Update: The discussion on this post has been closed and moved to a new thread. Click here to visit the new discussion thread.
Airforce Major Jill Metzger, stationed at Manas Air Base, was shopping in a Kyrgyzstan mall with friends when she disappeared.
From CNN:
(CNN) — A U.S. Air Force officer is missing after a trip to a shopping mall in Kyrgyzstan, a U.S. military statement said Wednesday.
Maj. Jill Metzger, with the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, was last seen shopping at the Zum Shopping Center with others from the Manas Air Base when she disappeared on Tuesday, the statement said.
“Major Metzger was last seen wearing a green sweater and blue jeans,” the statement said.
“She has blonde hair and blue eyes. She is in excellent athletic condition.”
Military Web sites describe Metzger as a top-flight marathoner.
Both the Kyrgyz police and the US military are searching for her:
BISHKEK, September 6, 2006 (RFE/RL) — Kyrgyzstan’s Interior Ministry and National Security Service say they have launched a joint operation to locate the U.S. air servicewoman who disappeared on September 5 in Bishkek.
The woman, who has been identified as Major Jill Metzger, is working at the U.S. Manas military air base, near Bishkek.
Manas air base public affairs officer Ann Carpenter told RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service that Metzger disappeared while shopping at Bishkek’s main department store (TsUM) with other U.S. base members.
“The [U.S.] 376th Air Expeditionary Wing base officials are working with the U.S. Embassy and local officials to locate the servicemember as soon as possible,” Carpenter added.
The U.S. Embassy in Bishkek has issued pictures of a blonde woman as part of the search operation.
Let’s hope she’s found quickly.
Update: Maj. Metzger was supposed to return home on Thursday and went to the mall to buy souvenirs for her family.
Update II: We’re thrilled that everyone here is having a great time commenting, but since we’re approaching 1400 comments, we would love it if everyone could continue the thread here.
Update: The discussion on this post has been closed and moved to a new thread. Click here to visit the new discussion thread.
Deb, I couldn’t have said t better myself. Something was really weird, so thats a good possibility.
It is highly unlikely that “the enemy” is trawling these message boards in the hopes of gleaning information about people. First of all, whoever the enemy is, they’re probably not terribly sophisticated when it comes to internet searches, no matter how simple it seems, and secondly, based on my own experience with internet connectivity in at least three of the Central Asian countries, it just takes too damned long to surf the web with any sort of expeciency in that part of the world.
But paranoia is what makes us different from the monkeys, so if it floats yer boat, then by all means…..
Something is just not right. Based on intel and facts. Phone call made from mall to a farm near Beshkek. Two more calls tracing her near a bus station and then the other end of the city. Found on the side of the road with her head shaved and she seems to have been beaten. Perhaps whomever she was with (or having an affair with) beat her and shaved her head so she would NEVER talk about him to anyone knowing he would be killed….who knows….just very strange. SOMEONE WOULD HAVE SEEN SOMETHING AT THE MALL. She is in excellent athletic condition, as they say, she would have fought somehow at some point BEFORE LEAVING THE MALL.
She is intelligent and trained enough to KNOW not to leave the area, even with a gun in her side or knife……something is wrong with this picture…
Jill has been found!!! She was beaten and they shaved her head, but she is alive and meeting with medical officials right now. Hallelujah!!
My thoughts and prayers are with the greater Metzger family but I must take exception to Epador’s comment. Life at manas is not grim – in fact it was the R&R location we went to when I was in theater. It had the best facilities of anywhere over there in 2003.
I would hope that everyone is praying for Jill’s safe return to her family. It is definitely not the time to try to assassinate her character.
Praise the LORD, she’s has been found alive!
link,
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060908/ap_on_re_as/kyrgyzstan_missing_major
AH Love among the borscht
And your source is????
check provided link:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060908/ap_on_re_as/kyrgyzstan_missing_major
What great news!! Glad to hear she’s alive and well. I am not the type who goes to church or prays constantly but I did say a prayer in this case.
