[HOAX] ]MOM ARRESTED/CHILD SAFE/Convicted] AMBER ALERT-Julia Rakoczy, 9 year old, PA [Archive]

annalyzer

05-26-2009, 09:40 PM

Continued from above link ~

http://media.philly.com/images/052609_kidnap1_400.jpg
Family photo including mother Bonnie Sweeten and daughter Julia Rakoczy (both on right).

When local police arrived at the accident scene, both vehicles were gone, Klaver said.

Philadelphia police got the 911 call, which was received through a cell phone tower at 12th and Walnut Streets in Center City, Klaver said. It was unclear if Sweeten was in or near Center City when she made the call.

The mother and daughter were taken after they were involved in a minor accident with the Cadillac along Street Road in Upper Southampton Township about a mile north of the city, Klaver said.

Rakoczy was described in the Amber Alert as 4 feet, 1 inch tall, 59 pounds, with long brown hair, blue eyes, and a dime-sized birthmark on her forehead. Her mother was described as 5'11", 130 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information about the kidnapping was urged to call 911.

Sweeten is married with three daughters, according to her Facebook page. She lists her activities as: "Spending time with my Family. I love to shop!" She said she loves to snowmobile in Colorado and listed herself as a 1989 graduate from Bensalem High School.

She also wrote: "I always tell Paige [her oldest daughter] and Julia "Make Good Choices" before they leave for school or go on a trip without me or a parent."

Paige Alexandra, 15, wrote on her Facebook page: "im asking everyone, to please pray for my mom and sister pray please."

annalyzer

05-26-2009, 09:54 PM

Police Searching for Woman, Child Trapped in Trunk

By VINCE LATTANZIO
Updated 9:20 PM EDT, Tue, May 26, 2009

http://media.nbcphiladelphia.com/images/Sweeten+Kidnapping+-+Bonnie+Julia+side+by+side.jpg
Bonnie Sweeten and Julia Rakoczy are believed to be kidnapped.

Police and the FBI are in a frantic search for a woman and child who may have been abducted and trapped in the trunk of a car.

Philadelphia Police traced the call to this cell phone tower on top of a building at 12th and Chancellor Streets in Center City Philadelphia.

The hunt began Tuesday afternoon when the Philadelphia 911 dispatch center received a call from Bonnie Sweeten.

Sweeten, 38, claimed to have been kidnapped along Street Road in Upper Southampton Township, Pa. around 1:30 p.m. after getting into a car accident with two men in a dark-colored Cadillac.

Following the accident, Sweeten and her daughter Julia Rakoczy, 8, were grabbed by the two black men and thrown into the trunk of the Cadillac, she told police via a cell phone call from the car's trunk.

Philadelphia Police worked with Upper Southampton Township Police in Bucks County to confirm that the woman and her daughter were kidnapped.

Upon tracing the call, police pinpointed the signal to a cell tower along the 200 block of 12th Street in Philadelphia. Police conducted a search of the area for the Cadillac and Sweeten's SUV, but were unable to locate either vehicle.

"Right now we are treating this as an abduction," said FBI spokesperson J.J. Klaver.

Investigators attempted to track the woman's cell phone, but it was shut off after the 911 call, a police source said. Pennslvania State Police issued an Amber Alert for Julia Rakoczy at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Now, officials are searching for two vehicles -- the Cadillac and Sweeten's SUV. During the 911 call, Sweeten told police she heard her car flee the scene, the FBI said.

Suspect's Car
Dark colored, 1990s model Cadillac
Sweeten's SUV
Gold or silver colored, 2005 GMC Yukon Denali
License place #: GYK-8998

Sweeten, a Feasterville resident, is a married mother of three girls.

Her oldest daughter Paige, 15, wrote about the kidnapping on her Facebook page saying "I'm asking everyone, to please pray for my Mom and sister pray please."

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Police-Searching-for-Woman-Child-Trapped-in-Trunk.html

SavannahStar

05-26-2009, 09:57 PM

Oh how scary! I pray for them. What a beautiful family! :cray:

Faith

05-26-2009, 10:01 PM

Oh my gosh- I pray to God they are found safe.

Faith

05-26-2009, 10:03 PM

Missing From: Upper Southampton Township, PA
Missing Date:
Issued for: Pennsylvania: Statewide
Contact: If you have information, please contact Upper Southampton Township Police Department, 911
Circumstances: UPDATE: Photos added. The child was abducted at approximately 2:00 pm May 26th, 2009, along State Route 132, Street Road, Upper Southampton Township, Bucks County, about 1 mile north of Philadelphia City. Two Black males, no further description, jumped in her mother's vehicle and drove away. Her mother, Bonnie Sweeten, was in the vehicle also. Anyone with information about the abduction should immediately contact the police by calling 911.

Missing Child
Name: Julia Rakoczy
Alias:
Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Blue
Skin Color: White Age: 8YO
Height: 4FT1 Weight: 59LBS
Gender: Female
Description: Long brown hair, dime-sized birthmark on her forehead, unknown clothing.

http://www.intrado.com/photos/download-image.do?personId=7572

Suspect
Name: Unknown Unknown
Alias:
Hair Color: Eye Color:
Skin Color: Black Age:
Height: Weight:
Gender: Male
Description:

Vehicle Information
Make: GMC Model: Denali
Color: Silver Interior Color:
License State: PA License Text: GYK8998
Vehicle Description:

Suspect
Name: Unknown Unknown
Alias:
Hair Color: Eye Color:
Skin Color: Black Age:
Height: Weight:
Gender: Male
Description:

http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/AmberServlet

packy

05-26-2009, 10:14 PM

Hope they can track that car real soon.

annalyzer

05-26-2009, 10:30 PM

Makes me think that they were targeted and the accident was intentional.

I hope they do the right thing and let them go. :cray:

Naia

05-27-2009, 12:58 AM

Besides the obvious, something isn't right about this. Why would the kidnappers only put the mom in the trunk? Didn't anyone else see this accident? If so, didn't they see the victims being pushed into a car against their will? At least one was put-told to get into the trunk? This happened around 2pm. Usually lots of traffic out and about that time of day.

Naia

05-27-2009, 01:00 AM

http://www.kyw1060.com/Police-Investigate-Possible-Kidnapping-after-Fende/4472995
Second Street Pike in Upper Southampton Township.

FBI special agent JJ Klaver says 38-year-old Bonnie Sweeten called 911 and told dispatchers she was calling from the trunk of a black Cadillac, where she was huddled with her daughter, Julia Rakoczy
****

Sweeten told a 911 operator that her daughter was still in her family vehicle,
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/br..._daughter.html
**********************

2 completely different things being reported.

Naia

05-27-2009, 01:55 AM

The wife is ESTRANGED from her husband.
http://www.kyw1060.com/Police-Investigate-Possible-Kidnapping-after-Fende/4472995

"We've been in contact with a lot of people. I believe that she's estranged from her husband so we are talking to a lot of different people to try and get as much information as we can about where she and her daughter may be.

Heather

05-27-2009, 03:25 AM

sarahhod

05-27-2009, 04:55 AM

Mom, child missing

By: GEORGE MATTAR AND MATT COUGHLIN
The Intelligencer

An Amber Alert was issued for a 9-year-old and her mother, who are from Lower Southampton.

Police are searching for a 9-year-old Lower Southampton girl and her mother who were reportedly kidnapped in daylight on Street Road in Upper Southampton on Tuesday.
An Amber Alert was issued late Tuesday for Julia Rakoczy, a white female, about 4 feet 1 inch tall and weighing about 59 pounds. She has long brown or dirty blond hair, blue eyes and a dime-sized birthmark on her forehead. Her mother, Bonnie Anne Sweeten, 38, is described as a white female, about 5 feet 11 inches tall, 130 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes.
Lower Southampton police Chief William Weigman Jr., reading from a prepared statement, said it appears to be a kidnapping. However, police said much of the case remains unclear and that the initial report indicating a vehicle accident preceded the kidnapping remains unfounded. Police are looking for Sweeten's 2005 GMC Denali, described as silver or gray-blue. Weigman said the vehicle has Pennsylvania license plate GYK-8998.
According to the Amber Alert issued Tuesday night, Julia and her mother were driving along Street Road in Upper Southampton about 2 p.m. about a mile north of Philadelphia when two men jumped into the SUV and drove away with the mother and child inside. The FBI said Sweeten called Philadelphia 911 dispatchers from the rear of her SUV and the call was traced to a cell tower in or near Center City.
The case is being treated as a carjacking and abduction, according to Weigman, who read the statement alongside Chief of Bucks County Detectives Chris McAteer. However, very little evidence has emerged to support initial reports, investigators said.

http://us.bc.yahoo.com/b?P=a39e9c2e-4a9b-11de-bb9a-b33e3a89b1e9&T=1998idump%2fX%3d1243414319%2fE%3d2022775850%2fR% 3dncnws%2fK%3d5%2fV%3d8.1%2fW%3d0%2fY%3dPARTNER_US %2fF%3d3501947071%2fH%3dYWx0c3BpZD0iOTY3MjgzMTUxIi BzZXJ2ZUlkPSJhMzllOWMyZS00YTliLTExZGUtYmI5YS1iMzNl M2E4OWIxZTkiIHNpdGVJZD0iNzQxMDUxIiB0U3RtcD0iMTI0Mz QxNDMxOTMxNTUyOSIgdGFyZ2V0PSJfdG9wIiA-%2fQ%3d-1%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3d29ABB444&U=13u9ca8mk%2fN%3dOsz.AES0quM-%2fC%3d600136276.600150047.402469208.402469208%2fD %3dLREC%2fB%3d1728592086407152601%2fV%3d2
Several local police departments, county detectives and federal agents are cooperating in the investigation.
A family member declined comment while arriving at police headquarters about 7 p.m.
Sweeten and her husband, Richard L. Sweeten, live on Saxon Drive in the Feasterville section of Lower Southampton. Neighbors declined to comment on the record, but were tearful after learning that a mother and child may have been kidnapped during daylight hours. They said the couple owns a landscaping business.
Sweeten has two daughters, Julia and 15-year-old Paige, with her ex-husband Anthony W. Rakoczy, according to court records. Sweeten and Rakoczy divorced in 2003 and she returned to her maiden name Siner before marrying Richard Sweeten. The Sweetens have an infant daughter, Faith, according to Sweeten's Facebook page. She belongs to a Bensalem High School alumni group from 1989 and states she loves shopping with her daughters.
The Amber Alert was in effect for Bucks, Northampton, Lehigh, Berks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia on Tuesday night. Police are asking anyone with any information on the case to call 911 immediately.
George Mattar can be reached at 215-949-4165 or gmattar@ phillyBurbs.com. Matt Coughlin can be reached at 215-949-4172 or mcoughlin@phillyBurbs.

May 27, 2009 02:31 AM

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/28/2009/may/27/mom-child-missing.html

sarahhod

05-27-2009, 05:00 AM

"We're treating this as an abduction," said FBI spokesman J.J. Klaver, while acknowledging that there were "inconsistencies" in the woman's account.

The woman who made a 9-1-1 call yesterday was stricken with fear. In a terrified voice, police said, 38-year-old Bonnie Ann Sweeten told how she had been grabbed by two men after a minor accident in lower Bucks County, shortly before 2 p.m., shoved into the back of a Cadillac and driven away.
She said that her 9-year-old daughter, Julia Rakoczy, had been with her but remained in her vehicle, a GMC SUV. It was not at the scene when cops arrived.

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20090527_Mom_abducted__daughter_missing.html

Maybe a bitter ex husband?

sarahhod

05-27-2009, 05:01 AM

The FBI has become involved in the search, and released information that the phone call from Sweeten was tracked to a cellphone tower on 12th and Walnut, 20 miles from the initial crash site.

http://www.nj.com/south/index.ssf/2009/05/amber_alert_issued_for_girl_9.html

sarahhod

05-27-2009, 05:03 AM

Investigators found a Cadillac in Hunting Park with front-end damage and scratches of silver paint late Tuesday, Action News reported. But nothing inside the trunk or inside the car linked the vehicle to the kidnapping.

http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/pennsylvania/20090527_ap_fbiseekspawomanreportedbeingheldintrun k.html

sarahhod

05-27-2009, 05:06 AM

In all, Sweeten made seven calls to 911. Two, in which, they were able to talk to her at length.
The Pennsylvania State Police soon issued an Amber Alert for Bonnie and Julia.

Action News has learned late Tuesday investigators are examining a Cadillac in Hunting Park with front end damage. Police say it was laced with silver paint, which is consistent with Sweeten's 2005 Denali.
Action News was the only one at the scene as police converged on the Cadillac on North Marshal Street near Venango Street.
Upon opening the trunk, they did not find anything linking the car to the kidnapping, but the police did take the vehicle away for further investigation.
Residents who spoke to Action News say they have never seen that car in the neighborhood before.

Without being specific, authorities are saying they are making progress in the investigation, but are still searching for Bonnie, Julia, the suspects, and the vehicles involved.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6832725

sarahhod

05-27-2009, 05:08 AM

http://abclocal.go.com/images/wpvi/cms_exf_2007/_video_wn_images/052609%20-%20ic%20-%20wpvi%20denaldi.jpg

http://abclocal.go.com/images/wpvi/cms_exf_2007/_video_wn_images/052609%20-%20ic%20-%20wpvi%20denaldi.jpg

sarahhod

05-27-2009, 05:10 AM

"We've been in contact with a lot of people. I believe that she's estranged from her husband so we are talking to a lot of different people to try and get as much information as we can about where she and her daughter may be."
Cops found Sweeten's 2005 GMC Yukon Denali early Wednesday around 1:30 at 15th and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia.

http://www.kyw1060.com/Police-Investigate-Possible-Kidnapping/4472995

sarahhod

05-27-2009, 06:18 AM

Police Find SUV, Search For Mom, Girl

Family's SUV Found Near 15th, Chestnut Streets

SOUTHAMPTON, Pa. - Police said they've found a key piece of evidence in the disappearance of a 8-year-old girl and her mother, who called 911 saying they were in the trunk of a car after being carjacked.
The family's silver GMC Denali was found unoccupied at 15th and Chestnut streets by a Philadelphia police officer on patrol early Wednesday morning.
Authorities hope this is the first step to finding Bonnie Sweeten and her young daughter, Julia Razocky.
The 38-year-old Feasterville mom called 911 late Tuesday afternoon and said she had gotten into a minor crash at the intersection of Street and Southampton roads in Upper Southampton Township.
Sweeten told a dispatcher that she and her daughter were put in the trunk of a Cadillac driven by two unknown black males and taken from the crash scene. Authorities said the call was traced to a cell phone tower in downtown Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania State Police issued an Amber Child Abduction Alert later in the day.
The alert described Julia as being a white, non-Hispanic female, 8 years old, 4 feet 1 inch tall, weighing 59 pounds and having long brown hair, blue eyes, a dime-sized birthmark on her forehead and unknown clothing.
Sweeten was described as a white, non-Hispanic female who is 38-years-old, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 130 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes. Her GMC Yukon Denali has Pennsylvania license plate of GYK-8998.
Anyone with information about the abduction should immediately contact the police by calling 911.

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/052709_Police_Say_Mother_Reported_Carjacking_From_ Car_Trunk

SavannahStar

05-27-2009, 06:54 AM

This is such a strange case! I hope there is news today.

Faith

05-27-2009, 07:56 AM

OMG how scary!!! I guess I don't really understand how cell phone signals work. If she called 911, couldn't the police have honed in on her location and gotten to her while she was on the call? I hope they are found soon!!!

