Theodore's World: Missing U.S. Air Force Major Jill Metzger FOUND

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September 09, 2006

Missing U.S. Air Force Major Jill Metzger FOUND




WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2006 — Air Force Maj. Jill Metzger, who vanished Monday in Kyrgyzstan, has been found and now is back in Air Force control, ABC News has learned.

"We are elated to have Jill back with us," said Air Force spokesman Col. Scott Reese. Local police notified U.S. officials that she had been found at 1:15 a.m. local time in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Air Force officials say she was found alone and appears to have been beaten. Officials say she is "coherent," in "relatively good condition" and is talking to investigators. She is also undergoing medical evaluation.

Officials would not comment on the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and said the investigation is ongoing.

The news brought elation to Metzger's family.

"It's a dream come true. The most significant event of our lives," said Kelly Mayo, Metzger's father-in-law. Mayo said he has not spoken to Metzger yet, but believes she had been kidnapped and "whoever had her dropped her off on the side of the road."

Metzger vanished on Monday afternoon in Kyrgyzstan — a poor, predominantly Muslim country in Central Asia. Since shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, Kyrgyzstan has been home to a strategically important U.S. military base that supports operations in Afghanistan. The government is generally pro-American, and in recent years has experienced sporadic clashes with Islamic fundamentalists.

Just 10 days before deploying to Kyrgyzstan in April, Metzger married Air Force Capt. Josh Mayo. They had already bought tickets for a honeymoon in Jamaica later this month, he said.

"We were going to take Jet Skis out, have a couple of romantic dinners. It is very disappointing," said Mayo

Before her disappearance, Metzger was last seen out shopping with five others from the base. The group briefly separated inside a department store in the center of Bishkek, several miles from the base. They had agreed to meet a short time later, but Metzger never showed up.

Posted by Wild Thing at September 9, 2006 12:27 AM


Comments

I sure am glad they found her. Big, big relief. This should be an interesting story.

Posted by: TomR at September 9, 2006 05:58 AM


I heard on the news last night that they also shaved her head.

When visiting foreign countries where Americans stick out like a soar thumb, you NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, seperate yourself from your group. It's a fact-of-life all GI's are briefed on. After all, your no longer in Kansas Toto.

Posted by: BobF at September 9, 2006 07:38 AM


Tom I agree I would love to know exactly what happened step by step.

Posted by: Wild Thing at September 9, 2006 09:37 AM


Bob thanks I didn't know that they shaved her head.

Posted by: Wild Thing at September 9, 2006 09:39 AM


I'm happy that my first intuition was wrong, this is a wake up to everyone to never venture off alone.

Posted by: Jack at September 9, 2006 12:10 PM


Jack is right, they should never venture off alone. That goes for being in Seattle too.

Posted by: Sierrahome at September 9, 2006 12:24 PM


Glad she's safe. Now, address her needs, find the thugs, eliminate them.

Posted by: raz0r at September 11, 2006 09:16 AM


Who was there to experience Metzger's fear (first-hand)or endure what she expereienced during those three days in seclusion? Metzger completed her assigned tour of duty (within a combat zone), survived a life-altering experience and is entitled to a show of respect and positve support--lesson learned.

Posted by: Richardson at September 11, 2006 04:49 PM


Richardson I am glad you understand that.

She has been through enough in her life. That is why we at this blog are so very supportive of our troops. We know what our freedom cost and it comes at the greatest cost of all. And that is why I posted about her so we could pray for her safety.
Our troops are awesome and deserve our respect.

Posted by: Wild Thing at September 11, 2006 05:09 PM


Hi there. Yesterday some interesting news was broadcasted on Kyrgyz National Television about Jill Metzger being pregnant and undergoing an abortion surgery, as cited one of our papers:

English Translation from Russian original:

Yesterday, there was a news on Kyrgyz television, that Ms. Jill Metzger has indeed been pregnant.
US militaries are not allowed to be pregnant during the service (I think this one is long stretched, what the TV wanted really to say, probably, was "Watch out Jill, hubby is going to find out!!!" But some truth gets twisted, to look more politically correct.)

She underwent an abortion surgery in Issyk Ata district clinic (Kant, where Jill was found, Kant belongs to Issyk Ata district or county, whatever you like), and the doctor from clinic, who performed surgery, confirmed the information on television.

PS:

There was a testament of taxidriver, that Jill did a stopover near Special Surgical Clinic in Bishkek on the junction of Togolok-Moldo and Kievskaya streets. They have, by the way, English speaking medical staff, and medical facilities are relatively reasonable.

But why on the earth she went to Kant to make an abortion, to that below-any-standards rural clinic? How she could explain that she needed an abortion? No one speeaks English probably there. Or did she hire a translator? Why she was so desperate?

