culpability, that would only come if she herself paid the money back.

That all said, I'm not sure yet where I stand on her being fiscally responsible. I guess I'll stay on the fence until I learn more about her mental health status.

No, I just mean that if you're going to spend the money, why not spend it on paying back the harm and loss you've caused, instead shielding your daughter from what she did. It would have been much proactive and set a better example, if the parents explored and offered to pay the $70k back - after all, if you have $70k to hire a high-profile attorney to shield your daughter, why not? She will learn culpability and responsibility...bc her parents can have her pay it back over time...also, even if her parents were paying for it, Audrey sees herself as an extension of parents and would feel responsible for her parents paying it back.

 

[Marthatex]

The thing is, she needed an attorney if she was likely to be charged with misdemeanors or even a felony. That doesn't mean that in the future they won't try to make some kind of restitution, or make Audrey do so. But we don't even know all the facts of the situation do we, including her mental state? The best thing they can do for society is get their daughter help and take responsibility for what happened. When people commit crimes, like robbery or murder, noone pays the police back or pays society back. Those people go to jail, which takes even more money and then get let out again and sometimes commit more crimes. Nobody pays back for the unnecessary police chase, all the security alarms that go off and the police run out to the house. That is their job, and some of it is productive and some of it is a terrible waste of time and human lives. No one pays back the police widow when her husband is shot.

What Audrey did is unfortunate, but her life can be straightened out and no one was harmed. The parents are taking steps; give them a break.

 

[johnny]

Why hasn't this been moved? Thanks for the answer Ghost!

 

[Ghostwheel]

My guess is because they were busy changing owners, setting up new servers, importing databases, and changing the main page. It will probably get moved when everything is settled.

 

[Lilybug1]

Very true, Marthatex.

I understand that people need lawyers when they are charged with misdemeanors, etc. It's possible that if Audrey cooperated and paid restitution, it wouldn't need to get there and no charges would ever be filed. As far as the average person charged with a crime such as stealing, etc., you're right they don't pay society back but they also don't end up getting high-priced attorneys. Those that do - let's say, those charged with white-collar crimes, do often pay hefty fines and restitution.

It's good to be hopeful about this situation. As an attorney in a large law firm, I can tell you that our jobs as high-priced attorneys in high-profile cases is not to lay out the cards. We are here to protect our client at all costs and limit their liability. We make the prosecutors'/police's job more difficult, not easier. Good luck getting answers and/or any restitution with a high-priced lawyers in the picture.

 

[Newswolf]

http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=wsj:2004:04:06:368049:FRONT

"Except for a $100 police obstruction ticket, it could be difficult for the city to recoup any of the estimated $100,000 it spent in the Audrey Seiler investigation.
Assistant City Attorney Larry O'Brien said Monday that "there's virtually no possibility" the city would be allowed under state law to sue Seiler for costs related to her fake abduction."

-------
"The only hope for recouping any of those expenses may be if Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard files criminal charges against the 20-year-old UW-Madison sophomore. If convicted, a judge could order restitution.

But even then, the city might still be prohibited from collecting the money, O'Brien said. The city might not qualify as a "victim" under the restitution law, he said."

http://wisc.com/

"Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard still hasn't made a decision about charging Audrey Seiler with some type of crime for an elaborate abduction hoax. "

Story says the DA won't make a decision on any charges till the end of this week..."case is still very fluid".

 

[Bubble1421]

This just doesn't make sense to me. I can't see how no one saw any problems. There had to have been some signs or something. Don't get me wrong. I am overjoyed that she was found alive. She screwed up when she claimed she was kidnapped though. Had she left it as "I wanted to be alone" then there basically is nothing they can do to her. There is nothing against the law for someone to walk away from their house with out telling anyone if they are of legal age. This actually just occurred here in California. A 57 year old woman left her "perfect" home while her husband was on a business trip. When he returned he found her purse and keys still inside the house. It was reported that she had lunch with her daughter the same day she was discovered missing. She was gone for 11 days. She was staying in the boiler room of her own Condo for a majority of the time. She showed up on the door step of her house dehydrated and disoriented around 10:30pm. The police basically said "She has the right to disappear. She has the right to walk away and not tell anyone where she is going." It was treated as any other missing person case. A search was done for her too. I don't think it was near the size that was done for Audrey. So far, there is no talk of any lawsuits or legal matters against her for leaving probably because she didn't claim to have been involved in any foul play.

___
Just my opinion..........

 

[MysteryMomma]

I too find it hard to believe no one in Audrey's life noticed she was struggling with some issues. I remember seeing an interview with her room mate, a reporter asked her if she noticed Audrey having any problems that might lead her to fake her kidnapping. The response was something like "nothing big". I didn't understand her statement. Did she mean Audrey did have recognizeable problems or just normal college student stuff. In an interview with a doctor, I think a phychiatrist, the doc pointed out the resemblence of the sketch or the "adductor" to Audrey's father. I thought that was interesting.

I personally don't think we will ever know why Audrey fabricated this huge story. I do think she needs mental health counseling and to do some community service and pay a fine. Hell, the fire dept in CA sends you a bill for a false fire alarm. Audrey sure set off a false man hunt.

This is my first post. And I just wanted to say hello to everyone! A lil' info on me, I'm a SAHM with a 3 yr old son. If anyone has any tips on how to get a boy to go number "2" on the potty pm me.....lol

 

[Newswolf]

Now she has gone home to MN and is said to be happy to be out of the middle of things --things she created.

http://fresnobee.com/24hour/nation/story/1275608p-8366736c.html

 

[lcookster]

Welcome Mystery Mama! News, that article you just posted-grrrr! You are right, she created a spectacle and even upon her return home she is greeted by a welcome wagon. I feel somewhat sorry for the misguided girl but I think there needs to be an apology or statement from the family. A lot of people gave up their time to search for her, pray for her etc..

 

[WISCer]

Just a guess....but given that she is enjoying being in the middle of things (as per Newswolf's post) and it appears as tho now one around her had a clue (at least that is what they want the public to believe)....she may have a personality disorder. If that be the case then she would be a VERY good liar and VERY good at being manipulative and VERY good at making others (family and friends) believe everything that came out of her mouth. She would enjoy the "drama" and being the victim. It is very hard to treat someone with a personality disorder because they are so good at lying that it is hard for even the therapist to know whether they're being honest. I'm making these conclusions, of course, based on the small amount of info we've received from the family and attorney....so I could be wrong. :blushing:

 

[MysteryMomma]

Isn't Audrey's major in "communications disorders"........I heard that on either CNN or FoxNews. That sure sums her up from the outside looking in. I'm still stuck on how the drawing of her "kidnapper" resembles her father........this girl has had problems for years....in my opinion.

I have been around people with mental illnesses and personalities disorders, both diagnosed and undiagonosed......unless you have your head buried in the sand you can tell something is off bigtime.....