There could be a process in gathering that info. I pray to God they have the info and are still picking up a ping from her cell. This is very strange.

packy

05-27-2009, 08:01 AM

I hope they can hone in soon. Time is so crucial. Did they confirm that the cadillac with the silver paint was determined to be the one that she described yet?

TigressPen

05-27-2009, 08:04 AM

When I read this last evening, I was in shock. Another precious child missing and in danger. I am glad to hear mom was able to call LE more than the one time - I was wondering why they didn't track her through her cell and towers. Estranged from hubby - praying he is innocent in this attack.

Please God let Julia and her mom be safe and unharmed.

Faith

05-27-2009, 09:13 AM

SUV of missing mother and daughter found

By Robert Moran

Inquirer Staff Writer

Police have found the SUV of a woman who called 911 saying she was in the trunk of a car and that she and her 9-year-old daughter had been abducted following an accident yesterday in Bucks County.

But Bonnie Sweeten and her daughter Julia Rakoczy remain missing.

A police officer found Sweeten's Yukon Denali was found about 1:30 a.m. today at 15th and Chestnut Streets in Center City, two blocks from the cell phone tower that picked up Sweeten's calls. police said. A parking ticket was on the windshield.

Police also impounded a black Cadillac in Hunting Park with damage to its front end, but the FBI indicated this morning that it was not linked to the case.

Investigators are examining Sweeten's SUV for possible clues.

"There are a lot of leads we are following," Special Agent J.J. Klaver, an FBI spokesman, said this morning.

Earlier, police activated an Amber Alert for the child.

Sweeten, 38, called police from the trunk of the dark-colored 1990s Cadillac shortly before 2 p.m. to report she had been abducted along with her daughter by two unknown black males, Klaver said yesterday.

Sweeten told a 911 operator that her daughter was still in her family vehicle, a silver 2005 GMC Yukon Denali with Pennsylvania license GYK-8998, Klaver said.

When local police arrived at the accident scene, both vehicles were gone, Klaver said.

Philadelphia police got the 911 call, which was received through a cell-phone tower at 12th and Walnut Streets in Center City, Klaver said.

WPVI-TV (Ch. 6) reported this morning that Sweeten made seven calls to 911.

The mother and daughter were taken after they were involved in a minor accident with the Cadillac on Street Road in Upper Southampton Township, about a mile north of the city, Klaver said.

Julia was described in the Amber Alert as 4 feet, 1 inch tall, 59 pounds, with long brown hair, blue eyes, and a dime-sized birthmark on her forehead. Her mother was described as 5 feet, 11 inches tall, 130 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information about the kidnapping was urged to call 911.

Julia attends Belmont Hills Elementary School in Bensalem. A parent of another child there said that Sweeten had been very active at the school. The parent, who asked not to be identified, said news of the kidnapping broke before a student performance at the school last night.

"The word spread quickly and no one knew what to say," the parent said. "Everyone is shocked. We just pray they come back home safely and we can see them once again in the school she so generously shares her time with."

Sweeten is married with three daughters, according to her Facebook page. She listed herself as a 1989 Bensalem High School graduate. Court records show that she and Julia's father divorced in May, 2003.

Paige Alexandra, 15, wrote on her Facebook page: "im asking everyone, to please pray for my mom and sister pray please."

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/46198142.html?cmpid=15585797

sarahhod

05-27-2009, 09:18 AM

Posted on Wed, May. 27, 2009

Dad appeals for release of daughter, ex-wife

By Larry King and Robert Moran
INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS

The ex-husband of a missing Bucks County mother appealed this morning for the return of her and their 9-year-old daughter, whose disappearance is being treated as an abduction.FBI Special Agent J.J. Klaver at the same time said, without elaboration, that investigators are following a number of leads in the hunt for Bonnie Sweeten and her daughter Julia Rakoczy.
Anthony Racoczy said that he and Bonnie Sweeten had since maintained a good relationship since they divorced in 2003, and that he knew no reason for anyone to harm her or their daughter.
"I'm still in shock," he said on NBC's Today show. "She's a great mother."
Earlier this morning, Philadelphia police located Sweeten's SUV in Center City.
The discovery came nearly 12 hours after Sweeten called 911 saying she was in the trunk of a car and that she and and Julia had been abducted after an accident in Upper Southampton, Bucks County.
Her daughter, she said was still in the family's Yukon Denali.
A police officer spotted the SUV about 1:30 a.m. today at 15th and Chestnut Streets in Center City, two blocks from the cell phone tower that picked up Sweeten's call, police said. A parking ticket was on the windshied.
Earlier, an Amber Alert was activated for the child.
When Sweeten, 38, called police shortly before 2 p.m. yesterday, she said she was in the trunk of a dark-colored 1990s Cadillac. She said she and her daughter had been abducted by two black males, Klaver, the FBI spokesman, said yesterday.
Sweeten told a 911 operator that her daughter was still in her family vehicle.
The mother reported she and daughter were taken after they were involved in a minor accident with the Cadillac on Street Road in Upper Southampton Township, about a mile north of the city, Klaver said.
Police impounded a black Cadillac with front end damage in Hunting Park last night, but the FBI indicated it was not linked to the investigation.
Julia is described in the Amber Alert as 4 feet, 1 inch tall, 59 pounds, with long brown hair, blue eyes, and a dime-sized birthmark on her forehead.
"She loves the Phillies. She plays softball. She always dances around the house," her father said.
Her mother is described as 5 feet, 11 inches tall, 130 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information about the case was urged to call 911.
Anthony Rakoczy and Sweeten were divorced in Bucks County Court in May 2003. Online court records indicate no ongoing disputes or court actions since the decree was granted.
This morning, Rakoczy said that when he was told of the 911 call, "I was thinking that this is not real, that this is stuff you see on TV." He described Sweeten as very organized, on top of her children's many activities, and as someone with no known enemies.
"I don't understand why anyone would want to keep them," he said. "Just let them go."
Sweeten has since remarried to Richard Sweeten, who operates a landscaping service. According to her Facebook page, she has three daughters, and is a 1989 graduate of Bensalem High School."
Her older daughter, Paige, 15, wrote on her Facebook page: "im asking everyone, to please pray for my mom and sister pray please."
Julia attends Belmont Hills Elementary School in Bensalem. A parent of another child there said that Sweeten had been very active at the school. The parent, who asked not to be identified, said news of the kidnapping broke before a student performance at the school last night.
"The word spread quickly and no one knew what to say," the parent said. "Everyone is shocked. We just pray they come back home safely and we can see them once again in the school she so generously shares her time with."

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20090527_Dad_appeals_for_release_of_daughter__ex-wife.html

Oceanblueeyes

05-27-2009, 09:48 AM

http://www.kyw1060.com/Police-Investigate-Possible-Kidnapping-after-Fende/4472995

****

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/br..._daughter.html
**********************

2 completely different things being reported.

That doesn't surprise me in the least with the media these days. So much contradictory information is released about other cases too.

This is horrible and I hope they find them soon. I think Julia was put in the trunk with her mother. I am praying real hard that there will be a favorable conclusion to this case but I am very worried about both of them.

imo

annalyzer

05-27-2009, 09:56 AM

That doesn't surprise me in the least with the media these days. So much contradictory information is released about other cases too.

This is horrible and I hope they find them soon. I think Julia was put in the trunk with her mother. I am praying real hard that there will be a favorable conclusion to this case but I am very worried about both of them.

imo

I'm thinking the mother got out of her vehicle to assess the damage of the accident and exchange insurance info. There would be no reason for the little girl to get out of the vehicle. Once at the back of the perps vehicle the trunk was opened for some reason and the mother was shoved in. At the same time the second perp jumped into the vehicle with the child and drove away.

annalyzer

05-27-2009, 11:02 AM

Pa. mom, daughter are rear-ended, report abduction

Police on Wednesday were searching for a woman and her young daughter after the mother called 911 to report that they had been abducted in broad daylight by men who rear-ended their car.

Bonnie Sweeten, of Feasterville, made the cell phone call Tuesday, saying she was locked in the trunk of a car, police and the FBI said. She told a 911 dispatcher that two men abducted her and 9-year-old Julia Rakoczy after the men's car struck her SUV around 2 p.m.

It is not clear whether the 38-year-old mother knew the two men. Sweeten, who is white, described them only as two black men.

FBI spokesman J.J. Klaver told the Philadelphia Daily News that there were "inconsistencies" in the woman's account, but said, "Right now, we're treating this as an abduction based on the information provided in the 911 call."

Investigators determined that Sweeten's phone call was last transmitted via a cell tower in downtown Philadelphia, about 20 miles from the abduction scene. Police found her SUV near that tower early Wednesday, but were still searching for the other car reported to be involved in the accident, authorities said.

Sweeten's ex-husband and the girl's father, Tony Rakoczy, said on NBC's "Today" show that he doesn't understand why the two would be abducted.

"There's no reason why they would keep them," he said. "We don't have money. I don't understand."

Posted on Wed, May. 27, 2009 07:49 AM

http://www.kansascity.com/440/story/1218645.html

Angiedee12

05-27-2009, 11:09 AM

Our local news here in Philly is staying on top of this case, I agree it is a strange and very scary one, and contradictory information is being reported from different sources.

I am constantly praying for their safe return, and am keeping up with the news on this. Kidnappings are so scary.

Faith

05-27-2009, 11:14 AM

Our local news here in Philly is staying on top of this case, I agree it is a strange and very scary one.

I am constantly praying for their safe return, and am keeping up with the news on this. Kidnappings are so scary.

Thank you, Angie, Welcome to HFTM.

My prayers are for their safe return. Please keep us updated from your local news.

annalyzer

05-27-2009, 11:14 AM

Our local news here in Philly is staying on top of this case, I agree it is a strange and very scary one.

I am constantly praying for their safe return, and am keeping up with the news on this. Kidnappings are so scary.

What's the local buzz? Are people believing the abduction story?

Faith

05-27-2009, 11:16 AM

the FBI agent, JJ is on FOX now saying no new news today. They are going over the car with a fine toothed comb.

Faith

05-27-2009, 11:18 AM

He said they are still searching for the late 90's caddy.

annalyzer

05-27-2009, 11:29 AM

He said they are still searching for the late 90's caddy.

Well if they found the SUV there goes the theory that they were targeted for their vehicle. That lady in Texas (Susan?) was targeted for her vehicle and yet her vehicle was soon found too so I just don't know. I'm confused.

Angiedee12

05-27-2009, 11:30 AM

What's the local buzz? Are people believing the abduction story?

As far as I know, yes. At least until more information comes to light, because some of it is contradictory. I believe police are now searching for security cameras near where the woman's car was found in downtown Philly to see what evidence they might present, if any. No word yet if that is proving helpful, however. Thanks for the warm welcome to the board :smile:

packy

05-27-2009, 11:42 AM

Welcome, Angie, and thank you for sharing what you hear locally. Praying for them to be found soon.

annalyzer

05-27-2009, 11:45 AM

As far as I know, yes. At least until more information comes to light, because some of it is contradictory. I believe police are now searching for security cameras near where the woman's car was found in downtown Philly to see what evidence they might present, if any. No word yet if that is proving helpful, however. Thanks for the warm welcome to the board :smile:

Yes welcome Angie. The accident/abduction scene, is this a busy intersection?

Angiedee12

05-27-2009, 11:48 AM

Here's the link to the website of our local NBC affiliate if anyone wants to check for updates themselves:

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/

Angiedee12

05-27-2009, 11:53 AM

Yes welcome Angie. The accident/abduction scene, is this a busy intersection?

I've never personally been up there, where the accident/abduction took place. But my mom used to live around that area and she says its always pretty busy, even in the middle of the day. So its very scary to me that this would happen in broad daylight in the middle of an apparently busy intersection.

Roamer

05-27-2009, 11:57 AM

Welcome, Angie.

If there was an abduction, I pray they're found soon. I'm just torn on this one, We've heard stories like this before, that turn out to be a hoax.

Grande

05-27-2009, 12:06 PM

Mother Daughter Missing in Apparent Abduction (11:30 a.m.)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The FBI reportedly says there are "inconsistencies" in the story of a Pennsylvania woman who claimed that she and her 9-year-old daughter were abducted by men who rear-ended their car.

Bonnie Sweeten called 911 to report she was locked in the trunk of a car after the men struck her SUV near Philadelphia yesterday afternoon.

An FBI spokesman told the Philadelphia Daily News the agency is "treating this as an abduction based on the information provided in the 911 call," but that there are inconsistencies.

Police have found Sweeten's SUV and are searching for the mother and daughter along with the other car.

Sweeten's ex-husband and the girl's father tells NBC the family isn't wealthy and there's "no reason why they would keep them."

http://www.wtvr.com/Global/story.asp?S=10430353

Angiedee12

05-27-2009, 12:10 PM

Our ABC affiliate airs a broadcast at noon. Basically everything they said could be found here:
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6832725

On the broadcast though, they said her car was found with a parking ticket on it time- stamped just after 2PM yesterday. her 911 call came in only minutes before that, which indicates that her car was already in downtown Philadelphia when she called 911. If i can find the link that says that, I'll post it here too.

this case is definitely creating more questions than answers

TigressPen

05-27-2009, 12:10 PM

If she was kept in the trunk of that car, it seems some trace evidence would be found. I am praying her inconsistencies is just her fear. Please let it be that Julia and Mom come home safe.

Angiedee12

05-27-2009, 12:26 PM

PHILADELPHIA - May 27, 2009 (WPVI) -- More questions are surfacing in the case of a missing mother and daughter from Feasterville, Pa.

Police found the SUV belonging to Bonnie Sweeten, 38, early Wednesday morning in at 15th and Chestnut in Center City Philadelphia.

The vehicle, a GMC Yukon Denali, had a parking ticket on it with a time stamp of 2:20 p.m. Tuesday.

Investigators say Sweeten called them just before 2:00 p.m., saying she and her daughter, Julia Rakoczy, 9, had been kidnapped after a traffic crash in Upper Southampton, Pa.

That 20 minute window would be an incredibly tight timeframe to get from the suburban town to the heart of the city.

Furthermore, police say they traced Sweeten's first 911 call to a cell phone tower near the location where the SUV was found.

The search for both her, and her young daughter, continues.

Investigators are still looking for another vehicle involved, described as a 1990's model black Cadillac.

The search began after an alleged carjacking Tuesday afternoon.

Police were called around 2:00 p.m. to the intersection of Street Road and Center Avenue in Upper Southampton when Sweeten called to report an accident.

The crash involved that black 1990's Cadillac and her bluish-silver 2005 GMC Yukon Denali.

By the time police arrived, there was no one there.

A short time later, the 911 call center in Philadelphia received a call from Sweeten, traced to 12th and Walnut Streets in Center City. Sweeten told police that she had been kidnapped by two men, only described as two black males, and thrown in the trunk of the Cadillac.

She also said her daughter, was still in her SUV.

There's more at the link.
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6832725

packy

05-27-2009, 12:26 PM

If she was kept in the trunk of that car, it seems some trace evidence would be found. I am praying her inconsistencies is just her fear. Please let it be that Julia and Mom come home safe.

I thought it was reported that she said she was in the trunk of the Cadillac.

TigressPen

05-27-2009, 12:30 PM

I thought it was reported that she said she was in the trunk of the Cadillac.

