This article confuses me. I have so many questions.
"Parents admit to kidnap scheme; Utah pair sought to block wedding" by Paul Foy/Associated Press November 29, 2007
PROVO, Utah - A couple accused of kidnapping their daughter on the eve of her wedding pleaded guilty yesterday to a reduced charge and a judge ordered mental-health professionals to evaluate them for actions he called "clearly irrational."
It 's their religious beliefs, though, readers!
From the land of Mitt "Word of God" Romney !
I'm not sure how I feel about this case, but let the police state descend, huh?
Julia Redd, 58, and husband Lemuel Redd, 60, pleaded guilty to custodial interference, a misdemeanor, capping the legal end of a family spat over their daughter Julianna's choice for a husband.
The plea spared them jail time. A judge immediately sentenced the parents to three years of probation and ordered them to pay $2,000, the cost of a dinner celebration that was booked for the eve of the original wedding date, along with the mental evaluation.
Fourth District Judge James Taylor: "This is a tragedy and it clearly involves, in my view, mental illness. Mr. and Mrs. Redd, you have done things that are clearly irrational."
Arguments over marriages irrational?
There are a whole pile of irrational people out there!
The parents had originally been charged with kidnapping their 20-year-old daughter in August 2006. The Redds had picked her up to take her shopping to buy religious garments for the ceremony in a Mormon temple, but instead drove more than 200 miles to Grand Junction, Colo., where they spent a night in a motel.
Yeah, I wondered how they kidnapped an adult woman. Did they bind her?
When they stopped at the hotel, she couldn't get help? Mormonism that far gone?
Then Mitt can't be president!
Their daughter has said her parents berated her on the drive, accusing her of breaking the Old Testament's Fourth Commandment, which says to honor parents. She said they called her fiance "evil and wicked."
Julianna and Perry Myers were married Aug. 8, 2006, three days later than planned - and without the Redds in attendance.
So she was only held overnight? I don't understand.
Why not more detail? Married three days later anyway?
A court order has prevented the Redds from speaking to their daughter or son-in-law for more than a year. The young couple had a daughter last spring.
Julianna Myers, now 21, told the judge that she is afraid of her mother and was disappointed that it took more than a year for her parents to accept responsibility:
"We don't tell anybody where we live. We have a P.O. box. [My mother] would stop at nothing [to learn where she lives]."
Too bad that happens to families. Can't we all get along?
Julia Redd, in an interview Tuesday night, told the Associated Press she had concerns about Perry Myers:
"[And our daughter] was only 20 years old. We're not against marriage. We just believe people need to be wise."
Defense attorney Rhome Zabriskie said the parents hope they can mend fences:
"Julia recognizes this is a huge mistake she's made in her life."
Lemuel Redd told reporters: "We have apologized and we are sorry."
Taylor ordered the Redds to submit to a mental evaluation, marriage counseling, and a "home atmosphere" study by professionals."
Does the government have to get into everything?
Get ready for the toilet-cams!
