Ep 3. Vanishing Bride

The show Disappeared is a true-crime documentary series that explores cases of people who have mysteriously gone missing. In season 2, episode 3, titled "Vanishing Bride," the focus is on the case of Jennifer Wilbanks.

Jennifer Wilbanks was a 32-year-old bride-to-be who disappeared just days before her wedding. She was described as a bubbly and outgoing woman who loved children and was looking forward to starting a new life with her fiancé, John Mason. Jennifer had grown up in a small Georgia town and was well-known in the community as a member of her church and a softball coach for young girls.

As the wedding day approached, Jennifer began to feel overwhelmed by the pressure and expectations of her upcoming nuptials. She confided in her family and friends that she was having doubts about getting married and was feeling increasingly anxious. Despite these concerns, Jennifer continued with the wedding planning and even had her bridal shower just a few days before she vanished.

On April 26th, 2005, Jennifer left her home for a run and never returned. Her family and fiancé reported her missing and an extensive search began. The local police department and FBI combed the area, looking for any sign of Jennifer. The media quickly picked up on the story, and the case gained national attention.

As the investigation continued, Jennifer's behavior leading up to her disappearance came under scrutiny. It was discovered that she had taken out several loans and had even pawned some of her belongings to pay for the wedding. She had also purchased a Greyhound bus ticket to Las Vegas, leading authorities to believe that she may have fled the state.

Despite the evidence pointing to Jennifer voluntarily disappearing, her family and fiancé refused to believe that she would have left of her own accord. They launched their own search efforts and even created a reward fund for information leading to her safe return.

The media attention surrounding the case eventually put pressure on Jennifer, who was in hiding in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She ultimately turned herself in to the police and admitted that she had made up the story about being abducted and sexually assaulted. Jennifer cited her anxiety and fear of getting married as the reasons for her disappearing act.

The aftermath of Jennifer's disappearance and subsequent return was both emotional and controversial. Her family and fiancé were torn between relief that she was safe and anger at the deception she had perpetrated. The media was criticized for their coverage of the case, which many felt was exploitative and insensitive.

In the end, Jennifer pled guilty to making false statements to the police and was ordered to receive psychiatric treatment. She and John Mason eventually called off their engagement and went their separate ways. The case of the Vanishing Bride remains a cautionary tale about the pressures of wedding planning and the impact of mental health struggles.