Yes, I read that also. And they have both vehicles now. At least they have a car believed to be the car used in the abduction. Complete with dents and silver paint the same as Mom's SUV -

TigressPen

05-27-2009, 12:33 PM

PHILADELPHIA - May 27, 2009 (WPVI) -- Investigators are still looking for another vehicle involved, described as a 1990's model black Cadillac.
There's more at the link.
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6832725

I thought it was reported earlier they had found the car involved too. Argh! These inconsistencies with media reports.

annalyzer

05-27-2009, 12:53 PM

That 20 minute window would be an incredibly tight timeframe to get from the suburban town to the heart of the city.

I wonder if the meter reader can recall if that Yukon had been parked there for awhile before the ticket was placed? That would be very telling. I wouldn't think a car would be ticketed right away.

sarahhod

05-27-2009, 01:15 PM

Posted on Wed, May. 27, 2009

Dad appeals for release of daughter, ex-wife

By Larry King and Robert Moran
INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS

Investigators are examining a car and chasing leads in an effort to find a Bucks County woman and her 9-year-old daughter whose disappearance is being treated as a double kidnapping by authorities.
One question they are expected to ask is why the girl, Julia Rakoczy, was withdrawn from school May 1.
Julia's mother, Bonnie Sweeten, 38, called 911 yesterday saying she was in the trunk of car and that she and her daughter had been kidnapped by two men following a fender bender in Upper Southampton.
This morning, as Julia's father appealed on national television for the release of his daughter and ex-wife this morning, FBI Special Agent J.J. Klaver said investigators were following a number of leads in the case. He did not elaborate.
Anthony Racoczy said that he and Bonnie Sweeten had maintained a good relationship since they divorced in 2003, and that he knew no reason for anyone to harm her or their daughter.
"I'm still in shock," he said on NBC's Today show. "She's a great mother."
Earlier, Philadelphia police located Sweeten's SUV in Center City.
The discovery came nearly 12 hours after Sweeten made a desperate sounding 911 call, during which she said her daughter was still in the family's Yukon Denali.
A police officer spotted the SUV about 1:30 a.m. at 15th and Chestnut Streets in Center City, two blocks from the cell phone tower that picked up Sweeten's call, police said. A parking ticket was on the windshied.
Investigators hope the car will yield some clues.
When Sweeten, 38, called police shortly before 2 p.m. yesterday, she said she was in the trunk of a dark-colored 1990s Cadillac.
The mother reported she and daughter were taken by two black men after they were involved in a minor accident with the Cadillac on Street Road in Upper Southampton Township, about a mile north of the city, Klaver said.
Police found nothing at the scene and investigators appealed for help from any possible witnesses.
Police also impounded a black Cadillac with front end damage in Hunting Park last night, but the FBI indicated it was not linked to the investigation.
Julia is described an Amber Alert issued last night as 4-feet, 1-inch tall, 59 pounds, with long brown hair, blue eyes, and a dime-sized birthmark on her forehead.
She attended the Belmont Hills Elementary School in Bensalem, but Susan Phy, spokeswoman for the Bensalem School District, said the girl was "withdrawn" from the school on May 1.
Phy said she did not know whether Julia had enrolled in another school after that. Phy added that the district would have no further comment.
"She loves the Phillies. She plays softball. She always dances around the house," her father said.
Her mother is described as 5-feet, 11-inches tall, 130 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes.
Anthony Rakoczy and Sweeten were divorced in Bucks County Court in May 2003. Online court records indicate no ongoing disputes or court actions since the decree was granted.
This morning, Rakoczy said that when he was told of the 911 call, "I was thinking that this is not real, that this is stuff you see on TV." He described Sweeten as very organized, on top of her children's many activities, and as someone with no known enemies.
"I don't understand why anyone would want to keep them," he said. "Just let them go."
Sweeten has since remarried to Richard Sweeten, who operates a landscaping service. According to her Facebook page, she has three daughters, and is a 1989 graduate of Bensalem High School."
Her older daughter, Paige, 15, wrote on her Facebook page: "im asking everyone, to please pray for my mom and sister pray please."
A parent of a child who attended school with Julia said that Sweeten had been very active at the school. The parent, who asked not to be identified, said news of the kidnapping broke before a student performance at the school last night.
"The word spread quickly and no one knew what to say," the parent said. "Everyone is shocked. We just pray they come back home safely and we can see them once again in the school she so generously shares her time with." Anyone with information about the case was urged to call 911.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20090527_Dad_appeals_for_release_of_daughter__ex-wife.html

annalyzer

05-27-2009, 01:35 PM

annalyzer

05-27-2009, 01:51 PM

video

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6832725

Angiedee12

05-27-2009, 02:11 PM

I wonder why we are not hearing anything from the current husband?

I've been wondering that all day.

Naia

05-27-2009, 02:15 PM

Naia

05-27-2009, 02:50 PM

From above link, "One question they are expected to ask is why the girl, Julia Rakoczy, was withdrawn from school May 1. "

Ruh roh.

I wonder why we are not hearing anything from the current husband?
Ruh roh is right.
The child was withdrawn from school May 1. :smiley_aasg:
Followed by a possible abduction on May 27. :confused:
Seven 911 calls from the mother who claims she (and her daughter) are in the trunk of a car after an accident.:smiley_aasg:
Mother says she and her daughter were abducted by 2 black men.:smiley_aasg:
Mother is estranged from her present husband. :waitasec:

Something's fishy, imo. :022:

Naia

05-27-2009, 02:53 PM

The search continued on Wednesday for a Bucks County woman and her daughter who were allegedly abducted on Tuesday afternoon following a rear-end crash at one of the busiest intersections in the county, even as police attempted to unravel apparent inconsistencies in the case.

Someone would have seen something at 2 pm on one of the busiest intersections of the city.

annalyzer

05-27-2009, 03:00 PM

Ruh roh is right.
The child was withdrawn from school May 1. :smiley_aasg:
Followed by a possible abduction on May 27. :confused:
Seven 911 calls from the mother who claims she (and her daughter) are in the trunk of a car after an accident.:smiley_aasg:
Mother says she and her daughter were abducted by 2 black men.:smiley_aasg:
Mother is estranged from her present husband. :waitasec:

Something's fishy, imo. :022:

I read elsewhere (no link at this time) that the ex husband said the daughter was transferred to another school at that time (may 1st)

Where did you hear the mother is estranged from her current husband?

Oceanblueeyes

05-27-2009, 03:01 PM

Oceanblueeyes,
I totally agree about the media.
I'm also very worried about this mother and child.

I am still very worried about them but I have changed my opinion on who may be the culprit in this case.

None of this adds up. It makes no sense.

First, what kidnapper just throws their victims into a trunk and doesn't check them for a cell phone knowing all the while they can call 911?

Secondly, the supposed suspects have a black Cadillac made in the 90s yet they take her vehicle from the scene which is a 2005 Denali and don't go far with it and park it perfectly?

And why did she withdraw Julia from school on May 1st?

I am beginning to think she staged this entire thing. That is why I think we have not heard from the present husband because he knows they haven't been kidnapped by two black men.

Imo, the police knows something they are not revealing. Does this woman have major issues?

imo

Oceanblueeyes

05-27-2009, 03:06 PM

Ruh roh is right.
The child was withdrawn from school May 1. :smiley_aasg:
Followed by a possible abduction on May 27. :confused:
Seven 911 calls from the mother who claims she (and her daughter) are in the trunk of a car after an accident.:smiley_aasg:
Mother says she and her daughter were abducted by 2 black men.:smiley_aasg:
Mother is estranged from her present husband. :waitasec:

Something's fishy, imo. :022:

I haven't heard a word about her being estranged from her present husband. Where did you hear or read that, Naia? TIA

Roamer

05-27-2009, 03:06 PM

Missing Mom and Daughter's Car Found Girl's father makes tearful plea to abductors.

By VINCE LATTANZIO (http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/results/?keywords=%22VINCE+LATTANZIO%22&author=y&sort=date)
Updated 2:38 PM EDT, Wed, May 27, 2009

Bonnie Sweeten called 9-1-1 Tuesday from the trunk of a car and said she and her daughter Julia had been abducted.

Philadelphia police found Bonnie Sweeten's SUV overnight, but there are still no signs of the missing 38-year old mom or her 9-year old daughter. The daughter's biological father made a plea for their return on national television Wednesday morning during an interview on The Today Show (http://today.msnbc.msn.com/).

Police are checking for security cameras on the same street where they found the SUV.

"I would like to tell them to let them go there's no reason to keep them I don't understand why they'd want to keep them. Just let them go. I mean, you know, we don't have money," said Anthony Rakoczy. He had a hard time keeping his composure as he talked about his daughter Julia, who he'd just spent Memorial Day with, "She loves the Phillies. She plays softball. She's always dancing around the house."
A Philly police officer found Sweeten's SUV around 2 a.m. at Chestnut and 15th, just five blocks from where police first traced the mother's frantic cell phone call Tuesday just before 2 p.m. A parking ticket on the windshield with a time stamp of 2:20 p.m., according to local media reports. Although it would be difficult to get from the accident scene about 25 miles away into the city that fast, investigators said their focus right now is on finding the two: "We are searching the street for any cameras that might be useful," said Capt. Robin Hill. Southampton police towed the SUV away early Wednesday morning so forensic experts could go over it.
Sweeten called 9-1-1 from her cell phone Tuesday afternoon saying she and her daughter had been thrown into the back of a dark-colored 1990's Cadillac by two black men after they rear-ended her in Southampton. When police got to scene at Street Road and Second Street Pike, they didn't find any evidence and have not talked to anyone who saw an accident, according to FBI Special Agent J.J. Klaver. They traced Sweeten's call to a cell tower in the 200 block of 12th Street in Philadelphia. Police searched the area for both cars at that point and didn't find either.
Sweeten, who lives in Feasterville, is a married mother of three girls. She was driving her husband Larry's SUV to a doctor's appointment at the time of the abduction. Larry is Julia's stepfather. Julia's biological father had nothing but good things to say about his ex-wife, "She's a great mother. She's very organized. Always on top of the stuff the girls have going on…She's just a very good mother."
"Right now we are treating this as an abduction," said Klaver. An Amber alert went out for Julia Rakoczy about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Rakoczy is 4 feet, one inch tall, 59 pounds, with long, brown hair, blue eyes and a dime-sized birthmark on her forehead. Her mother is 5'11", 130 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes.
When asked whether it was a random act, FBI spokesman Klaver said, "We don't have any comment on that right now...Until we can get people who we can interview who were there, so we can get the first-hand account, it would be inappropriate to speculate at this point."
Sweeten's oldest daughter, Paige, 15, wrote about the kidnapping on her Facebook page saying, "I'm asking everyone, to please pray for my Mom and sister."

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Police-Searching-for-Woman-Child-Trapped-in-Trunk.html

Isabella

05-27-2009, 03:25 PM

Nancy Grace will be doing this story tonight...

Mom and her nine-year-old daughter allegedly abducted! The mom calls 911 from the trunk! Help find the abducted mom and daughter! Nancy Grace has the latest breaking developments, 8 & 10 p.m. ET on HLN.

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/nancy.grace/

Naia

05-27-2009, 03:45 PM

I read elsewhere (no link at this time) that the ex husband said the daughter was transferred to another school at that time (may 1st)

Where did you hear the mother is estranged from her current husband?

annalyzer and Oceanblueeyes,
I posted it somewhere here last night.
Here you go.

http://www.kyw1060.com/Police-Invest...-Fende/4472995

Quote:
"We've been in contact with a lot of people. I believe that she's estranged from her husband so we are talking to a lot of different people to try and get as much information as we can about where she and her daughter may be.

Oceanblueeyes,
I think she may have staged the entire thing too. Especially after you pointed it out about the suspects fleeing in their car instead of a new car.

Angiedee12

05-27-2009, 03:59 PM

Naia

05-27-2009, 04:06 PM

Angie,
Me too. I'm skeptical but of course will continue praying for them to be found safe.

nanabillie

05-27-2009, 04:20 PM

Some of the articles say she has an infant. Maybe she is suffering from Post Pardum Depression.

The husband sounded very upset that it was being reported that they pulled her out of school. He said it was to enroll her in another school. This was on Fox News TV at 3pm.
http://www.foxnews.com/

http://www.foxnews.com/i/new/close.jpg (http://www.foxnews.com/#)

On Air Personalities » (http://www.foxnews.com/bios/index.html)

http://www.foxnews.com/images/root_images/052709_ABDUCTED.jpg (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,522190,00.html)
FNC
Philadelphia police find SUV belonging to Bonnie Sweeten, who made a frantic 911 call from vehicle's trunk to say she and her daughter, Julia Rakoczy, were kidnapped after a rear-ender. | PHOTOS (http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,4644,7335,00.html) | VIDEO (http://www.foxnews.com/#)

Oceanblueeyes

05-27-2009, 04:46 PM

annalyzer and Oceanblueeyes,
I posted it somewhere here last night.
Here you go.

http://www.kyw1060.com/Police-Invest...-Fende/4472995

Oceanblueeyes,
I think she may have staged the entire thing too. Especially after you pointed it out about the suspects fleeing in their car instead of a new car.

Thank you so much. Finally someone gave me a link to where that information is coming from.

But why not take the rest of the children especially her baby?

I don't know. I go back and forth. I just don't know what to make of it all.

