Joint Public Statement issued by The City of Duluth and Jennifer Wilbanks

DULUTH, GA (May 31) - Jennifer Wilbanks and the City of Duluth have entered into a Release and Covenant Not to Sue. In this document, Jennifer Wilbanks has agreed to pay the City of Duluth Thirteen Thousand Two Hundred Forty Nine Dollars and Nine Cents ($ 13,249.09) to reimburse the City for overtime and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in conducting a missing person search for Jennifer Wilbanks between April 26, 2005 and April 30, 2005. Both parties desired to resolve this matter without litigation. The City has agreed to accept this amount which represents full compensation of the overtime hours and out-of-pocket expenses incurred during the search.

   Although Ms. Wilbanks does not believe she is legally liable to the City for its expenses, she thanks the City, and its employees for the concern shown for her and for the many hours spent by City employees and volunteers in searching for her during her absence. She deeply regrets the inconvenience and trouble which her actions caused, and desires to reimburse the citizens of Duluth for the excess costs incurred by the City in conducting the missing person search.

   While Ms. Wilbanks appreciates the many concerns expressed for her by the citizens of Duluth and the general public, she desires to protect her personal privacy so that she may deal with her personal problems in a private setting.

   The City of Duluth has never intended to seek any punishment or retribution against Ms. Wilbanks, but did seek a display of accountability, which the City believes Ms. Wilbanks has made through this Agreement and this Statement. The City is pleased that the parties have been able to resolve their dispute through negotiation and considers the civil portion of this matter to be concluded.

   The outcome of this search for Ms. Wilbanks, a person the City believed to have been abducted, will have no effect on an immediate response from the City Police Department in any future circumstance that indicates the possibility of abduction, foul play or a missing person.