Why she did not do that in Special Surgical Clinic in Bishkek? The only reasonable explanation pops up in mind: that particular place is packed with foreigners, ex-pats, so on. Maybe she was afraid to get recognized.

Why she ruined her life and career in such a silly way? I dunno.
She tried to hide her adultery and pregnancy from her husband. Now the whole world finds out. She is turned into laughing stock of the whole world.
She should've done this alltogether differently.

My guess is that Jill's true story will be kept low profile in the Western media from now on. It affects sensitive political and military matters.

Epilogue:

If kidnapping of Jill Metzger in Kyrgyzstan happened for real, US State Dept would’ve demanded thorough investigation from Kyrgyz Govt people, would demand explanations from Kyrgyz ambassador in Washington, exchange official notes, as usually happens. Nothing of this kind has happened this time.

That alone speaks volumes. Mouths will be sealed. Media will give plebs "politically correct" version of what happened. And actually, I personally feel sorry for Jill. Her marriage has, probably, already been ruined. I do not think that her husband is that gullible.

Her military career certainly ended. She will certainly sign non-disclosure kind of papers. And will retire from military.

Kuba Kyrgyzstani

Posted by: Kuba Kyrgyz at September 13, 2006 09:33 AM


Just 10 days before deploying to Kyrgyzstan in April, Metzger married Air Force Capt. Josh Mayo. They had already bought tickets for a honeymoon in Jamaica later this month, he said.

"We were going to take Jet Skis out, have a couple of romantic dinners. It is very disappointing," said Mayo

Trying to read between the lines. I'd guess that Air Force Capt. Josh Mayo is no fool. And giving here subliminal message. The marriage is probably over.


Posted by: Kuba Kyrgyz at September 13, 2006 09:40 AM


I think the husband comes across quite cold and lack of caring. If my wife was in the same situation my last thoughts wouldn't be of a jet ski or romantic dinners, my mouth would be shut and my ears open to hear the feelings of my wife.

Whether she had or didn't have an abortion is not our business. I would have thought she would have waited to come home for her own safety but fear and your emotions take control where commonsense use to be located.

Lets hope the aduction story floats.........

Posted by: Raider One at September 17, 2006 02:35 AM


I served with Jill at Ramstein. She is a good person and loves the military, but also loves Josh. I just ask people to not judge or second guess and wait for the facts to come to light.

Posted by: Friend of Jill at September 22, 2006 12:22 AM


This is really private business. It is her life and this prurient interest in what she did is puzzling. Are we Americans stuck in some Victorian time-warp? If a woman gets some on the side should we be shocked? This has been happening since the start. What is unpleasant is that we impose impossible standards on the military and are "shocked" when we learn that they are just human. Leave this poor woman alone and let this story drop. It is a personal hiccup and no business of anybody else.

Posted by: Gib at September 22, 2006 04:30 AM


Kuba Kyrgyz is a plant. We already outed him at another board. He’s pretty prolific (citing his own comment here as a source for Wikipedia - since deleted) so I thought I’d come over and let you all know.

Also, others have figured him out too. Here’s an excerpt from the Wizbang comment thread:

I did as lurker suggested and googled your name. Not surprisingly, you are commenting on dozens of web sites about Jill Metzger. You are on a widespread - albeit amateur - campaign of disinformation. Always, you cut and paste the same rumor about “someone in Kyrgyz” saying Metzger was pregnant. Yet nowhere - in all your dozens upon dozens of blog posts - have you cited a source, or attributed that claim. And the reason you can’t/won’t cite a source is because you made it up.

That’s why I don’t believe you. I think you are lying and have made up that rumor, which you are spreading with single-minded determination and zeal. You even made an entry in Wikipedia, citing a Theodore’s World discussion board and your own rumor! You obviously have an agenda, and are using unscrupulous methods to accomplish it.

Though you have successfully had some people on this blog believe your rumor - it doesn’t wash. The most rudimentary examination of your claims show them to be unfounded and unproven. There has been NO MENTION in any online Kyrgyz media - NONE - of such a rumor.

Maybe this is how they do things in Kyrgyz, where the dumb and uneducated are made easily malleable by rumor-mongering. The peasants believe you, Kuba - aren’t you the smart one?

Kuba, quit playing seedy games with the life and reputation of a woman you’ve never met.

Posted by: JP at September 22, 2006 10:54 AM


OK I have had enough of those trolls in this post I made.

You want to debate this then find a fucking forum someplace to do that.

MY POST about Air Force Maj. Jill Metzger was simply to ask for pray for her safety and that she would be ok. It was NOT for debate about what she did, her character etc.
This is MY blog and I support our military. If anyone cannot handle that, if you have a need to bash those in our military then go elsewhere.


There will be no more comments allowed on this post I made.

Shame on you that came here to bash Air Force Maj. Jill Metzger! You should be thanking our military for their service to our country.

Posted by: Wild Thing at September 22, 2006 11:14 AM