Thanks again, Naia.:hifive:

Oceanblueeyes

05-27-2009, 04:53 PM

sarahhod

05-27-2009, 04:58 PM

Skepticism surrounds missing mom, girl

Wednesday, May 27, 2009 | 3:53 PM

PHILADELPHIA (WABC) -- More questions are surfacing in the case of a missing mother and daughter from Feasterville, Pa.
Police found the SUV belonging to the missing woman, Bonnie Sweeten (http://search.abclocal.go.com/search/results?station=wabc&search=siteSearch&q=Bonnie+Sweeten), 38, early Wednesday morning at 15th and Chestnut in Center City Philadelphia.
However, investigators are increasingly skeptical of the alleged abduction which Sweeten telephoned in to 911. They confirm that the call was made most likely not from the suburb of Philadelphia 25 miles away where she lived, but from Center City, which is why it went to a cell phone repeater there and to the Philadelphia PD 911 system.
The vehicle, a GMC Yukon Denali, had a parking ticket on it with a time stamp of 2:20 p.m. Tuesday.
http://view.atdmt.com/9K1/view/146830855/direct/01/7560247 (http://ad.doubleclick.net/click%3Bh=v8/383a/3/0/%2a/s%3B214136018%3B0-0%3B1%3B29482432%3B4307-300/250%3B31155310/31173186/1%3Bu%3Dibs-18459113_1243457737%2C110c7dcb9006002%2Cpolit%2Ccm .family-cm.fam_L-cm.polit_L-cm.biz1-cm.biz_M-cm.sports_L-cm.weath_L%3B%7Eokv%3D%3Bnet%3Dibs%3Bu%3Dibs-18459113_1243457737%2C110c7dcb9006002%2Cpolit%2Ccm .family-cm.fam_L-cm.polit_L-cm.biz1-cm.biz_M-cm.sports_L-cm.weath_L%3B%3Bkw%3Dtsi5060%3Bord1%3D970175%3Bsz% 3D300x250%3Bcontx%3Dpolit%3Bbtg%3Dcm.family%3Bbtg% 3Dcm.fam_L%3Bbtg%3Dcm.polit_L%3Bbtg%3Dcm.biz1%3Bbt g%3Dcm.biz_M%3Bbtg%3Dcm.sports_L%3Bbtg%3Dcm.weath_ L%3B%7Eaopt%3D2/2/12/0%3B%7Esscs%3D%3fhttp://clk.atdmt.com/9K1/go/146830855/direct/01/7560247)http://view.atdmt.com/9K1/view/146830855/direct/01/7560247 (http://ad.doubleclick.net/click%3Bh=v8/383a/3/0/%2a/s%3B214136018%3B0-0%3B1%3B29482432%3B4307-300/250%3B31155310/31173186/1%3Bu%3Dibs-18459113_1243457737%2C110c7dcb9006002%2Cpolit%2Ccm .family-cm.fam_L-cm.polit_L-cm.biz1-cm.biz_M-cm.sports_L-cm.weath_L%3B%7Eokv%3D%3Bnet%3Dibs%3Bu%3Dibs-18459113_1243457737%2C110c7dcb9006002%2Cpolit%2Ccm .family-cm.fam_L-cm.polit_L-cm.biz1-cm.biz_M-cm.sports_L-cm.weath_L%3B%3Bkw%3Dtsi5060%3Bord1%3D970175%3Bsz% 3D300x250%3Bcontx%3Dpolit%3Bbtg%3Dcm.family%3Bbtg% 3Dcm.fam_L%3Bbtg%3Dcm.polit_L%3Bbtg%3Dcm.biz1%3Bbt g%3Dcm.biz_M%3Bbtg%3Dcm.sports_L%3Bbtg%3Dcm.weath_ L%3B%7Eaopt%3D2/2/12/0%3B%7Esscs%3D%3fhttp://clk.atdmt.com/9K1/go/146830855/direct/01/7560247)
Investigators say Sweeten called them just before 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, saying she and her daughter, Julia Rakoczy (http://search.abclocal.go.com/search/results?station=wabc&search=siteSearch&q=Julia+Rakoczy), 9, had been kidnapped after a traffic crash in Upper Southampton, Pa.
That 20 minute window would be an incredibly tight timeframe to get from the suburban town to the heart of the city.
Furthermore, police say they traced Sweeten's first 911 call to a cell phone tower near the location where the SUV was found, indicating it may have been there the entire time.
Detectives are investigating allegations that she may have taken about $300,000 from her former employer, an attorney in Upper Makefield Township, law enforcement sources told ABC News. Out of concern for her safety and especially for safety of the nine-year-old with her, these sources tell ABC News, police and FBI in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs are mounting a full scale hunt visiting every motel in the area in an effort to locate her. Sweeten was described as scared, and investigators were worried about her emotional stability.
Investigators in Bucks County last night interviewed the attorney who employed Sweeten. While details were sketchy, the employer may not have known until very recently that the money was gone and that Sweeten was a potential suspect in its disappearance.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports that Rakoczy attended elementary school in Bensalem until she was withdrawn from classes May 1.
That was according to Susan Harder, an administrative assistant with the Bensalem Township School District.
However, family members tell Action News that the girl was simply transferred to a school closer to home.
The search for both Sweeten and Rakoczy continues.
Investigators are still looking for another vehicle involved, described as a 1990's model black Cadillac.
The search began after the claims of a carjacking Tuesday afternoon.
Police were called around 2:00 p.m. to the intersection of Street Road and Center Avenue in Upper Southampton when Sweeten called to report an accident.
The crash involved that black 1990's Cadillac and her GMC.
By the time police arrived, there was no one there.
A short time later, the 911 call center in Philadelphia received a call from Sweeten, traced to 12th and Walnut Streets in Center City. Sweeten told police that she had been kidnapped by two men, only described as two black males, and thrown in the trunk of the Cadillac.
She also said her daughter was still in her SUV.
"According to the 911 call she made from the trunk of the car, she believed that they also took her car," J.J. Klaver of the FBI said.
Investigators do say Sweeten's SUV was not at the scene when they arrived.
In all, Sweeten made seven calls to 911. During two of those calls police say they were able to talk to her at length.
The Pennsylvania State Police soon issued an Amber Alert for Julia. (http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/AmberExternalFCServlet?act=retAmberCase&amberId=6929)
The active Amber Alert (http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/AmberExternalFCServlet?act=retAmberCase&amberId=6929)stated Wednesday morning that police are still looking for the Cadillac involved.
Sweeten's ex-husband, Tony Rakoczy, said on NBC's "Today" show that he doesn't understand why the abductors would keep them. He says "we don't have money."
Sweeten has two other daughters, an 8-month-old with her current husband and a 15-year-old from a previous marriage, the AP reports.
In Feasterville, Pa., where Bonnie and Julia live, there was a steady stream of friends and family at her home throughout the night.
hock, but she's a good mom and she loves her kids. I know she's protecting Julia," Kate Carr, a relative, said outside Bonnie's home.
Susanne Barrett drove by the home hoping to learn that the pair was found. Her daughter goes to school with Julia.
"I just felt that if that were to happen to me and my daughter. It's very tragic and we just started crying. We're very upset and we hope they come home safely," Barrett said.
Neighbors describe Sweeten as a loving mom and the daughter as a radiant young girl. Sweeten's husband owns a landscaping company and the family has lived on the block for years.
"I hope both of them should be safe and come back," neighbor Surajaiet Kahanna said.
The friends and family of the missing mother and daughter are sending their thoughts and prayers out for them to be found safe.
Without being specific, authorities are saying they are making progress in the investigation, but are still searching for Bonnie and Julia.
Anyone with information should immediately call 911.

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news&id=6833976

Oceanblueeyes

05-27-2009, 04:59 PM

I agree, the new details (her pulling the daughter out of school, her apparent estrangement from her husband, and unexplained time discrepancies with the first 911 call and the time stamped on the parking ticket) are making this seem extremely suspicious. I really hate to think this was staged, but right now some things just aren't adding up. I also find it EXTREMELY hard to believe that there are no witnesses to the accident or abduction if the intersection is one of the busiest in the city. I honestly don't know what to think right now.

I'm still worried about them, of course, and praying for their safe return.

What gives me pause though is she didn't make sure she had all of her children when this happened. Surely she would not leave her 8 month old baby.

Good grief I am even beginning to think maybe her estranged set this up for some reason. The bumping the rear end of her vehicle could have just been a ruse in order for her to stop but yet this is a congested area and no one seems to have seen any of this happening.

Nothing really makes sense now so it is hard to apply any logic to it.

imo

Oceanblueeyes

05-27-2009, 05:05 PM

Detectives are investigating allegations that she may have taken about $300,000 from her former employer, an attorney in Upper Makefield Township, law enforcement sources told ABC News.

Dang! I didn't trust my first gut instinct. :71541: I thought that she had embezzled money from someone and was running from being prosecuted. Then I dismissed it.

imo

Angiedee12

05-27-2009, 05:08 PM

What gives me pause though is she didn't make sure she had all of her children when this happened. Surely she would not leave her 8 month old baby.

Good grief I am even beginning to think maybe her estranged set this up for some reason. The bumping the rear end of her vehicle could have just been a ruse in order for her to stop but yet this is a congested area and no one seems to have seen any of this happening.

Nothing really makes sense now so it is hard to apply any logic to it.

imo

I completely agree with you. That's why I was so hesitant to believe it was staged at first. I thought, "if it was, why would she just go with THAT daughter and not the others?" It doesn't make any sense.

packy

05-27-2009, 05:14 PM

Has anyone heard about she was seen in a video at the airport? I'm hearing that on the news now.

Angiedee12

05-27-2009, 05:17 PM

I haven't heard or seen this anywhere else whatsoever, but I just saw this:

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6832725

PHILADELPHIA - May 27, 2009 (WPVI) -- Video surveillance at Philadelphia International Airport captured Bonnie Sweeten and Julia Rakoczy boarding a plane late Tuesday. That plane was heading to Tampa, Florida.

Police are now saying that effectively dismisses Sweeten's claim that she and her daughter were abducted.

This all began shortly before 2:00 p.m. Tuesday when Sweeten called 911 to say she had been in a car crash. She claimed a pair of men abducted her and her 9-year-old daughter, and stole her SUV.

Police found the SUV early Wednesday morning at 15th and Chestnut in Center City Philadelphia.

Cracks in her story started to appear after it was revealed that the GMC Yukon Denali a parking ticket on it with a time stamp of 2:20 p.m. Tuesday.

Investigators say Sweeten called them just before 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, saying she and her daughter had been kidnapped after a traffic crash at the intersection of Street Road and Center Avenue in Upper Southampton, Pa.

That 20 minute window would be an incredibly tight timeframe to get from the suburban town to the heart of the city.

Furthermore, police say they traced Sweeten's first 911 call to a cell phone tower near the location where the SUV was found, indicating it may have been there the entire time.

In all, Sweeten made seven calls to 911. During two of those calls police say they were able to talk to her at length.

The Pennsylvania State Police soon issued an Amber Alert for Julia.

Sweeten has two other daughters, an 8-month-old with her current husband and a 15-year-old from a previous marriage.

Anyone with information should immediately call 911.

Isabella

05-27-2009, 05:18 PM

Has anyone heard about she was seen in a video at the airport? I'm hearing that on the news now.
Yes just heard that on HLN, but I didn't catch if she was alone
or her daughter was with her, did you hear?

Why in the world would she only take one child?

packy

05-27-2009, 05:20 PM

Yes just heard that on HLN, but I didn't catch if she was alone
or her daughter was with her, did you hear?

As far as I heard they said the video did not show her daughter. But are they sure it is her I wonder.

Oceanblueeyes

05-27-2009, 05:30 PM

As far as I heard they said the video did not show her daughter. But are they sure it is her I wonder.

Yes, HLN did say Julia wasn't in the airport with Bonnie.

I hope it was just bad reporting. I would rather her be on that plane than not arriving with her mom.

This is unbelievable. It reminds me of that female attorney or Judge who had embezzled and set it up like she had been kidnapped.

I cant remember her name now but it was about a year ago I think.

imo

Isabella

05-27-2009, 05:33 PM

Angiedee12

05-27-2009, 05:37 PM

They're waiting for the FBI to officially confirm it, which should occur at some point later this evening. Some reports are claiming the the daughter was with her, and some are reporting that she was not. I just hope she's safe.

Isabella

05-27-2009, 05:39 PM

SavannahStar

05-27-2009, 05:39 PM

Wow!

:confused:

Naia

05-27-2009, 05:44 PM

Naia

05-27-2009, 05:57 PM

Posted on Wed, May. 27, 2009 philly.com
‘Missing’ Bucks mom, daughter, sought in Florida

By Larry King, Troy Graham and John Shiffman

INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS
The Bucks County woman who made a frantic 911 call yesterday reporting that she and her daughter had been kidnapped is now believed to be in Florida with the girl, a law enforcement official said this afternoon.

The woman was caught on video surveillence at Philadelphia International Airport yesterday about an hour or so after her call to authorities. Using fake identification and cash, she bought two one-way tickets to Orlando, the source told the Inquire

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20090527_Missing_Bucks_mom__daughter__sought_in_Fl orida.htm
l

"Her story (911 calls) just wasn't adding up," an investigator said.

I wonder if this could be PPD? Most mama's can't leave their babies.

This is a legit newspaper. It isn't the enquirer. ;)

Faith

05-27-2009, 05:58 PM

I am thankful they are alright buy why make up the story?

HLN is about to discuss the case.

Naia

05-27-2009, 06:02 PM

Just d**n. Read this.
Sources tell CBS 3 surveillance video from businesses in Center City near where the mother's vehicle was recovered show the woman getting out of the car with her daughter minutes after making several 911 calls reporting the abduction. The mother reportedly meets up with another woman and disappears on the crowded streets of the city.

Sources say surveillance video obtained by the F.B.I. shows the pair arriving at Philadelphia International Airport a short time later at about 3 p.m.

Federal and local authorities have been searching for 38-year-old Bonnie Ann Sweeten and her daughter Julia, 9, since their alleged abduction Tuesday afternoon.
http://cbs3.com/topstories/kidnapping.abduction.carjacking.2.1019972.html May 27, 2009 5:38 pm US/Eastern

What are the chances that this woman or Julia were being abused?
Did the mom take her daughter away to protect her?
I'm really confused. :frustratedf:

Isabella

05-27-2009, 06:14 PM

Just d**n. Read this.

What are the chances that this woman or Julia were being abused?
Did the mom take her daughter away to protect her?
I'm really confused. :frustratedf:
I have thought of that to..

I have tried to read all the links but don't see, was her
SUV actually rear ended? I saw a video of it but I couldn't
make out any damage.

Naia

05-27-2009, 06:15 PM

Isabella,
I can't tell if it was rear ended or not. Let me see if I can find a link that tells us.

Naia

05-27-2009, 06:23 PM

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6832725
Investigators: Two were not abducted by a pair of men
by David Henry, Dann Cuellar, Vernon Odom and Nora Muchanic

PHILADELPHIA - May 27, 2009 (WPVI) -- Sources tell Action News that video surveillance at Philadelphia International Airport captured missing mom Bonnie Sweeten and her daughter, Julia Rakoczy, boarding a plane on Tuesday afternoon.

Those sources say the flight left at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday and was heading to Orlando, Florida.

Sources say they have numerous pictures of Sweeten and Rakoczy at the airport, and say they were boarding the plane of their own free will, and were not accompanied by anyone elase.

Investigators say they can now conclude that the two were not abducted by a pair of men following a traffic crash.

Investigators: Two were not abducted by a pair of men
by David Henry, Dann Cuellar, Vernon Odom and Nora Muchanic

PHILADELPHIA - May 27, 2009 (WPVI) -- Sources tell Action News that video surveillance at Philadelphia International Airport captured missing mom Bonnie Sweeten and her daughter, Julia Rakoczy, boarding a plane on Tuesday afternoon.

Those sources say the flight left at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday and was heading to Orlando, Florida.

Sources say they have numerous pictures of Sweeten and Rakoczy at the airport, and say they were boarding the plane of their own free will, and were not accompanied by anyone elase.

Investigators say they can now conclude that the two were not abducted by a pair of men following a traffic crash.

This all began around 1:50 p.m. Tuesday when Sweeten called 911 to say she had been in a car crash. She claimed the pair of men then abducted her and her 9-year-old daughter, and stole her SUV.

Police found the SUV early Wednesday morning at 15th and Chestnut in Center City Philadelphia.

Cracks in her story started to appear after it was revealed that the Sweeten's GMC Yukon Denali had a parking ticket on it with a time stamp of 2:20 p.m. Tuesday.

That 30 minute window from when she told police she was abducted and when the ticket was issued would be an incredibly tight timeframe to get from the suburban town to the heart of the city.

Furthermore, police say they traced Sweeten's first 911 call to a cell phone tower near the location where the SUV was found, indicating it may have been there the entire time.

Additionally, investigators say Sweeten gave conflicting stories about where her daughter was; Whether she was with her in the trunk, or still in her SUV.

On Wednesday, police recovered a surveillance video from a restaurant nearby where the SUV was found. However, they have not said what, if anything, was on the tape.

Police also visited the head of the Carlitz Foundation in New Hope, Pa. Sweeten is listed as a director of the foundation. :0

It bills itself as a charity, raising money for children in Burma. But, it is not registered as a charitable non-profit with the state.

It is run by lawyer Debbie Carlitz, who would not talk to Action News except to say she has been talking to police.

Action News spoke exclusively to Larry Sweeten, Bonnie's current husband. He told Nora Muchanic that he is just as much in the dark about this ordeal as everyone else.