Mary
But I am sure Deb G will find some way to conclude that she was having an affair with these 3 men and 1 woman. You are really sick Deb G…where you come up with your theories are beyond me. People get kidnapped from public places ALL the time…despite who or whom they did or did not have a relationship with FOUR freaking years ago. And I am so sure it is easy to carry on an affair with a Kyrgastan man while stationed in Manas. Are you nuts??????????
I’m so with JL on this. I know Jill and I am so beyone relieved right now. The important thing is that she’s alive. As for the conditions, I was there 2002-2003 and I can assure you that it is no picnic. In fact, Kygyzstan is on my short list of places I could care less about ever returning to. For those of you who bad mouthed Jill while she was missing–you disgust me to the core.
Fellows,
Let’s just be thankful that she was found alive. Whether as result of our prayers or not, it really doesn’t matter now. She is alive, that is the most important thing.
Also, for all of you who felt the need to gratuitously ‘illuminate’ us with the ‘other side’ of Jill, you be your own judge. I’m convinced that most of us think Jill’s private life is no one else business.
Let’s just hope Jill will soon be able to meet her family and close friends, and put all this nightmare behind.
I was in the military. I saw much of what is being said here concerning the intoxication, cheating, etc. My own wife, a military member was messing around with her boss and others (cheating!). Don’t give us this saint Jill crap please. She was capable of this because she is human. I’m glad she’s back safe, but I will wait for the real story to come out. Not the one the military plans on spinning for the media. PS The OSI are a bunch of clowns. They couldn’t investigation a pile of dog poop and figure out where it came from.
Sooooo… beaten, head shaved,…
I remember when the “Runaway Bride” thing hit the news.. a nationwide ‘bridehunt’ took place costing the taxpayers thousands of dollars.
What will unravel in the coming days, weeks, and maybe months remains to be seen. But, first we have to prepare for the TODAY show, GoodMorning America, etc…
Listen… I don’t know “Jill” from the Jack in the Box… BUT, what has happened here is no joke and I sincerely believe, given the information I have gathered from the international sources, that this little puppy should fry when all is done.
There was no ABDUCTION!!!
Furthermore, behavior of this type should not be encouraged by putting them before national television and allowing them to tell of their “ordeal”.
What a farce!!! And, an international one, at that!!
I think I’ll go back to Bishkek.
Did anyone see Jill’s husband and father-in-law on Greta tonight? They were talking about how happy they are that Jill has been found, and I’m sure they mean it, but they both looked mighty grim…not even a hint of a smile from either one of them. There’s more to this story than meets the eye.
Many of you here are pathetic insensitive jerks. This is a brave military OFFICER you are talking about here. And YES – I found this site by just doing a simple google search, and so can anyone, anywhere. Idiots. You can only hope you never need anyone to give you the benefit of the doubt or defend your honor. You disgust me and I would spit on you if I saw you.
JL: I have to laugh. Really I do. Nuts no. Are you Naive or just plain stupid??? Who said an affair with a Kyrg man? She could have been having an affair with a man on base. Who knows. Look, thankfully, she is back. I happen to know Jill, the other side. EXACTLY like the runaway bridge. Does not matter about being a military officer. NOONE gets kidnapped in a mall full of people without a witness or some commotion. NOONE. Military intel speaks volumes on this one. When the truth comes out – all you folks who think you know the facts about kidnapping and psychology are going to feel pretty poorly about putting down those who have their own opinions. Your comments about theories make me laugh. Wake up folks and stop being so well, ignorant. Reality is sometimes hard to accept. Fantasies of constant kidnappings are much easier to justify…
JL: Also, do you believe everything the media tells you???? How do you REALLY know she was even with 3 men and 1 woman. Oh yes, why would they bring her back? In a country such as Russia and surrounding areas, they DO NOT bring you back. They are more ruthless and murderous than terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq. They DO NOT bring you back. I think you are pretty sick for believing all the media says….funny actually. You have NO IDEA how complex intelligence and situations are and they are NOT always what you seem to think they might be….
To the poster that said life at Manas is grim. You’re a buffoon. Manas is 1000x better than any FOB I have been on in Afghanistan and Iraq. As a matter of fact Manas is luxurious compared to anywhere I’ve been on a deployment. Pogue.
Hi! Local police reports that JM was neither beaten nor raped.
