Friday, November 7, 2008

Kidnapping Update

Yes, my mother-in-law is on her way home and should be arriving early this evening. In the same clothes she had on when she left--she's been wearing them the whole time.

UPDATE: She's at her home now, and in the clean clothes I brought over for her. This is ScottieDog, Mom, and Big Brother, all of whom are very much relieved.


HOW IT WENT DOWN:
Scottiedog was advised by a psychiatrist at his work (who was formerly a lawyer) to call the FBI (though I thought it would be fruitless), and they ended up taking over the whole rescue mission. They also called up a Chicago PD squad car, since "Sarah" has been known to lose her temper pretty aggressively.

Turned out "Sarah" was at home, so it was great they got involved!! (Otherwise, poor big brother!!) She was not at all pleased, but apparently felt it would be fruitless to try to stop them from taking Mom, so everything went pretty easily. Big brother got Mom out right away, leaving the FBI agents there, and when we got an update from them, they said "Sarah" just refused to talk to them. Which is a lot better than being aggressive.

No charges are being brought. The FBI definitely considers this a kidnapping, but they say when it is inter-family, the prosecutors tend not to prosecute because it's usually not a winning case. HOWEVER, they felt it was their duty to help resolve it so no one got hurt. Hooray for the FBI!!--I'm so impressed!

(Now back to getting on with my own life!)

11 comments:

Emily said...

Holy cow! If drawing doesn't work out you could always start writing movie scripts. How crazy! I am very glad to know that Mom is safe. I'm sure that gave y'all quite a scare

the Bag Lady said...

Wow - I'm impressed that the FBI stepped in to help make sure it went smoothly! Good for them.
And happy that everything was resolved easily.
Might a note in MIL's chart at the senior's home be in order? To the effect that her daughter is not allowed to take her off the grounds? One wonders if she might try this again, only would take MIL somewhere less obvious.

Nitmos said...

I didn't think you were serious but, no, there was an actual abduction. Do they have anonymous senoir centers these days...like witness protection programs??

Melissa said...

Yes Nitmos, I was not kidding. Thank God it wasn't truly dangerous, except for the danger of Mom stroking out because she had no meds.

Interesting idea, senior protection centers. Though I feel sure the staff at her residence are NEVER going to let her go out with anybody but us ever again. They flipped out majorly over the whole thing.

solarity said...

I've been feeling sympathy for the staff all along. When I worked in a boarding kennel, some dogs had notes on their records saying "Do Not Release to So-and-so"--usually an ex-spouse, but sometimes a parent or child of the owner. It must be even worse with humans.

Mary Anne in Kentucky

Levi said...

Was dealing with this in your list of goals?

Sbanfnyc said...

I Think dealing with my mom's kidnapping has been on our list all along. I warned 3 staff at the facility that my sister is a problem however we never thought she could have pulled this off given the expense. She has no money and works as a day care worker. No one had ever noted her in the chart other than no release of information. The staff now have a huge sign warning of her at the front desk. Like at the gas station "don't take checks from these people"!

Thanks for all your kind thoughts

Scottie Dog

Sbanfnyc said...

I Think dealing with my mom's kidnapping has been on our list all along. I warned 3 staff at the facility that my sister is a problem however we never thought she could have pulled this off given the expense. She has no money and works as a day care worker. No one had ever noted her in the chart other than no release of information. The staff now have a huge sign warning of her at the front desk. Like at the gas station "don't take checks from these people"!

Thanks for all your kind thoughts

Scottie Dog

Diana said...

Wow. That's all I can say! I think I'd just look at the video too!

Missicat said...

Wow - glad it all turned out OK. How is your mom-in-law now?

Melissa said...

Mom appears to have forgotten all about it. I think she got very tired, but otherwise she was okay, got back on her meds and has now bounced back.

Her residence just called me to tell me about a party coming up, and I answered HELLO???????!!! and they said "Everything is okay, not to worry!!!!" We're all still a little freaked out. Mom, not so much. Though if she'd had to stay in that hole of an apartment in Chicago, she would soon have packed it in, I think. Not funny.