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LDS convert speaks out about alleged kidnapping

Wow! Controlling crazy parents, I'd want out too! They aren't doing anything to help sterotypes of that area...

I suppose the lawyer was there to spy on the girl, to see what she told the police, or perhaps prevent her from saying much of anything, knowing it would get back to the parents.

The police should have insisted (maybe they did) on questioning her alone.

In any case, this is not a "real" kidnapping. It was done by a family that loved her, though they should let her alone, she is old enough to decide for herself.

This sounds really fishy to me !!! I don't trust what their lawyer is saying - it does not add up.

If this girl was physically dragged out the door and into the car, it is a "REAL" kidnapping.

I have no doubt she is under incredible pressure right now not to do anything that will incriminate her parents. She's probably scared to death and doesn't want anything that will create a big huge legal situation, but it is pretty clear that she didn't go of her own free will.

These parents have committed a federal crime. Whether they end up serving time in prison for it remains to be seen.

I agree with "Why the Lawyer" in one point: she is old enough to decide for herself and should be left alone. The problem is: will she have the courage and the opportunity to do just that.

I think that this sounds like it could be a real kidnapping. Danielle might feel like she has to act like everything is okay. She might feel like she needs to pretend that she went with her parents voluntarily.

People who are under duress can act like everything is fine.

What needs to be done is for her to be interviewed alone, with the provision made for her to be safely returned to Utah immediately. She has to know that once she leaves that interview room, she will be protected.

Of course, the police need to investigate thoroughly, but the number one priorities need to be Danielle's religious freedom and physical safety.

If you are 18 or older you can choose for yourself which religion to be a member of. Nobody has any right to take that away from Danielle, me, or anybody else.

Stay strong Danielle, and I will pray for you!

Danielle, if you are reading, it is very important that you tell the police the truth about what happened -- whatever that may be. You are the only one who can. Don't be afraid to be honest. No one can hurt you; you have the police to protect you, if that is necessary. Just be honest. Honesty sometimes takes courage, but it is still the only right way to go.

Unfortunately, by converting to LDS, poor Danielle has replaced one overly controlling relationship with another...btw, all the above are right to never believe a word out of Steven Shapiro's mouth.

"Unfortunately, by converting to LDS, poor Danielle has replaced one overly controlling relationship with another." You have a funny description for a person that is bound by their integrety to something they believe in. I, for one, am fine with being "controlled" by my own conscience and belief. That is called self-mastery.

I believe that one has the right to NOT be questioned without a lawyer present. Is that what happened here? It sounds like she elected to have the lawyer present, but is that the case? I don't think the parents can insist upon her having a lawyer present (whom they hired) during the questioning. But, I've seen many many times when the police fail to protect people from abusers. If she is truly a victim of past abuse, she is likely terrified of being questioned without her parents' lawyer present, lest she be victimized again by her parents at a time when the police fail to protect her. Once charges are filed, she may be able to offer answers in private, or with the help of her own lawyer.

How about that roommate of hers? She looked and sounded suspicious to me. Sounds like she is an instagater or their is something more going on with her relationship with the girl.

The cab driver, who drove the parents to the apartment, is a prime witness to the incident.
The cab driver also heard all the conversations between the parents on the way to the apartment and after Danielle was pick-up and riding in the cab.

There are also security cameras in the airports. These cameras can provide additional information about what really took place.

The underlying message of Christ was "Control Thyself". The LDS church is not controlling. We teach people to control themselves just like Christ did and that is called Self-mastery.

I don't remember ever feeling enough fear of my own father to call 911. Funny how he did exactly what she said she feared he'd do, and now everything is "fine" and just a "misunderstanding" (*cough, cough* Daddy's attorney present.) What else would we expect her to say, now that she is in the home of her former abuser? She felt safe enough to tell police the truth when she was in Utah and he was 1500 miles away in Texas, but now that he's over her shoulder, the tune has changed in his favor. Fishy.

Danielle herself has released a statement asking all of you to mind your own business, yet all this talk continues! whatever would you people do if you didn't have everyone else's lives to stick your noses into??

This is a family matter and in my humble opinion, should be handled as a family matter.
This girl is an adult and has the free agency to do as she pleases.
No charges for the parents-- a new set of scriptures for her and lets all sit down and have dinner.
Get over it!!!

Where do some of you get your information? Danielle's parents did not hire the lawyer. Only the newspaper (Marcos Ortiz' article, yesterday) ever said that, and I cannot imagine where Mr. Ortiz got that information. Shapiro said otherwise, and I am here to tell the gossip column that he was right. Come on guys, think about what you say, before you say it.

Good for this family. I am gald her parents had the guts to bring her back home. I wish more people would realize how dangerous the church is.

I am happy to see that some Utah people see that this family was looking out for the best interests of their daughter, although they went about it backwards. I hope that I have given my daughters the tools to make a rational and educated decision when faced with pressures that LDS people put on the so called "non-members". I don't think I would be so drastic as to go get them and bring them home if they made a poor decision like that, but I sure would be tempted.

Where in the world do you people get your info, youre not even part of the family. Please keep your opinions to yourself.