"I think I'm in a dream. This has taken me by such a surprise. I just want her to know she has tons of support, and whatever it is we can work through it," Larry Sweeten said.

He said he had no clue why his wife would go to Florida. He also says police are not looking at him as someone who's involved in her diappearance.

"I'm begging you, please come home," Sweeten said, addressing his wife. "We have a new daughter, she needs you," he said, referring to their 8-month-old baby.

Action News also spoke to Tony Rakoczy, Julia's father and Sweeten's ex-husband, who says he can't believe this is happening.

"I just want to know where they are, if they're safe," Rakoczy said.

Rakoczy said he and Sweeten have maintained a cordial relationship since their divorce in 2003. They have another daughter together, 15-year-old Paige.

From his home in Feasterville, Pa., Rakoczy described Julia as an upbeat girl who plays softball and loves cheerleading and the Phillies. He, like everyone else, is trying to figure out what happened.

The Pennsylvania State Police have issued an Amber Alert for Julia.

Anyone with information in this case should immediately call 911.

packy

05-27-2009, 06:26 PM

This case sure has taken a puzzling turn of events. Seems like they may be okay so that would be good.

I heard you back there, Ocean, thank you.

Naia

05-27-2009, 06:27 PM

I have thought of that to..

I have tried to read all the links but don't see, was her
SUV actually rear ended? I saw a video of it but I couldn't
make out any damage.

Here you go Isabella.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iSwZZBIHPmdIbh7rtGDWMmu4g89AD98ERGQO0
Police were still searching for the Cadillac reported to have bumped Sweeten's vehicle. The Denali was towed to police in Upper Southampton, where police planned to get a search warrant to inspect it. Detective Craig Rudisill declined to comment on any visible damage.

sarahhod

05-27-2009, 06:30 PM

Details Due In Missing Persons Case

FBI Discards Kidnapping In Sweeten
Case

SOUTHAMPTON, Pa. - Sources tell Fox 29 that the FBI is not looking for suspects in the alleged carjacking of a Philadelphia mother and daughter.
Sources tell Fox 29’s Dave Schratwieser that investigators have stopped looking for two men who Bonnie Sweeten said kidnapped her and her daughter, 9-year-old Julia Rakoczy.
Instead, the FBI is looking a surveillance tape taken in Center City Philadelphia on Tuesday and trying to locate Sweeten and Rakoczy.
Sources tell Fox 29 that the pair was caught on surveillance video at Philadelphia International Airport Tuesday afternoon, boarding a plane to Orlando.
The FBI may have an announcement within the hour about the case.
Police said they've found a key piece of evidence in the disappearance of the young girl and her mother, who called 911 saying they were in the trunk of a car after being carjacked.
A Philadelphia police officer on patrol located the family's silver GMC Denali unoccupied around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday near 15th and Chestnut streets.
Authorities hope this is the first step to solving the Tuesday disappearance of Sweeten and Rakoczy, even though the FBI admits some "inconsistencies" are emerging in the case.

The 38-year-old Feasterville mother made calls to 911 on Tuesday beginning around 1:45 p.m. She told a dispatcher that after a minor crash at the intersection of Street and Southampton roads in Upper Southampton Township, she and her daughter were put in the trunk of a black, late-1990s Cadillac driven by two unknown black males and taken from the crash scene.
Authorities said the call was traced to a cell phone tower in downtown Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania State Police issued an Amber Child Abduction Alert (http://www.amber.state.pa.us/amber/site/default.asp) later in the day.
The alert described Julia as being a white, non-Hispanic female, 4 feet 1 inch tall, weighing 59 pounds and having long brown hair, blue eyes, a dime-sized birthmark on her forehead and unknown clothing.
Sweeten was described as a white, non-Hispanic female who is 38-years-old, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 130 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes, and she had been driving a GMC Yukon Denali with a Pennsylvania license plate of GYK-8998.
The Denali found in Center City early Wednesday with a parking ticket from the prior afternoon had the correct license plate and VIN number, police confirmed, and it was towed away for investigation.
Authorities hope it will yield clues about the mother and daughter's whereabouts.
Philadelphia police were going door-to-door and revieing surveillance camera footage in the area where the SUV was found.
No sightings of Julia or Sweeten have been reported.
Police also impounded a black Cadillac, but investigators do not believe it's the car for which they have been searching.
Meanwhile, the Bensalem School District superintendent's office confirmed Wednesday that Julia is no longer a student at Belmont Hills Elementary School. She was withdrawn from the school on May 1.
The FBI acknowledged in one report published Wednesday morning that there are some "inconsistencies" in the mother's story.
Anthony Rakoczy, the girl's father and Sweeten's ex-husband, went to the Upper Southampton Township Police Department on Wednesday morning to speak exclusively with one national network. Breaking down in tears, he told NBC's "Today" show that he doesn't understand why the two would be abducted.
"There's no reason why they would keep them," he said. "We don't have money. I don't understand."
Rakoczy called his ex-wife -- who has since remarried and had a third child -- a good mother, and he said his daughter is an avid softball player and Phillies fan.
When Fox 29's Julie Kim tried to ask Rakoczy questions, he said, "I'm just done. I want to get out of here."
Family members continue to pray for the return of their loved ones.
"She's a good mom, and she loves her kids, and I know she's protecting Julia. That's all, I know she is," said Kate Carr, a relative, outside the family's Lower Southampton Township home Tuesday.
There are reports of some possible financial issues behind this, but the FBI will not comment.
Fox 29 asked if Sweeten's credit cards of debit card has been used, but the FBI won't say .
Anyone with information about the abduction should immediately contact police by calling 911.

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/052709_Police_Say_Mother_Reported_Carjacking_From_ Car_Trunk

Naia

05-27-2009, 06:43 PM

Police said they've found a key piece of evidence in the disappearance of the young girl and her mother, who called 911 saying they were in the trunk of a car after being carjacked.

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/052709_Police_Say_Mother_Reported_Carjacking_From_ Car_Trunk

There are reports of some possible financial issues behind this, but the FBI will not comment.

Fox 29 asked if Sweeten's credit cards of debit card has been used, but the FBI won't say .

Humm, article says there could be financial issues. So the mom/wife takes 300,000.00 bucks and leaves the husband and 2 kids to handle things? :waitasec:

Isabella

05-27-2009, 06:46 PM

Here you go Isabella.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iSwZZBIHPmdIbh7rtGDWMmu4g89AD98ERGQO0
Thanks...Well it looks like it was all a hoax of some kind.
I hope at tonight's PC we learn the truth, I can't believe
she could could put the girl's father in such agony, I hope she
has a good reason! jmo

Naia

05-27-2009, 06:47 PM

Naia

05-27-2009, 06:59 PM

A neighbor just called me and said WPVI channel 6 Live reporting that the mom has been arrested by police in Orlando. Authorities have little Julia in protective custody.
Looking for a link.
Mother and daughter in police custody
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6832725
Thanks Nita.

Angiedee12

05-27-2009, 07:00 PM

I can't believe
she could could put the girl's father in such agony, I hope she
has a good reason!

I was thinking the same thing. That poor man! he was absolutely devastated on the Today Show, you could tell. Yesterday and today must have been the worst 2 days of his life. I felt so bad for him, but I'm sure he's experiencing another wave of different emotions (confusion, anger, happiness that his daughter is safe) at these latest developments.

but why go through the effort of attempting to call the police 7 times and making up such a story? whatever she was trying to achieve or run from by doing that, this is only going to cause her more legal and personal trouble in the end.

Naia

05-27-2009, 07:02 PM

6 Live reporting that the mom has been arrested by police in Orlando. Authorities have little Julia in protective custody.
Link:
Mother and daughter in police custody
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?se...cal&id=6832725

annalyzer

05-27-2009, 07:04 PM

I'm nosey, so I can't wait find to out why she did this. My gut is telling me she is protecting Julia from someone.
***********************
Good video report here.
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6832725

I can't see any reason for the elaborate accident/abduction story. I'm sure black people don't appreciate her saying two black males abducted her either.
I still haven't heard anything from the current husband. Or did I miss it? I was thinking earlier that possibly the mother was getting her little girl out of a sexually abused situation but then why leave her two other daughters??
Why leave her two other daughters period?

Naia

05-27-2009, 07:15 PM

Holy cow, she took Julia to Disneyworld.
*********************
Abducted' Mom and Daughter Caught in Kidnapping Hoax
KTLA News
4:05 PM PDT, May 27, 2009
PHILADELPHIA -- A suburban mother who claimed she and her 9-year-old daughter were abducted are in custody.

The pair were spotted on video surveillance at Philadelphia International Airport boarding a plane to Florida.

She then reportedly took her daughter to a Disney theme park. :thud2:

During the investigation into the alleged abduction police uncovered Sweeten's alleged involvement in the theft of about $300,000 from her former employer, an attorney in Upper Makefield Township.

SavannahStar

05-27-2009, 07:20 PM

There just are no words...........:rolleyes:

Faith

05-27-2009, 07:26 PM

Faith

05-27-2009, 07:27 PM

I guess it's fair to say this was a hoax????

SavannahStar

05-27-2009, 07:27 PM

http://www.foxnews.com/images/534764/5_62_sweeten_bonnie1.jpg

Isabella

05-27-2009, 07:30 PM

Isabella

05-27-2009, 08:03 PM

Holy cow, she took Julia to Disneyworld.
*********************
Abducted' Mom and Daughter Caught in Kidnapping Hoax
KTLA News
4:05 PM PDT, May 27, 2009
:thud2:
Missed this earlier...

She was at Disney World while this girls family was
waiting to see if she was even alive!

I just can't imagine what this mother was thinking,
still holding out hope she had a good reason.

Faith

05-27-2009, 08:11 PM

Missed this earlier...

She was at Disney World while this girls family was
waiting to see if she was even alive!

I just can't imagine what this mother was thinking,
still holding out hope she had a good reason.

I can't think of a good reason. :0009:

Isabella

05-27-2009, 08:18 PM

I can't think of a good reason. :0009:
Well I can't either...
I still believe her being removed from school was a part of this.
Is school out for summer there I wonder, we are still in session here..

I know the girls father said she was just transferring but just
because his ex wife told him that doesn't make it true.
This is my feeling and tells me this was pre-planned for
a while. JMO

SavannahStar

05-27-2009, 08:21 PM

Isabella

05-27-2009, 08:29 PM

If she were transferring though she would have been in a different school already and they would have mentioned that school instead of the one she withdrew from.
Exactly my thinking...
I just think the beginning of May is too early for school
to be out for summer already.

Faith

05-27-2009, 08:35 PM

Isabella

05-27-2009, 08:41 PM

Oh I agree with everything you said. I just can't think of a reason why she would call in a kidnapping.

School is out here as of last Friday. I know up north they may go longer due to snow days.
I did a search, Philadelphia public schools don't get out
until June 23rd. Don't know for sure where her school
was or maybe a private school but sounds like she should
have been in some school. jmo

We were supposed to be out but have several ice and snow
days to make up.

I just hope we learn the truth, I just can't figure this out!
But I am thrilled the girl is safe and in the proper hands for now.

Faith

05-27-2009, 08:45 PM

NG is reporting but she doesn't have the updates it seems.

SavannahStar

05-27-2009, 08:48 PM

What's really odd about this case is the sheer number of times the mother called 911. Didn't one article even say they were able to talk to her quite a while during one of the calls? I guess what I'm trying to say is, it's bad enough to create a hoax like this.....but for her to take the chance and make THAT many calls, makes me think she might be a little wacky too.

And go to Disney World...............:duh:

Sheesh.

And she looks so "normal." :lex_10:

Faith

05-27-2009, 08:52 PM

Did she think she would get away with making a kidnapping call?

Angiedee12

05-27-2009, 09:03 PM

The husband is now speaking out.

According to NBC (more at the link):
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Police-Searching-for-Woman-Child-Trapped-in-Trunk.html

This case has put Sweeten's family, friends and the entire Philadelphia region on an emotional roller coaster. Her husband Richard Sweeten made an emotional plea to his wife Wednesday afternoon.

"I don't know what’s going on Bon, but here's your daughter…she misses you," said Sweeten with a rocky voice while holding his youngest daughter Faith up to a TV camera. "You have a ton of support. Whatever kind of trouble you're in, whatever's going on everybody will come together and help you out. I'm here for you. We have a brand-new daughter who needs her Mom. Please come home and turn yourself in and don't do anything stupid." [this was before the arrest, I'm assuming]

When asked if there was any reason why his wife would flee to Florida said he had "no idea." Sweeten noted that he was finding most of the information on his wife and step-daughter's whereabouts through the local news.

SavannahStar

05-27-2009, 09:03 PM

Did she think she would get away with making a kidnapping call?

Who knows. This is just tooooo weird. Will be glad when we have more facts. It truthfully sounds to me like she has some "issues".......:022:

Oceanblueeyes

05-27-2009, 09:29 PM

Well I can't either...
I still believe her being removed from school was a part of this.
Is school out for summer there I wonder, we are still in session here..

I know the girls father said she was just transferring but just
because his ex wife told him that doesn't make it true.
This is my feeling and tells me this was pre-planned for
a while. JMO

I don't find anything wrong with that. I believe her father that she was moved from one school to another that was closer to her home. For all we know she may have gone to the first school when she lived elsewhere and she really should have been going to the school closest to her home. Maybe the school district found out about it but I don't think this had anything to do with the false allegations she readily made.

She reminds me so much of (EX) attorney Karyn Hancock from Ohio who pulled the same stunt and said she had been kidnapped. It was high profile news at the time just like this case. LE found her in Georgia and that is when her story began to unravel. It was all a bunch of lies. Why? Because over a period of years she had bilked her clients out of over $600K and one of her client's family members had made a formal complaint to the court and an investigation had begun. She knew she had stolen this money and was going to serve time for it so she set up all this ruse of being kidnapped.

Imo, this woman too knew the walls were closing in on her too so she took her daughter to Disney because she knew if she was arrested soon she wouldn't have a chance to do so.

Mrs. Hancock was also charged with making a false report plus the theft of funds.

She also needs to be ordered to make restitution for all the wasted man hours this case has caused all LE agencies.

It is people like her that hurts the Amber Alert and its true purpose.

imo

Heather

05-27-2009, 10:26 PM

Holly crap!

Faith

05-27-2009, 10:46 PM

Source: Missing Pa. mom, girl found

PHILADELPHIA, PA. — A source tells The Associated Press that a suburban mother who claimed she and her daughter had been abducted is in custody in Florida after the pair were found at Disney World.

The law enforcement source spoke about Bonnie Sweeten on condition of anonymity pending an announcement expected Wednesday night.

The source says the 38-year-old Sweeten of Feasterville and her 9-year-old daughter Julia Rakoczy were found unharmed.

He says they boarded a flight from Philadelphia to Orlando at about 4 p.m. Tuesday. That's about two hours after Sweeten called from downtown Philadelphia to say she was in a car trunk after two black men carjacked and abducted them about 20 miles away near her Bucks County home.

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20090527/NEWS03/90527033/1263/RSS

Faith

05-27-2009, 10:50 PM

Pennsylvania Mother Arrested on Charges She Faked Abduction With Daughter

A Pennsylvania woman was arrested Wednesday after her story about being abducted with her daughter unraveled -- quickly turning from a mysterious missing persons case into a criminal investigation that ended in her capture at the Walt Disney World resort in Orlando.

