LDS convert speaks out about alleged kidnapping
The woman allegedly kidnapped by her parents after her conversion to the LDS Church is speaking out.
In a statement to the Deseret News — through her attorney — Danielle Alonso said she "voluntarily returned to Texas to be with her family."
"The decision to return to her Texas home and family and to remain there is personal and will remain private. It is her own decision and not the result of any undue influence or coercion," San Antonio attorney Carl Kolb said.
Salt Lake County sheriff's detectives plan to meet with prosecutors to decide if any criminal charges should be leveled against the parents suspected of abducting the 19-year-old woman. After some delays, detectives managed to question Danielle Alonso in Texas late Wednesday. She was accompanied by her attorney — something police said is "not very common" for someone who is believed to be a kidnap victim.
"To say that we've been able to have complete and unadulterated access to her in Texas would not be accurate," Salt Lake County Sheriff's Lt. Don Hutson said Thursday. "But we were able to complete an interview."
A Salt Lake lawyer hired by her parents, Daniel and Gloria Alonso, denied it was they who hired the attorney in Texas. Kolb said she chose to speak with him "because of the possibility that something more than mere investigation of the facts was afoot."
"She wanted to be candid but avoid exploitation," Kolb said in the written statement.
Detectives questioned the parents for more than six hours in Salt Lake City on Wednesday before letting them return to Texas.
"Danielle is free to do what she wants. The parents are free to do what they want while we complete the investigation," Hutson said. "We'll present it to the D.A. for potential charges. We have some work to do with the information we gathered."
In his statement, Kolb said that Danielle has been with her family for several days and could return to Utah at any time — if she so desired.
"Danielle is a mature young woman with an abiding faith in God that keeps her free and strong. She understands the events that occurred, how events can be misunderstood, and why. She understands the actions of well-intentioned law enforcement officials," he said. "She also understands the role of politics and the business of the media. She sorely regrets that a purely private matter was misunderstood, and that these misunderstandings have been highly publicized — at the speed of light."
Recent comments
To TulipGirl,
I'm not offended. Just pointing out your blind...
Anonymous | May 19, 2009 at 4:07 p.m.
to Anony 2:03: Give me a break. I just meant someone who believes in...
TulipGirl | May 19, 2009 at 2:17 p.m.
"As a relious person she probably doesnt' like lying but feels like...
Anonymous | May 19, 2009 at 2:03 p.m.
- Eisenhower home oozes charm 5:54 p.m.
- New designation for Clinton Museum 5:54 p.m.
- RDP brings family-oriented 'Joyride II' 5:54 p.m.
- Sculptor turns scrap metal into art 5:54 p.m.
- Art canvas 5:54 p.m.
- Galleries 5:54 p.m.
- BYU exhibit evokes identity questions 5:54 p.m.
- Literary footnotes 5:54 p.m.
- Bookmarks 5:54 p.m.
- 'Murder' exciting, fast-paced tale 5:54 p.m.
- Apostle's wife felt comfort in attack
- Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
- Short-handed Jazz fly past Sixers
- D-Will home for daughter
- Bench proves fruitful for Y.
- Utes excited for 'dream' game
- Born of water and the spirit
- Snowstorm hits Utah; 1 dead in crash
- GameDay in Fort Worth
- Woods Cross refinery to shut down
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
354 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
199 - Senators want food tax restored
164 - Will state consider gay rights law?
148 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
124 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
113 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
105 - Celtics crush Jazz
104
If you are looking for a bird on the cheap, the following specials from...
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
Davis is not Playing a region 4 team, Bingham is in Region 3. Isn't Davis one...
It is so so sad. I hope the middlemen in all of this will serve jail time as...
TCU up 7-0
I guess that means that there is no excuse for the embarrassments of UT vs....
The joy has just begun. First TCU touchdown in just minutes.
Iris was a very good friend to my family. When we heard the news we were in...
The way I found out about Craig, it was while I was searching on YouTube, for...
Those are examples of CLASSIC liberals, even JEsus and Bible is an example...
Gotta love Ute fans. "only wins matter, not the score". I've only heard...
Gerald, how about you think about how it might be if one day you woke up not...
