Do you think she suspected someone following her on the trail was about to grab her and she knew she couldn't escape?
I hate to consider "what ifs", but if she weren't in the abductor's hands yet, she maybe chould have sprinted while calling 911, not texting.
Do self defense tactics like screaming for help when you believe you're about to be abducted ever work? Are there stories of would be abductors being scared off?
You can text and scream at the same time. For all that you know, she did.
Or maybe she was told that if she made noise she'd be killed, and therefore she was scared of calling 911 (which creates noise) but she had the opportunity to silently text him. That sounds affirmatively smart to me, particularly in a world where her phone may have GPS so if he called the cops, they could maybe track the phone to find her.
But at any rate, judging this is truly terrible Monday morning quarterbacking. I don't think that what she did was illogical, and even if it was, I can't imagine that I'd have my full faculties in that situation so god only knows if I'd do the smart thing.
That's odd because she didn't type, I think I'm being followed, or There's a creepy guy watching me. She typed, I'm being kidnapped. That suggests that he was already grabbing her, leading her somewhere, or in some way had a hold of her. Which is just scary, sad, horrible stuff, right there.
That's odd because she didn't type, I think I'm being followed, or There's a creepy guy watching me. She typed, I'm being kidnapped. That suggests that he was already grabbing her, leading her somewhere, or in some way had a hold of her. Which is just scary, sad, horrible stuff, right there.
"OMG, I think I'm being kidnapped."
I know we're more aware of what's going on in the world because of social media and the internet these days, but it sure does feel like it's been a pretty dark year.
I've also thought before that texting would be silent if you couldn't call 911. (H travels a lot overnight and my house makes a lot of noises. I also have a mostly-irrational fear about being stuck at work with a gunman. There was a hostage situation with a gunman in another local RE office a few years ago, and ever since then I've thought about what I might do if I was trapped in my office or how I'd call for help.)
I've also thought before that texting would be silent if you couldn't call 911. (H travels a lot overnight and my house makes a lot of noises. I also have a mostly-irrational fear about being stuck at work with a gunman. There was a hostage situation with a gunman in another local RE office a few years ago, and ever since then I've thought about what I might do if I was trapped in my office or how I'd call for help.)
An interesting thought - 911 via text. An option to lock in your location and send a brief message, or even photo. "I think I'm being followed/about to be kidnapped", snap photo, hit send, location locked in, and message sent to nearest emergency call center.
We need this. It could help with accidents, too. Giving images so crews know what they're up against.
I've also thought before that texting would be silent if you couldn't call 911. (H travels a lot overnight and my house makes a lot of noises. I also have a mostly-irrational fear about being stuck at work with a gunman. There was a hostage situation with a gunman in another local RE office a few years ago, and ever since then I've thought about what I might do if I was trapped in my office or how I'd call for help.)
An interesting thought - 911 via text. An option to lock in your location and send a brief message, or even photo. "I think I'm being followed/about to be kidnapped", snap photo, hit send, location locked in, and message sent to nearest emergency call center.
We need this. It could help with accidents, too. Giving images so crews know what they're up against.
I saw something about this on the news recently, but it's obviously not widespread yet. I think it's a great idea.
An interesting thought - 911 via text. An option to lock in your location and send a brief message, or even photo. "I think I'm being followed/about to be kidnapped", snap photo, hit send, location locked in, and message sent to nearest emergency call center.
I believe this is being rolled out but it's still in very limited areas. I imagine the goal is for it to be available everywhere, which it really needs to be.
This is a terribly sad story. I wonder if the details will ever come out.
She could have done it with only one finger using the voice command on an iPhone. Calling 911 might have required unlocking her screen (or at least looking at the screen to hit the emergency call button) whereas texting with the voice command only requires you to hold down one button and talk - you could definitely do that while running away.
I spend a lot of time by myself in dark airport parking lots so I think about these kinds of things...
She could have done it with only one finger using the voice command on an iPhone. Calling 911 might have required unlocking her screen (or at least looking at the screen to hit the emergency call button) whereas texting with the voice command only requires you to hold down one button and talk - you could definitely do that while running away.
I spend a lot of time by myself in dark airport parking lots so I think about these kinds of things...
I didn't know this. I just tried it and it worked!
Do self defense tactics like screaming for help when you believe you're about to be abducted ever work? Are there stories of would be abductors being scared off?
From what I understand, if you are being kidnapped, or in another way forced into a car, or made to move away from your current location, the best thing to do is kick, run scream, anything you can do to avoid being taken to another location, otherwise (mugging, etc) calm compliance is best.
This story is so awful.
It's hard to know what's going on in people's head or the "best" reaction to have in any threatening situation.
Do self defense tactics like screaming for help when you believe you're about to be abducted ever work? Are there stories of would be abductors being scared off?
From what I understand, if you are being kidnapped, or in another way forced into a car, or made to move away from your current location, the best thing to do is kick, run scream, anything you can do to avoid being taken to another location, otherwise (mugging, etc) calm compliance is best.
This story is so awful.
It's hard to know what's going on in people's head or the "best" reaction to have in any threatening situation.
I meet with Homeland Security and law enforcement once a year with my job. Every year we talk about this and in a kidnapping situation they say the best thing to do is not be compliant. Do everything in your power to do not go with the other person. Drop to the ground, kick, scream. Throw up on yourself, or pee yourself if possible, then you will be "less than perfect" and they won't want to touch you.
I don't know if it actually works, but it seems like sound advice.