Bucks County, Pa., District Attorney Michelle Henry said 38-year-old Bonnie Sweeten of Feasterville was taken into custody in Florida around 8 p.m. Wednesday. Henry said Sweeten's 9-year-old daughter, Julia Rakoczy, was with her and is waiting in Florida for her father to meet her.

Sweeten used a co-worker's driver's license and presented it as her own when she bought an airline ticket and flew to Orlando, Fla. on Tuesday, Henry said, adding Sweeten also used the license to check into the Grand Floridian Hotel at Disney World.

Click here for photos. (dhtmled17://photoessay/0,4644,7335,00.html)

Tony Rakoczy, Sweeten's ex-husband and Julia's father, will pick the girl up, Henry said.

A security camera reportedly showed Sweeten and Rakoczy at Philadelphia International Airport, just hours after Sweeten made at least two 911 calls by cell phone saying she was locked in the trunk of a dark-colored 1990s Cadillac.

"It's a terrifying thing for a local community to hear that allegedly two black men in a Cadillac took a woman and her daughter," Henry told reporters at a press conference Wednesday night.

"The fact that she would accuse anybody of doing something ... was a total fabrication on her part," Henry said.

The case was cracked because a combination of factors didn't add up, she said.

Investigators uncovered that Sweeten allegedly was involved in stealing about $300,000 from her former employer, an attorney in suburban Philadelphia, ABC reported.

Detectives and reporters had been puzzled by holes in Sweeten's story, and FBI spokesman J.J. Klaver confirmed earlier Wednesday the existence of "inconsistencies" in her account of the accident and abduction. But he declined at the time to elaborate and said those aren't the focus of the investigation.

Sweeten had told emergency dispatchers that she and her daughter were snatched in the middle of the day Tuesday by two men who rear-ended her SUV in suburban Philadelphia, according to police.

When investigators arrived at the scene, they found no evidence of the crash and the FBI and local police found no witnesses who saw the accident that the missing mother described.

And although Sweeten said the accident took place in Upper Southampton Township, a suburb of Philadelphia, Klaver said authorities discovered her 2005 GMC Denali SUV on Wednesday in Center City, 40 minutes away, along with a parking ticket that indicates it was there about 20 minutes after she dialed 911.

The 911 calls were traced to downtown Philadelphia, about 20 miles from the site of the reported fender-bender and abduction. One was picked up by a cell tower only two blocks from where Sweeten's car was found.

Tony Rakoczy had said earlier Wednesday that the sequence of events didn't add up.

"I don't think it makes any sense, the timeline and everything else," Rakoczy told FOX News.

Sweeten has two other daughters, an 8-month-old with her current husband and a 15-year-old from a previous marriage.

Sweeten's oldest daughter Paige wrote on Facebook, "I'm asking everyone, to please pray for my mom and sister."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,522399,00.html

Naia

05-27-2009, 10:51 PM

This entire thing is unbelievable.

Faith

05-27-2009, 10:55 PM

Mom who reported own abduction is charged

A woman who called 911 to report she and her daughter had been abducted has been charged with making a false report and identity theft, authorities said Wednesday.

Bonnie Sweeten, 38, told authorities Tuesday afternoon that she and 9-year-old Julia Rakoczy were kidnapped after two black men in a Cadillac hit the rear of her SUV in Upper Southampton, north of Philadelphia. She told authorities the two were being held in the trunk of the Cadillac.

Philadelphia Police said Sweeten's Yukon Denali was found in downtown Philadelphia early Wednesday morning.

FBI Special Agent J.J. Klaver noted there were "inconsistencies" in the story, but later said the pair were in Florida and in custody.

No other details were immediately available.

Earlier, a law enforcement source close to the investigation told CNN's Susan Candiotti that the mother and daughter had taken a flight to central Florida

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/05/27/alleged.abduction/

Faith

05-27-2009, 11:41 PM

DA: Missing Pa. mom, girl found at Disney World

By MARYCLAIRE DALE – 46 minutes ago

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A suburban mother who claimed she and her daughter had been abducted and stuffed in a car trunk is in custody in Florida after the pair were found at Disney World, where they had flown hours after reporting their abduction, a prosecutor said Wednesday.

Bonnie Sweeten, 38, of Feasterville, will be charged with false reports and identity theft, both misdemeanors, Bucks County District Attorney Michelle Henry said.

"We're pleased to be able to announce that she's in custody and more importantly that her 9-year-old daughter is safe," Henry said.

Henry told reporters that Sweeten borrowed a co-worker's driver's license and presented it as her own when she bought an airline ticket and flew to Orlando, Fla., then checked into the Grand Floridian Hotel with her daughter, Julia Rakoczy. The two were arrested at the hotel Wednesday evening, Henry said.

They had minimal luggage and the hotel was paid through Friday, Henry said. Sweeten had withdrawn about $12,000 from several bank accounts over recent days but authorities were investigating whether that money had been stolen.

"We believe that there were some domestic concerns with her husband and some financial concerns as well," Henry said.

The child is to be picked up by her father, Sweeten's ex-husband, and Sweeten is to be extradited from Florida, Henry said.

In the frantic 911 calls, Sweeten, said two men had bumped her 2005 GMC Denali, carjacked her and stuffed her in the trunk of a dark Cadillac. She implied that her daughter was with her in the trunk, according to Philadelphia police Lt. Frank Vanore, who listened to tapes of the calls.

Sweeten, who is white, described her assailants as black but otherwise gave few details about their appearance, Vanore said.

"It was pretty generic," he said.

Police found inconsistencies with her story from the start, and noted that they could not find witnesses on the busy road in Upper Southampton Township who saw an abduction. The Denali was found early Wednesday on a downtown Philadelphia street, about 20 miles away, with a parking ticket issued shortly after the calls were made. Police knew the 911 calls were made in the same area.

Sweeten has two other daughters, a 15-year-old from her prior marriage and an 8-month-old with her current husband, a landscaper. Julia Rakoczy attended elementary school in Bensalem until she was withdrawn from classes May 1, said Susan Harder, an administrative assistant with the Bensalem Township School District.

Her ex-husband and the 9-year-old girl's father, Tony Rakoczy, described Sweeten on NBC's "Today" show as a good mother. He declined comment to the AP.

A man at Sweeten's home refused to comment Wednesday and asked reporters to leave.

Neighbors said the family had lived in their relatively new development for about two years.

Sweeten is listed as a director of a New Hope-based charity called The Carlitz Foundation, run by lawyer Debbie Carlitz. The charity's stated goal is raising money for autism research and for people in Burma. The Web site lists e-mail address for Sweeten and Carlitz, neither of whom returned e-mail messages Wednesday night. Carlitz, whose law license was suspended in 2008 for one year, also did not return a phone message.

"Bonnie was a very, very organized person," said Susan Cordeiro, secretary of the parent-teacher group at Belmont Hills Elementary School in Bensalem, which Julia had attended. "She was at every meeting, she was very involved. ... She's on top of her game all the time, even when she was pregnant."

News that Sweeten and her daughter were safe touched off both sympathy and condemnation for Sweeten on Facebook. One poster expressed gratitude that the two were safe, while another said police should "put her in jail and throw away the key."

One of the posters on the site was Kathee Lipinski, of Warminster. Lipinski said she didn't know Sweeten but was concerned when she heard about a possible abduction happening so close to her home.

"I feel very stupid for believing her story and offering my prayers when she so completely duped everyone, including her family," Lipinski said. "On the other hand, I am grateful it wasn't an abduction. ... I hope her family is able to pull together and heal."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iSwZZBIHPmdIbh7rtGDWMmu4g89AD98EVMV00

Naia

05-27-2009, 11:46 PM

"We believe that there were some domestic concerns with her husband and some financial concerns as well," Henry said.
Funny how some of us figured that out yet he went on tv this morning and said nothing was wrong. Then again, I'm sure he was doing what he felt was right. He begged for their safe return and at that point thought there had been a kidnapping.
I wonder if PPD will come into play for the mom?

Pandabear

05-28-2009, 12:56 AM

What mother would do this and involve one of their children in the scheme? It makes me wonder if she had some evil plan in place for her and the child after they visited Disney World.

This is so upsetting to me because I'm sitting here thinking of how many missing children there are that could have used the time, energy and money that was spent on this hoax. Sad and irritating at the same time.

Naia

05-28-2009, 12:58 AM

Sad and irritating at the same time.

It is that Pandabear.

annalyzer

05-28-2009, 01:19 AM

Funny how some of us figured that out yet he went on tv this morning and said nothing was wrong. Then again, I'm sure he was doing what he felt was right. He begged for their safe return and at that point thought there had been a kidnapping.
I wonder if PPD will come into play for the mom?

Naia that was her ex husband on tv wasn't it?

Oceanblueeyes

05-28-2009, 08:46 AM

Naia that was her ex husband on tv wasn't it?

And frankly this woman tells outlandish bold bodacious lies. The present husband seems to be a very nice person and he must be... she left him with her distraught 15 year old daughter and their own little 8 month old daughter to tend to by himself. I wouldn't believe a word this woman has to say about nuttin.

I feel so sorry for her family and everyone she has touched negatively. She has done nothing but shame and humiliate her love ones. The 15 year old that was back home begging everyone to pray for her mom and sister's safety is left to know that she was not chosen by her own mother to go to with her. That has got to hurt this daughter.

And this sicko called her loving husband, who was not estranged from her, during all the 911 scamming telling him to give her love to the rest of her children in case she never saw them again.:madranting94dp: How absolutely cruel and unfeeling this mother/wife is.

imo

Roamer

05-28-2009, 08:49 AM

I think they should throw any charges at her that will stick. She wasted valuable time and resorces while they searched for her and her daughter.

I agree, Panda and all, there are too many real missing persons cases for this to go on, and perhaps making an example of her would stop some of these attention seekers.

Amusedtdth

05-28-2009, 08:55 AM

I can't see any reason for the elaborate accident/abduction story. I'm sure black people don't appreciate her saying two black males abducted her either.
I still haven't heard anything from the current husband. Or did I miss it? I was thinking earlier that possibly the mother was getting her little girl out of a sexually abused situation but then why leave her two other daughters??
Why leave her two other daughters period?

I'm still not finished reading but wanted to comment with you Anna, besides the black person allegations which I agree is going to outrage the black nation but also, what a waste of resourses and Amber Alert. They have strict guidelines as it is and in not all cases does an Amber Alert go out, especially when you need it (in the case of those 2 boys that Dad took and killed). This just makes it harder for those that really need it and that angers me.

If she wanted to run, then run, don't throw blame on non existent people and use the "race card" because shes white...this whole thing makes no sense. I'm glad Julia is safe and her father can now rest alittle easier.

This woman clearly needs help, I hope she gets it!

Oceanblueeyes

05-28-2009, 08:55 AM

And just like it has been dropped out there that there were financial concerns.

Yet, LE said in the past few days before her grand departure she withdrew $12,000 for various accounts. Sure doesn't seem like to me they were in financial difficulty.

But I do suspect that there will be further evidence that she has taken more money than the $300,000 LE is investigating.

I hope the $12K, less whatever she spent, will be returned to her husband to help him support his family.

imo

SavannahStar

05-28-2009, 09:01 AM

And frankly this woman tells outlandish bold bodacious lies. The present husband seems to be a very nice person and he must be... she left him with her distraught 15 year old daughter and their own little 8 month old daughter to tend to by himself. I wouldn't believe a word this woman has to say about nuttin.

I feel so sorry for her family and everyone she has touched negatively. She has done nothing but shame and humiliate her love ones. The 15 year old that was back home begging everyone to pray for her mom and sister's safety is left to know that she was not chosen by her own mother to go to with her. That has got to hurt this daughter.

And this sicko called her loving husband, who was not estranged from her, during all the 911 scamming telling him to give her love to the rest of her children in case she never saw them again.:madranting94dp: How absolutely cruel and unfeeling this mother/wife is.

imo

I SO agree with ALL of this post!!!!!!!

Oceanblueeyes

05-28-2009, 09:09 AM

I think they should throw any charges at her that will stick. She wasted valuable time and resources while they searched for her and her daughter.

I agree, Panda and all, there are too many real missing persons cases for this to go on, and perhaps making an example of her would stop some of these attention seekers.

Morning Roamer!

I absolutely agree. It is these cases that are nothing but Hoaxes that hurts the Amber Alert system and the true missing victims. Every time this happens I worry that some will tend to discount other Alerts which are so important to the missing persons and families.

Greta had the PC of the DA on last night and she said that this case involved so many jurisdictions that more charges could be forthcoming besides the Identity Theft and filing a false report.

She should surely be made an example of because she tried to blame the false crime on "two black men" The DA said that the black communities in PA were very upset about that as they should be. Conjures up yucky memories of Susan Smith and other cases where the white perp did the same thing, all the while knowing they were lying.

I also agree that she should be made to pay back all of the man hours this case has undertook.

imo

annalyzer

05-28-2009, 10:38 AM

And this sicko called her loving husband, who was not estranged from her, during all the 911 scamming telling him to give her love to the rest of her children in case she never saw them again.:madranting94dp: How absolutely cruel and unfeeling this mother/wife is.

imo

Oh wow I hadn't heard that.

annalyzer

05-28-2009, 10:40 AM

Mom in fake abduction case used ex-colleague's ID

1 hr 19 mins ago

PHILADELPHIA – A woman said Thursday she gave her driver's license to a former co-worker who told her she needed it to fix office paperwork, and had no knowledge of her plans to fake her abduction and fly with her daughter to Florida.

Jillian Jenkinson said on CBS' "The Early Show" that Bonnie Sweeten's request to use her ID to fix a discrepancy on her 401(k) "seemed innocent."

Sweeten and her 9-year-old daughter, Julia Rakoczy, were taken into custody Wednesday night at an Orlando hotel, said Bucks County, Pa., District Attorney Michelle Henry.

Jenkinson said she had worked with Sweeten for nine years, but didn't specify where they had worked together. She described Sweeten as a good mother who was always on top of things.

"I think whatever's going on in her life is a way bigger issue than my ID," Jenkinson said. "I hope that she's OK."

Henry said Sweeten presented the borrowed driver's license as her own when she bought an airline ticket in Philadelphia and flew to Orlando with her daughter.

They had minimal luggage and the hotel was paid through Friday, Henry said. Sweeten had withdrawn about $12,000 from several bank accounts over recent days, but authorities were investigating whether that money had been stolen.

"We believe that there were some domestic concerns with her husband and some financial concerns as well," Henry said.

In frantic 911 calls on Tuesday, Sweeten said two men had bumped her SUV, carjacked her and stuffed her in the trunk of a dark Cadillac. She implied that her daughter was with her in the trunk, according to Philadelphia police Lt. Frank Vanore, who listened to tapes of the calls.

Sweeten, who is white, described her assailants as black but otherwise gave few details about their appearance, Vanore said.

Police found inconsistencies with her story from the start, and noted that they could not find witnesses on the busy road in Upper Southampton Township who saw an abduction. The Denali was found early Wednesday on a downtown Philadelphia street, about 20 miles away, with a parking ticket issued shortly after the calls were made. Police knew the 911 calls were made in the same area.

Sweeten has two other daughters, a 15-year-old from a prior marriage and an 8-month-old with her current husband, a landscaper. Julia Rakoczy attended elementary school in Bensalem until she was withdrawn from classes May 1, said Susan Harder, an administrative assistant with the Bensalem Township School District.

Her ex-husband and the 9-year-old girl's father, Anthony Rakoczy, said Thursday on ABC's "Good Morning America" that he thinks she got in over her head and "lost it a little bit."