And yes, kidnapping someone from TsUM is an incredibly stupid idea as the place is full of cops in uniform in plain clothes. In fact, I’ve never heard of a single person kidnapped from TsUM in my entire life in Bishkek.
Bests,
Gogi from Bishkek.
Simply put the Dumb Ass went AWOL end of story! I’ll hate to say I told ya sooo but get ready because a greater majority of us, sound individuals already know….Just a feeling. A huge mistake on her part……
It gets deeper, a polygraph may be in order.
From the AP:
A Kyrgyz police official, Kemilbek Kiyazov, said Metzger told police that while she was in a popular department store someone placed an unspecified object in the rear pocket of her trousers. Writing on the object said it was a bomb.
The message also gave detailed instructions telling her where to go in Bishkek, which she followed, Kiyazov quoted Metzger as saying.
“Metzger stated that it was as if she were in a trance,” he said. She was then met by three men and a woman who put her into a vehicle, took her to a residence, and placed her in a dark room.
According to Kiyazov, Metzger managed to escape after an abductor brought her food and she struck him.”
Those of you who continue to cry AWOL or other nonsense have no idea what you’re talking about. I personally know Jill and I know for a fact that she would not run as some of you idiots would say. Jill is an outstanding officer and a person many use as an example.
Big Mac
To those who say they know Jill – REMEMBER THE RUNAWAY BRIDE, who all her friends said they knew and she would NEVER runaway and that she had to have been kidnapped, etc…oh yes, and her hair was found, which ended up being cut by herself in the end!! bomb in pocket, trance, crowded mall where someone would have surely seen 3 men and 1 woman taking her! oh yes, striking a man bringing her food – I am sure she would have had her hands tied, she IS a military officer and would know combat tactics, so they would have certainly tied her hands after planning an elaborate bomb tracing agent in her back pocket – that is heavy stuff so they would have tied her hands!! then, running from captivity where 3 men and at least 1 woman were watching her. Where did she run to? She was 30 miles away (according to her cell phone stats)……give me a break here…..to those of you calling those of us idiots – wake up……
and oh yes, walking to the exact spot to meet 3 men and 1 woman while in a trance. Can’t say they took her from a mall – she KNOWS noone would believe that one….someone would have seen her in a trance state walking…..kidnappers DO NOT use someone’s cell phone to make calls (a call was made from her cell phone from the mall), if she was kidnapped, this would have been a highly intelligently planned operation – they would NOT have used her own cell phone knowing it could have been traced and the possibility of the military tracking it and kidnappers would not have allowed it to stay anywhere near her let alone ring twice within hours of each other. God Bless her if this is a legitimate kidnapping, but facts show this is a nice story where details will start to unravel soon enough…Then again, if this was an AWOL situation for reasons I will not even write here, she will NEVER tell the truth about what really happened for fear of her life and the life of her family….
And some more conflicting/new “news”
AFP:
A spokesperson for the Kyrgyz interior ministry said that she reappeared late Friday in Kant, about 35 miles north-east of Bishkek, saying that she had been kidnapped.
“According to Jill Metzger, two women approached her at the shopping centre and asked for help. They spoke English. She went with them. After that she remembers nothing – she woke up in a house she didn’t recognise,” the interior ministry spokesperson, who asked not to be identified, told AFP.
Interior ministry sources said that the circumstances of Metzger’s disappearance and reappearance were mysterious.
She was found by police in Kant after asking for help from a local person late at night. Her hair, the interior ministry spokesperson said, had been dyed black and shaved. “No harm was done to her other than colouring her hair,” he said. “There were no signs of violence on her.”
A high-ranking interior ministry officer, who also asked to remain anonymous, said that Metzger had not been kidnapped. “She disappeared from the shopping centre on her own initiative. She did not answer calls on her mobile phone,” he said.
I live in Colorado Springs CO where Jill’s husband and in-laws are currently. One of our local news stations got an exclusive interview with him right after she was reported found. They had been talking with him even prior to her release.
