"WHAT IN THE WORLD?" Monday... on Thursday

SALT LAKE CITY -- The parents of a bride-to-be told their daughter they were taking her on a shopping trip, but then drove to Colorado and kept her there until she missed the nuptials, officials said.

[The parents] have been charged with second-degree felony kidnapping. Utah County Attorney Kay Bryson said Tuesday he met with the couple's daughter, Julianna, and her now-husband Perry Myers before charging the parents.

"I've never had a case quite like this," Bryson said. "It is strange that parents would go to that extent to keep an adult daughter from marrying the man that she had chosen to marry."

The couple, both students at Brigham Young University, were married in the temple on Aug. 8, three days after the planned wedding, Myers said.

"We were just glad about the way it ended. She came back and she was ok. We've moved forward since then," said Perry Meyers.

The Meyers are expecting their first child in May.

The Redds didn't want their daughter to get married, but the bride has been reluctant to say what happened on the drive. Myers said he and his wife were not discussing details of the car ride but said her parents' objections were not about him.

"It really has nothing to do a lot with me. It really is some issues with the family," he said. Julianna Meyers said she and her husband requested that officials move forward with the case against her parents. "I just want them to get help," she said.

Bryson said after reviewing the police investigation it was clear a crime was committed. Charges were filed Friday. [The parents] are scheduled to make an initial court appearance Oct. 26. If convicted, they could face one to 15 years in prison.


So, here are my questions:

- The parents object, but not about the groom? What else could be objectionable enough to kidnap your daughter?

- If your parents kidnap you, are you really going to press charges? I find "I just want them to get help" a bit dubious.

- Couldn't the bride just rent a car and drive home herself? I mean, if you're 21 and you can probably get away, is it technically kidnapping?

- Will the parents get convicted? And if so, what will their sentence be?

- Why is this story just now being reported? The couple ended up getting married August 8. (Congrats on the honeymoon baby, by the by.)

I'm a little perplexed by this whole story. Intrigued, but perplexed nonetheless.

- J -