"I've known this woman for a long time," he said. "She's always been very together, tons of friends. Everybody loves her."

He said he thinks she needs help, and he will make sure her kids will be involved in her life no matter what.

Sweeten, 38, of Feasterville, is listed as a director of a New Hope-based charity called The Carlitz Foundation, run by lawyer Debbie Carlitz. The charity's stated goal is raising money for autism research and for people in Burma. Carlitz did not return e-mail or phone messages Wednesday night.

"Bonnie was a very, very organized person," said Susan Cordeiro, secretary of the parent-teacher group at Belmont Hills Elementary School in Bensalem, which Julia had attended. "She was at every meeting, she was very involved. ... She's on top of her game all the time, even when she was pregnant."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090528/ap_on_re_us/us_abduction_hoax

Angiedee12

05-28-2009, 10:44 AM

People here in Philly are VERY angry about her "playing the race card", regardless of their own race. Its saddens me that a white woman can still point the finger at a black man. It's very sad indeed. I agree with what others are saying, this case makes a mockery of the whole system. I feel strongly for the next REAL kidnap victim here, hopefully the professionalism, response time, etc., is not affected by this stupid, irresponsible, and cruel hoax.

Amusedtdth

05-28-2009, 11:12 AM

Oceanblueeyes

05-28-2009, 11:17 AM

Oh wow I hadn't heard that.

I have to correct my statement although it is just as bad.

She told LE to tell her husband this and they did.

I just saw the DA clip on tv again from Greta's show last night and that is what she said Bonnie told them.

Unbelievably cold. How could she do that to the people she says she loves knowing all of it was just a big da&n lie???!!!!!:puke:

imo

annalyzer

05-28-2009, 11:24 AM

I have to correct my statement although it is just as bad.

She told LE to tell her husband this and they did.

I just saw the DA clip on tv again from Greta's show last night and that is what she said Bonnie told them.

Unbelievably cold. How could she do that to the people she says she loves knowing all of it was just a big da&n lie???!!!!!:puke:

imo

Although no murder occurred this case reminds me of Charles Stuart who murdered his pregnant wife and then said a black man had done it. An innocent black man was arrested. It enraged the community and inflamed racial tensions in boston.
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/September-October-08/On-this-Day--White-Boston-Man-Kills-Pregnant-Wife--Blames-Imaginary-Black-Man.html

Naia

05-28-2009, 02:56 PM

Girl united with dad
(Good article with a lot of info.)
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20090528_Kidnap_hoax_mom__Is_she_a_thief__too_.htm l

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/052809_Stolen_ID_Got_Mom_Past_Airport_Security

Stolen ID Got Mom Past
Airport Security
TSA: Checkpoint Workers Trained To
Spot Fake IDs

PHILADELPHIA - One of the lingering questions in the aftermath of a mother's alleged abduction hoax is how she slipped past airport security with someone else's ID.

FBI says no known motive yet.

Oceanblueeyes

05-28-2009, 10:49 PM

Although no murder occurred this case reminds me of Charles Stuart who murdered his pregnant wife and then said a black man had done it. An innocent black man was arrested. It enraged the community and inflamed racial tensions in boston.
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/September-October-08/On-this-Day--White-Boston-Man-Kills-Pregnant-Wife--Blames-Imaginary-Black-Man.html

You are right, Anna, it brings up past memories of the same thing being done.

Not only Charles Stuart but Susan Smith also gave out the false information that a black man kidnapped her two little boys and Chris Pittman made up his tale about a black man killing his two grandparents and kidnapping him.

I don't blame the black community for being upset.

imo

Nut44x4

05-30-2009, 02:24 PM

Posted on Sat, May. 30, 2009
Bail set at $1 million for Sweeten

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20090530_Bail_set_at__1_million_for_Sweeten.html

annalyzer

05-30-2009, 02:42 PM

Wow, even her ex is supporting her. :boredom:

Faith

05-30-2009, 09:12 PM

Pa. Woman Held In Abduction Hoax Freed On $1M Bail

May 30, 2009 7:38 pm

A woman accused of staging an abduction hoax that began near Philadelphia and ended at Florida's Walt Disney World was released on $1 million bail, authorities said Saturday.

Officials at the Bucks County Correctional Facility in suburban Philadelphia say Bonnie Sweeten, 38, was released at about 5 p.m. Saturday after posting 10 percent of her bail, $100,000 in cash. Her attorney, Louis R. Busico, could not be reached for comment Saturday night.

Sweeten was returned to Pennsylvania from Florida on Friday and arraigned on misdemeanor charges of identity theft and false reporting. In setting bail, a judge said he thought she was a flight risk. Busico told reporters on Friday night that his client is not a flight risk and was not running from the law.

Local police also are investigating whether Sweeten stole money from a family member or others, but no related charges have been filed. Authorities allege that Sweeten had withdrawn $12,000 from several bank accounts and flew to Florida with her daughter under another person's name, paying cash for the one-way tickets and for a three-night hotel stay inside the park.

http://cbs3.com/local/kidnapping.abduction.carjacking.2.1019972.html

Faith

05-30-2009, 09:13 PM

Who would pay $100,000 in cash???? wow, that's a lot of money!!

Isabella

06-01-2009, 03:13 PM

Nine Yr old girl an family speak on GMA

Video on page..

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA

Naia

06-01-2009, 05:52 PM

I'd love to hear the mother's explanation for her actions.

Faith

06-02-2009, 09:06 AM

Posted on Tue, Jun. 2, 2009

Thursday hearing for Bonnie Sweeten

Bonnie Anne Sweeten, the Feasterville woman who fled to Florida with her 9-year-old daughter after faking their abduction, faces a preliminary hearing Thursday in Bucks County.

Sweeten, 38, is scheduled to appear at 1:30 p.m. before District Judge William J. Benz in Richboro. She will face charges of identity theft and making a false report to police.

The twice-married mother of three was catapulted into the national limelight last week after she phoned 911, claiming that she and daughter Julia Rakoczy had been abducted by two men whose car had rear-ended theirs.

An Amber Alert was issued, but Sweeten's report proved false; police checking surveillance videos at Philadelphia International Airport saw the mother and child boarding a plane to Orlando, Fla.

Sweeten was arrested inside a Disney World resort Wednesday and returned to Bucks County after waiving extradition. Arraigned late Friday before Benz, Sweeten was freed after posting $100,000 bond, one-tenth of her $1 million bail.

She was in seclusion with relatives at an unknown Pennsylvania location to avoid reporters camped outside her Saxon Drive home in a prosperous development of 15 houses. Louis R. Busico, Sweeten's attorney, said she would undergo mental-health treatment.

Police have said that Sweeten fled to avoid questions about money missing from a firm where she once worked.

Yesterday, Julia Rakoczy appeared on ABC's Good Morning America, along with her father, Anthony Rakoczy, 40, and sister Paige, 15. The freckle-faced girl told interviewer Diane Sawyer that her trip with Sweeten to Disney World started out as "fun" but turned "scary" after Julia saw her own photograph on TV.

A photo of the child, described by neighbors as a "little spark plug" brimming with energy, was circulated as part of the Amber Alert.

Anthony Rakoczy told Sawyer how Julia was coping with what her mother did and what it meant.

"We talk a little bit about it," Rakoczy said. "She tells us a little bit more, and we kind of process the whole thing. We're kind of taking it slow.

"We're trying to make sure these guys [Julia and Paige] are doing fine. Their mother doing what she did . . . it's just hard."

Rakoczy said he hoped law enforcement officials give his ex-wife a break.

"This whole media hype, it's not the person that she is. I've known her for 20 years," Rakoczy said.

Asked by Sawyer what message she would send Sweeten, Julia said she loved her mother and missed her.

Asked the same question, Paige said that "everybody makes mistakes."

"She just needed some time, obviously, but we're happy that she's OK now and she's home," the teenager said.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20090602_Thursday_hearing_for_Bonnie_Sweeten.html

Faith

06-23-2009, 03:18 PM

Posted on Mon, Jun. 22, 2009

Kidnap hoax mom waives preliminary hearing

http://media.philly.com/images/on-bonnie22.jpg
Accompanied by her husband, Richard L. Sweeten, left, and attorney, Louis Busico, right, Bonnie Sweeten arrives this morning at District Court in Richboro for a preliminary hearing on charges of identity theft and making a false report to police in the Disney World abduction hoax.

1 of 21
View images (http://www.philly.com/philly/gallery/bonnie_sweeten_052809.html)

By Larry King

Inquirer Staff Writer

Bonnie Sweeten, the Bucks County mother whose abduction hoax touched off a national media frenzy, waived her right to a preliminary hearing this morning.

Sweeten, 38, of Feasterville, was scheduled for a July 24 arraignment in Bucks County Court on misdemeanor charges of identity theft and filing a false report. She remains free on 10 percent of $1 million bail.

On May 26, a frantic-sounding Sweeten had called 911, claiming that she and her 9-year-old daughter had been abducted by two black men along Street Road in Lower Bucks County in the middle of the afternoon.

Authorities, although skeptical of the story from the beginning, issued an Amber Alert repeating Sweeten's claims, drawing network TV coverage.

The interest intensified when Sweeten and her daughter turned up the next day at Disney World.

Sweeten is accused of using a former co-worker's identification to purchase a plane ticket for the flight from Philadelphia.

Sweeten's lawyer, Louis Busico, said there would have been no point in hearing any testimony at this point in the case. Still under investigation are allegations that Sweeten may have stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars from family members and a law office where she had been a longtime employee.

District Attorney Michelle Henry said the investigation into additional charges is ongoing, but declined to elaborate.

Busico said Sweeten continues to undergo mental health treatment, and that she has been reunited with her three children, but must be accompanied by another adult whenever she is with them.

Busico declined to speculate about possible theft charges or to reveal where Sweeten currently resides.

Sweeten, appearing tense but composed, said little during the hearing before Magisterial District Judge William Benz in Richboro. Under questioning by Busico, she said she was waiving the hearing voluntarily.

Sweeten, accompanied by her second husband, Larry, and her father, William Siner, did not respond to reporters' questions as she arrived and left the district court.

http://www.philly.com/philly/phillywomen/20090622_Kidnap_hoax_mom_due_in_court_today.html

Faith

06-27-2009, 02:26 AM

'Hoax mom' mystery takes another turn

A Pennsylvania mortgage company is suing the former boss of alleged hoax mom Bonnie Anne Sweeten, saying Debbie Carlitz owes them more than $100,000 for a loan against her Feasterville, Pa., law office property.

But Carlitz says she didn't take out the loan and learned about it only this week- after she found out she was being sued. She says the signature she was shown on the loan papers is one that she's seen before, but it's not hers. She declined to elaborate further.

"I was never notified at all," Carlitz said Thursday about the loan default.

Her attorney, Ellen Brotman, echoed her client's surprise.

"We weren't aware of the loan. We found out about it this week," Brotman said. "Mr. and Mrs. Carlitz are shocked and very upset and very concerned about what else could be out there."

Gelt Financial Corp. of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., is seeking $114,490 from Carlitz, saying she defaulted on a September 2006 loan.

Related paperwork filed in Bucks County court lists two addresses for Carlitz. Her correct Upper Makefield, Pa., address appears on the original loan paperwork, but the lawsuit lists Carlitz's address as the Saxon Drive home that Sweeten and her husband bought for $425,000 in December 2006.

The Saxon Drive address, where Sweeten lives with her husband, also is listed as the location where Gelt Financial sent a mortgage default notice dated May 28. That was two days after Sweeten claimed she and her 9-year-old daughter were kidnapped following a car crash on Street Road.

The two turned up a day later in Walt Disney World, where Sweeten had flown after officials said she bought airline tickets and passed through airport security using the driver's license of a former coworker.

Sweeten is free on bail awaiting trial on charges of identity theft and filing false reports related to the kidnapping hoax. She has denied the changes through her lawyer.

Meanwhile, federal authorities are investigating reports that Sweeten may have stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars from family members and Carlitz, according to sources close to the case. The U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI declined to confirm the investigation.

No theft charges have been filed against Sweeten.

Attempts to reach Sweeten's attorney, Louis Busico, were unsuccessful Thursday.

Gelt's attorney, Axel Shield II, declined to answer questions about the defaulted loan Thursday. The company's Web site states it specializes in "boutique mortgages" up to $1 million for real estate investors and small-business owners and boasted of approvals as "fast as 20 minutes, closing as fast as a week."

For 15 years, Sweeten worked as a paralegal and office manager for Carlitz, until the office closed in October. Carlitz's Pennsylvania law license was suspended in March 2008 after she failed to meet continuing legal education requirements.

The two women were considered close friends, their attorneys said. Sweeten also acted as director of the Carlitz Foundation, a children's charity that Carlitz created. The foundation was privately-funded, but received federal 501(c) 3 nonprofit status in April.

Most recently, Sweeten was helping Carlitz manage a bedding business related to another company that Carlitz's estranged husband, Stuart, owns, Busico has said.

The extent of Sweeten's role in the financial management of the law office and charity is unclear and both Busico and Carlitz's attorney Brotman have declined to discuss it. Carlitz also declined to comment, beyond saying that Sweeten wasn't authorized to act on her behalf with clients or cases.

Regarding the Gelt loan, legal paperwork doesn't specify how long the loan has been in default. Gelt Financial made the $100,000 loan as a five-year, adjustable-rate mortgage that was secured using Carlitz's former law office in the 800 block of Bustleton Avenue in Feasterville.

In 1995, Carlitz and her estranged husband, Stuart, bought the 942-square-foot office condo where she practiced law for $19,100, according to county property records. Another 1,000-square-foot office condo there sold for $155,000 in January, 2005.

The loan paperwork was witnessed by notary Lois Matthews, who didn't return phone calls for comment Thursday.

On Thursday, Carlitz emphatically denied the signatures on the loan documents are hers, calling them a "replica" and adding that she uses a distinctive "fishtail" pattern in her signature, which is missing in the loan paperwork signatures.

June 26, 2009 02:51 AM

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/26/2009/june/26/hoax-mom-mystery-takes-another-turn.html

Faith

07-24-2009, 10:47 AM

Posted on Fri, Jul. 24, 2009

Woman in kidnap hoax hit with divorce news

By Larry King

Inquirer Staff Writer

Bonnie Sweeten's husband wants out.

The Bucks County mother whose bizarre, racially tinged abduction hoax became national tabloid fodder, is headed for divorce court.

Sweeten, 38, had no clue it was coming, her lawyer said yesterday; she found out only when a reporter called.

Her second husband, Richard L. "Larry" Sweeten, calling their marriage "irretrievably broken," filed for divorce late Wednesday afternoon in Bucks County Court.

He also seeks custody of the couple's 11-month-old daughter. Because of pending criminal charges that make her a flight risk, Bonnie Sweeten should not be left alone with the baby, the divorce petition contends.

News of the filing ambushed Sweeten, said her defense attorney, Louis Busico. She was in a meeting with Busico at his office when an Inquirer reporter called the lawyer for comment, he said.

Alarmed, Sweeten interrupted the meeting and called her husband at home. He confirmed his plans, Busico said.

Larry Sweeten's divorce lawyer, Jeffrey J. Baxter of Doylestown, did not return calls seeking comment.

"They are still living in the same marital home, and evidently he was doing this without advising her," Busico said. "It was pure coincidence that she was in my office when The Inquirer called. . . . He told her over the telephone at exactly 4:58 that he had filed for divorce."

Bonnie Sweeten, he said, "is completely distraught and devastated. She had no clue. They were living together as husband and wife."