I’ve placed a link to that video interview on my Colorado Springs news blog if anyone cares to watch it. (They change links periodically for new stories so I didn’t include their link here. I’ll make sure to post their latest link on my blog.)
http://www.newsblab.com
or
http://newsblab.netfirms.com/blabbingmikesblog/nfblog/
I just wanted to be one of the first to post that this story is CROCK!! Now when the truth comes out , I can be one of the first to say “I told you so.”
Oh yeah, It’s really funny how much this resembles the Ga. runaway bride who claimed to have been abducted by a Hispanic man and a Caucasion woman. Her hair had been cut when she was found. hhmmmm…. lol this is too funny even though I know that this is a very serious thing that she has done. The lady needs help.
I cannot believe that some people are actually buying into this story but I guess there’s a gullable born every minute.
I’m not normally one to read stuff like this on the internet, but as a retired AF officer the story of Major Metger’s disappearance caught my attention as it did many others. After reading all of the foregoing, I think I’ll refrain from visiting sites like this again. You folks must have better things to do with your time.
There is a video interview with her husband in Colorado Springs at this site.
http://www.newsblab.com/blabbingmikesblog/nfblog/
In respect of Jill’s family, we should wait until the details of this unfold. Although it does not make sense, the media may not have all the facts either. Story sounds just plain “wrong”, but the story we are reading on the media might not even be right…….I am sure her family is glad to have her back and alive….
Folks,
Some of your posts are hilarious! “I know Jill”…..”Excellent Air Force Officer”….Riddle me this, how can you ‘really’ know a person? There is only one person that ‘really’ knows me and I ‘really’ know that same person. That would be my peer, lover, best friend, and partner for life – some of you in the military call that person that very impersonal word ‘spouse’ or ‘wife’. But it took me nearly 9 years for her and I to know each other.
That said, people do weird, inexplicable things and that INCLUDES Air Force Officers. Get over yourselves, they aren’t perfect and never will be, I know quite a few in my 8 years in the Air Force. Some excellent, most good, and some I wouldn’t trust to take out my trash and do it correctly and ethically.
Anyhow, this story stinks. I read last night that she’s found “on a roadside beaten with a shaved head” and then I read this morning “that she walks aimlessly to a random house with dyed hair and dye stained hands”.
All I’m saying is that it stinks and reminds me of many frauds John Mark Karr, The Runaway Bride, Lance Hering (‘missing’ Marine in Colorado), and
many other similar frauds.
I’m out…..
From everything I have read, Major Metzger was a superior officer and athlete. The kind of self-discipline it takes to become a three-time marathon CHAMPION does not indicate to me a silly woman lost on a shoe-shopping trip or off on a sexual lark with some male. Believe it or not, to some women with productive lives and a myriad of responsibilities, SEX is not the only thing on their minds. Nor is SEX something to make one throw away a stellar career, a marriage, and reputation. For some fat-ass former Presidents, yes – but not a woman and officer of Metzger’s caliber. Grow up and quit thinking like teenage boys – or worse, a Slick Willie.
By all accounts, Metzger was savvy, smart, and totally committed to her career in the AF. She is an example of American military achievement, and was a public figure due to her marathon championships.
She deserves much better than the juvenile speculation from never-has-beens, and everyone else ought to show a little more respect.
BTW, Deb G., you are a pathetic female and clearly have an axe to grind. Stick to the PTA or Junior League where your malicious gossip would likely be more welcome.
Redhead Infidel: I am laughing at your comments. BTW, do you see me putting ANYONE down on this board, other than voicing my opinions (which, of course, I am entitled to)? Nope, didn’t think so. Yet, you, immature and having that axe to grind – is doing so. PTA or Junior League – are you kidding? LOL – you’re funny. I am a military officer myself, have won and fought battles against the VA for my father’s Agent Orange related death, entitling my mother and any Veteran in my path and family members to benefits, have assisted the military in ways I am sure you would never even understand. I deal with intelligence daily and live a VERY good life which involves reading the news daily (which I am doing and happened to run across this site which I continue to monitor). So, I will stop ranting about things I have done positively, and there are many. I have no axe to grind – live a good life with good people. However, I am well aware of BAD people in this world. I have to ask: Why would you call someone pathetic for voicing their opinion??? I think you are pathetic for striking out with name calling – real immature. Also, you obviously seem to be reading the media and believing all you here – dangerous thing to do. If someone told you the sky was green, you would probably believe that too…..
Redgead Infidel: Lastly, I noticed you picked out myself, THE FEMALE on the board, yet you did NOT pick out anyone else here making similar or worse comments. I would say YOU, my friend have an axe to grind against females. I feel sorry for you, stick to chat rooms, where your strikes against character are more welcome. Giving an opinion or scenario of a recent news happening if an entitlement…..
Deb G.: Shut the fuck up you lazy, fat-assed, ignorant cunt. I hope you get abducted, raped, tortured and murdered. Of course, not even a sicko would want to touch your ugly ass, or even get close enough to smell the foul stench emanating from you, so do us all a favor and shoot yourself in the head, bitch!
Well Arros G, I can see that you are well educated, extremely articulate, and a rational, reasonable human being.
Tell me, what political party and religious group are you associated with? Hmmmmm, lemme guess.
Deb G, keep up the rational, educated, thought provoking and thought forcing posts.
I’m out….
Happy Civilian, no one is interested in your D-grade melodrama starring your sad-sack husband – except maybe Deb and her ilk. Female officers are talked about by wives like you ALLLLL the time – it goes with the job. We ignore sillies like you.
And Deb, if indeed you aren’t a sock puppet for Happy Civilian, I find it hard to belive you wear the uniform. Really, I do. Where’s your sense of fidelity for a fellow officer – and fellow servicewoman? Non-existent, obviously. I directed my comments at you because you are on a campaign, as evidenced by the frequency of your comments and how you are watching this board like a hawk – and all for no apparent reason.
I, myself, do not trust the media to get it right – they never do – therefore I don’t believe the media. Nor do I trust the local politicians and police chief, reveling in the international spotlight – to get it right either. I will wait for the official account after the investigation is complete – something you and others would be prudnet to do. And in the meantime, I offer my loyalty and support to Major Metzger – because she DESRVES IT.
There is no reason not to give Metzger the benefit of the doubt – none whatsoever. She has earned AT LEAST that much. You should only hope the same for yourself should something terrible happen to you. Your idle speculations – as you sit fat and happy behind your keyboard – are malicious and tawdry. In order to believe them, one would have to believe the very worst of Metzger – something you are obviously eager to do. I have to wonder at your investment in this situation. If that’s the low point at which you start in your “analysis” of this news item, then you are sorrier than I gave you credit for.
Redhead Infidel: I feel sorry for you. Really, I do. You need to re-read my posts. I don’t see any character bashing. Fat and Happy? Hardly, I am a tri-athlete so hardly fat and happy. Military Uniform, wear it with pride and honor, however, don’t stand behind fellow officers who prove wrong in some actions – sorry, just the way the military and my military upbringing has trained me. I am on no drive to destroy any character of Maj. Metzger – again, re-read the posts. I do find it funny that you are striking against military wives in general and name calling – real immature and classy on your part. I do have reason to monitor this board, of which you would never comprehend. I also offer Maj. Metzger the utmost respect for her accomplishments in life and hope this situation is, in fact, fact based on her testimony alone. However, I am SURE I stated that given all going on, it sounds strange and off key given the circumstances……I am done defending myself to you – there is no reason to – YOU need to take your rude comments and opinions somewhere else. Everyone here is posting their comments as they are allowed to do to the situation, YOU are posting against others here – I have to ask you – is there a reason you are here axing everyone?? and what could that be?? Take yourself and go find something better to do…….
Arros G: I have to laugh at you. Amazing at the comments coming from folks here. I have been abducted, when I was 13, by Russian Soldiers while in East Berlin – my whole family. A learning experience…..
Not sure why these posts have lingered to name calling. Everyone is entitled to give opinions and comments on the situation at hand, not against posters here. Oh well, I get a kick out of the anger you hold within yourself…I am pretty comfortable with myself and with who I am so keep attacking at the keyboard….
People…People… What’s with you?
I don’t know Jill, I’ve never met the woman. But, ONE thing is sure…
I know the place from whence she was ‘abducted’.
I’ve been in the store.. every floor..many, many times.
I know the layout of the store
I know the entrances/exits
I know how much security there is
I know the policy on the tours
I know that there were more than 2 people on the tour(probably more like a dozen… plus)
I know that the store is ALWAYS crowded
I know that SHE knew the ‘don’t separate yourself’ from the group policy.
I know that an abduction doesn’t “just happen” if it’s a targeted person
I know (according to the reports by AP) Jills hair was dyed and that she had dye stains on her hands
I know that she suffered no harm ‘scratches or otherwise’
I know that THIS STORY STINKS into the STELLAR regions of the universe… AND, I don’t care if she’s been with all of tent city at Ganci…
My calculator just keeps shutting down everytime I try to add all this together…IT DOESN’T ADD UP! We may never know the facts…
But, given what I DO know… She smells and so does her story!!! This whole deal smells.
Arros G: Hoping someone gets abducted raped tortured and murdered is completely out of line. I am currently working on obtaining your IP address so we can see the evil mind coming from behind your keyboard….Thank You for assisting us here….I will pray for your evil thought process though.
Well said Deb G.
Go away Redhead Infidel, your a disease.
Been There: I agree with you. However, Arros G is going to hope you get raped abuducted and murdered now that you have given your freedom of opinion on this. Talk about sick stuff….
Oh… One other thing I know..
In the end… we really won’t know.. the whole story, it will die just as the “Runaway Bride” story died… We kinda like to put it behind us after a while to get it out of our sight… you know … to keep it from reminding us how gullible we are.
BUT… if you really want to keep your bookmarks on this.. do a locator on Jill, say in a couple of months.. If she’s still in and ‘going up the ladder’, then maybe it was valid..
HOWEVER… if she’s vanished from the radar screen, guess what!!? So, let’s say we meet back here in a couple of months and compare notes… If I am wrong, I will be the FIRST to admit it… but if I’M RIGHT…. you will certainly hear about it. And that includes, parents, husband, brother, uncles, whatever…
IF she has done this on her own.. and I have a very strong suspicion.. then she has not only embarrassed herself…
She has brought discredit to the USAF
She has embarrassed the USA in an international spotlight
She has jepordized the political affairs in Central Asia
She has brought disgrace and shame on herself and her family
She has further jepordized the lives of her fellow soldiers and airmen in that region.
SHOULD I GO ON???…………..
I’m 100% with Redhead on this and that said, this will be the last time I contribute to what has become beyond ridiculous. This blog was helpful to me when she was missing in keeping me updated on anything new. All I care about is that she has been found because she’s a friend of mine and she’s a wonderful person. I never claimed she was a saint but in the Air Force, she’s the best of the best. Those of you who have never served couldn’t possibly know what I’m talking about. Those of you who have never met her couldn’t possibly know what I’m talking about. Those of you who are assuming the worst about her–what’s wrong with you? You sit on your butt (probably not contributing much at all to the world) in such harsh judgement of her. It’s alarming to me. One fact still stands–no one here knows what really happened and it will take some time to get to that truth. Everyone has made mistakes and no one is perfect. I’m no psychology major but it seems to me that those of you who are the harshest of critics (Deb, Happy C) perhaps there is something within you that you are not so proud of and it is manifesting itself in your harsh, unfair, and unbelievable opinions about Jill.
Redhead, do what I’m doing and sign off of this and don’t look back. I’d give you my email address but I don’t know how to do that without getting some unwanted emails from a bunch of riff-raff
As for the rest of you, go do something productive with the freedom you are privileged to be experiencing, the freedom those of us serving in the military work so hard to preserve. Or don’t…whatever…you are free to chose!
I was reading the enytimes a little while ago. read the story on ms. metzger, googled her, and wound up here reading the thread. I just found the story a little far fetched initially and wanted to see some background, and I am amazed at the background you all put in here, good and bad. Its deep in here, opinionated, hot under the collar, personal, angry and mean and definitely passionate. All the things that make good reading. I just wanted to let you all know that, and entertaining in a voyeuristic way, kinda like you cant look away, know what I mean?
As for Ms. Metzer, I wouldnt jump to conclusions and being that its a military matter, I wouldn’t expect to hear any, ultimately. You all shut off your computers now and go outside and play, its a beautiful day.