Sweeten, of Feasterville, awaits trial on charges of identity theft and false reports stemming from the abduction hoax in late May.

A formal arraignment on the charges had been scheduled for today in Doylestown, but Busico on Monday waived her appearance and entered a not-guilty plea. She is tentatively scheduled for trial late next month.

Sweeten gained national notoriety May 26, when she placed a frantic-sounding 911 call. She claimed that she and Julia Rakoczy, her 9-year-old daughter from her first marriage, had been carjacked and abducted on a busy thoroughfare in Lower Bucks County shortly before 2 p.m.

Sweeten told a Philadelphia police dispatcher that two black men had rammed the rear of her vehicle and forced her and Julia into their Cadillac, saying she was calling from the trunk of the car.

Instead, police say, Sweeten had used a former coworker's driver's license to purchase airline tickets and had flown that afternoon to Walt Disney World. She was apprehended at a luxury hotel there the next day, but not before authorities, fearing for the child's safety, had issued an Amber Alert that made it a national story.

Sweeten remains under federal and state scrutiny for possible theft charges. Police have said she is suspected of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from relatives and from clients of the law firm where she worked as a paralegal.

The Inquirer reported last month that state and federal authorities had also been asked to investigate whether Sweeten forged documents to obtain a $100,000 mortgage loan in the name of her former boss, lawyer Debbie Carlitz. The lawyer, whose Pennsylvania license is suspended, maintains that she knew nothing about the loan, which is now in foreclosure.

The Sweetens married in June 2005. Larry Sweeten, a heavy-equipment operator for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, runs a lawn maintenance service on the side.

At the time of the fake abduction, Larry Sweeten told reporters that he had no idea why his wife would flee. He added that she handled all of the family's finances, which include a mortgage of more than $400,000 on their spacious, two-year-old home.

"Whatever it was, we'll work through it," he told 6ABC while she was missing.

The next morning, on NBC's Today show, he said: "If she was stealing money, as they are saying, I have no idea where it was going." He denied any serious marital problems in the interview.

Apart from the custody bid, Larry Sweeten's divorce complaint makes no mention of the criminal case. It says the charges make her a risk to flee, and asks that her contact with their baby be limited to supervised visits.

Busico has said Sweeten has undergone mental-health counseling. She remains free on 10 percent of $1 million bail. A condition of that bail is that she have no unsupervised contact with any of her three daughters from her two marriages.

As recently as June 22, when Bonnie Sweeten waived her preliminary hearing in Richboro, her husband was at her side, accompanying her to and from court.

After the proceeding, Busico said Bonnie Sweeten was settling back into being a mother to her children, and focusing on getting her family back to normal.

"Everybody's getting along. There is no discord in that family," Busico told reporters at the time.

Yesterday, Busico said his client had no plans to move out, whether or not her husband stays put.

Her only employment since her arrest, he said, has been mowing grass for her husband's lawn service.

"She has to live there as a condition of her bail, and it is her house," Busico said. "She is under no obligation to leave her home."

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/20090724_Woman_in_kidnap_hoax_hit_with_divorce_new s.html

Claudia120

07-24-2009, 12:19 PM

I know me too. Why would you do that...hoax your own safety...when there's hundreds of real cases out there.

Amusedtdth

07-24-2009, 01:31 PM

Did she really believe after what she did that he'd stay? I was waiting for this.

Nut44x4

07-24-2009, 03:41 PM

Hoax mom's husband files for divorce
By: MATT COUGHLIN
Bucks County Courier Times
The husband of a Lower Southampton woman who called in a carjacking hoax as a cover for a trip to Disney World in late May has filed for divorce and custody of their infant daughter.

Richard Sweeten, 33, of Saxon Drive, filed for divorce from Bonnie Sweeten on Wednesday afternoon and has asked for custody of their 11-month-old daughter.

Bonnie Sweeten faces criminal charges of identity theft and filing false reports related to the kidnapping hoax.

She's free on bail. She's denied the charges through her lawyer, defense attorney Louis Busico. Sweeten is receiving counseling and has spent time with her family, though the conditions of her bail preclude her from being alone with any of her three daughters.

Advertisement Busico said Sweeten had no idea her husband was seeking a divorce and found out after a phone call to Busico's office Thursday afternoon.

In late May, Bonnie Sweeten allegedly called 911 reporting a carjacking, sparking a 30-hour manhunt while she flew to Orlando, Fla., with her 9-year-old daughter from a previous marriage using the stolen ID of a former coworker, according to police.

Authorities said as they sought Sweeten they uncovered numerous cases of theft involving funds missing from the firm of her former employer, attorney Debbie Carlitz. No one had been charged with those thefts, although authorities said a $285,000 check Sweeten wrote bounced the morning she reported the fake carjacking.
http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/courier_times/courier_times_news_details/article/28/2009/july/24/hoax-moms-husband-files-for-divorce.html

LiveLaughLuv

07-25-2009, 09:57 AM

In late May, Bonnie Sweeten allegedly called 911 reporting a carjacking, sparking a 30-hour manhunt while she flew to Orlando, Fla., with her 9-year-old daughter from a previous marriage using the stolen ID of a former coworker, according to police.

Authorities said as they sought Sweeten they uncovered numerous cases of theft involving funds missing from the firm of her former employer, attorney Debbie Carlitz. No one had been charged with those thefts, although authorities said a $285,000 check Sweeten wrote bounced the morning she reported the fake carjacking.

Seems to be she will have larger problems than just this fake kidnapping/car jacking or her divorce..

Was she extorting money from her former employer?

She bounced a $285,000 check on the morning of her fake abduction?

I hope the father of the other children step forth and gain custody of the other children...

Faith

07-25-2009, 10:08 AM

Trial date set for 'hoax mom'

Bonnie Sweeten will stand trial in Bucks County court next month.

FBI and Lower Southampton police searched the Lower Southampton home of "hoax mom" Bonnie Sweeten Friday afternoon, but an FBI spokesman at the scene declined to discuss why they were there.

Law enforcement authorities spent roughly two hours at the Saxon Drive home, FBI spokesman J.J. Klaver said, while Bonnie remained inside and her estranged husband, Richard "Larry" Sweeten, paced on the sidewalk outside the home.

Klaver said he couldn't discuss what authorities were looking for at the home or if the search was related to the elaborate kidnapping hoax Bonnie Sweeten is accused of concocting.

Earlier on Friday, Sweeten, 38, who had fled to Disney World with her 9-year-old daughter after saying she was kidnapped, waived her formal arrangement on charges of false reports and identity theft. She is scheduled to stand trial in Bucks County Aug. 24.

District Attorney Michelle Henry said detectives still are investigating Sweeten's alleged involvement in thousands of dollars of missing funds linked to the office of lawyer Debbie Carlitz, Sweeten's former boss.

Henry declined to discuss that part of the case Friday. Carlitz, whose Pennsylvania law license is suspended, is scheduled to appear before the state Supreme Court's lawyer disciplinary board Aug. 6, sources said.

Sweeten didn't attend the arraignment hearing. Her lawyer, Louis Busico, said it's too early to discuss what his client's defense will be at trial. He said Sweeten was cooperative with federal agents as they searched the home, provided investigators with everything they were seeking and voluntarily handed over additional records. He declined to specify the nature of those records.

While authorities searched the home, Larry Sweeten, 33, remained outside. He claimed he didn't know what was happening or what authorities were looking for.

"I guess the rumors are true," he said, declining further comment.

This has been an eventful week for Sweeten.

On Thursday, she learned that her husband filed for divorce and custody of their 11-month-old daughter. Sweeten's two other children are from a previous marriage.

The filing reportedly came as a surprise to Sweeten, who learned about it after reporters called her lawyer's office.

Sweeten was arrested May 27 in Orlando, Fla., almost 30 hours after she touched off a nationwide search with a phony 911 call. Prosecutors allege that she tried to cover up the trip by calling 911 to report that she and her daughter had been carjacked and kidnapped by two black men on Street Road.

An Amber Alert was issued and police conducted an intense manhunt in Bucks and Philadelphia. It later came out that Sweeten had used a coworker's driver's license without permission to buy her airplane ticket and get through airline security, prosecutors said.

Through Busico, Sweeten denied the charges. It remains unclear what her involvement is with the money allegedly missing from Carlitz's office. Sweeten worked as a paralegal and office manager at the Feasterville law firm for 15 years and was heavily involved with a charitable group Carlitz founded to raise money for autism awareness and Burmese refugees, sources said.

On the day she was arrested, Sweeten bounced a $285,000 check.

Sweeten remains free on bail. Busico said she's receiving counseling.

Staff writers Jo Ciavaglia and Matt Coughlin contributed to this story. Laurie Mason can be reached at 215-949-4185 or lmason_court@yahoo.com.

July 24, 2009 08:10 PM

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/28/2009/july/24/trial-date-set-for-hoax-mom.html

Faith

08-27-2009, 04:41 PM

Posted on Thu, Aug. 27, 2009

Kidnap hoax mom sentenced to nine months

By Larry King

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Bonnie Sweeten, the Bucks County mother of three whose faked kidnapping in May drew national coverage, was sentenced this afternoon to serve at least nine months in county prison.

Sweeten, 38, of Feasterville, was labeled "a calculating, manipulative, cold-blooded women" by Bucks County Court Judge Jeffrey L. Finley after she pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of identity theft and false reports. Finley sentenced her to serve nine to 24 months, followed by four years of probation.

State sentencing guidelines normally call for probation for both charges, Finley told Sweeten, "but I can tell you that the Legislature never contemplated Bonnie Sweeten" when it drew up those guidelines.

After Sweeten was led out of a side entrance in handcuffs, her father, William Siner, attacked three cameramen waiting outside the courtroom, slightly injuring two. It was unclear whether Siner, of Milton, Del., would be charged.

On May 26, Sweeten called 911 and claimed to have been carjacked along with her 9-year-old daughter. She said in the call that two black men had rear-ended her SUV along busy Street Road in Lower Bucks County and abducted the girl and her. Sweeten told the dispatcher that she was calling from the trunk of the kidnappers' Cadillac.

After setting off a massive police dragnet, the kidnapping turned out to be a hoax. Sweeten and 9-year-old Julia Rakoczy turned up the next day at a luxury resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. She had used the driver's license of a former coworker to purchase plane tickets from Philadelphia the day she fled.

The episode enraged many African-Americans, who said that Sweeten displayed racism by blaming black men as a means of legitimizing her hoax. Others, including some investigators, said that innocent black men could have been unfairly questioned or detained by police during the emotionally charged manhunt.

Sweeten's plea does not end her legal problems. The longtime paralegal remains under a federal theft and forgery investigation involving false documents and hundreds of thousands of dollars in missing money.

District Attorney Michelle Henry said in court that Sweeten fled because she was unable to repay $280,000 stolen in December from a 92-year-old man who is the grandfather of her ex-husband. She said Sweeten forged a check from the money-market retirement account of Victor Biondino, who suffers from dementia, and was threatened with arrest by Biondino's family unless she paid it back.

Sweeten fled for Florida the day that a $285,000 restitution check she wrote to the elderly man's family had bounced. The man's relatives had been trying to recover the money since discovering the theft in January.

In recent weeks, Sweeten's second husband has filed for divorce, their house has been put on the market, and she has come under scrutiny for additional financial irregularities at the law firm where she worked. Law enforcement officials have declined to comment on the extent of that investigation.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20090827_Sweeten_sentenced_to_nine_months_for_kidn ap_hoax.html

Roamer

08-28-2009, 04:30 AM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090827/ap_on_re_us/us_abduction_hoax

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/net/20090827/capt.09857ac26501083b33dc7bdd70a59608.jpeg?x=213&y=284&xc=1&yc=1&wc=308&hc=410&q=85&sig=wbOgH28lXXxARlWKo65iDQ-- (http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Orange-County-jail/photo//ydownload_ap/20090827/photos_net_ap_ts/1251413707//s:/ap/20090827/ap_on_re_us/us_abduction_hoax)AP – In this file photo, Bonnie Sweeten, left, who claimed she and her daughter had been kidnapped but instead …
By MARYCLAIRE DALE, Associated Press Writer Maryclaire Dale, Associated Press Writer – Thu Aug 27, 6:41 pm ET

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – A white suburban mother who placed a 911 call claiming two black men had carjacked her — but instead flew to Disney World with her child to escape a looming arrest — was sent to prison Thursday for nine to 23 months.

Bonnie Sweeten, 38, pleaded guilty in Bucks County Court to identity theft and filing a false police report, misdemeanors that typically bring probation.

But a judge offended by Sweeten's performance on a 911 tape said her hoax led to a frantic national search, traumatized her daughter and, perhaps worst of all, tore open society's racial wounds.

"Your wants, your needs, your wishes and desires came before everybody," Judge Jeffrey L. Finley said.

He called Sweeten, a paralegal and PTA mom, "a calculating, manipulative, hardhearted woman."

Sweeten, of Feasterville, just outside Philadelphia, parked her vehicle on a downtown Philadelphia street May 26, made the 911 call and hopped in a cab to the airport. She flew to Orlando, Fla., with her 9-year-old daughter under a co-worker's name after creating a ruse to get the woman's driver's license.

Sweeten told the daughter, Julia Rakoczy, to make up a name "because Mommy did something wrong and she could go to jail," according to District Attorney Michelle Henry.

At the time, Sweeten was being investigated for possibly swindling $280,000 from her ex-husband's 92-year-old grandfather. She and her second husband, a landscaper, lived in a $425,000 house and had spent heavily on two years of infertility treatments.

Sweeten had been putting off her ex's family for months but under threat of prosecution had finally forked over a six-figure check, Henry said.
The check bounced the day she fled.

The FBI arrested Sweeten at Disney World two days later.

Sweeten apologized in court and said she would not blame the hoax on the mounting stresses in her life, including marriage problems and the infertility treatments, which produced a third daughter last year. She also has a teenage daughter with ex-husband Anthony Rakoczy. He stood by her in court, although second husband Larry Sweeten, who recently filed for divorce, did not attend.

Sweeten said her actions had cost her her reputation, her lifelong friends and her husband.

"I let my life slip out of control, and I did not have the proper tools or coping mechanisms to handle the enormous stress I was under," she said. "My life imploded."

Sweeten could face more time in prison, as federal investigators are pursuing the theft from the grandfather's 401(k) account. Sweeten also had several credit cards belonging to her former boss, lawyer Debbie Carlitz, with her at Disney World, Henry said.

Carlitz has said her firm's finances are under review.

After Sweeten was led off in handcuffs Thursday, her father, William Siner, 66, attacked two news cameramen waiting outside the courtroom, shoving one of them into a bench.

Siner, of Milton, Del., had appeared devastated in the courtroom as his daughter admitted her crimes and was ordered to prison. Sheriff's deputies detained him, but police were investigating and no charges were expected to be filed Thursday night, Henry said.

LiveLaughLuv

08-28-2009, 07:53 AM

I think this is just the start for her...I think Federal charges will come for the theft of that $285,000...

Roamer

08-28-2009, 07:56 AM

I certainly hope so!

Faith

12-16-2009, 02:43 PM

Hoax mom will get house arrest after 6 months

December 16, 2009 12:55 PM

Choking back tears as she talked about missing her children, a contrite Bonnie Sweeten begged a Bucks County judge Wednesday to let her out of jail in time for Christmas.

County Judge Jeffrey Finley agreed to covert the balance of Sweeten’s 9-to-24 month sentence to house arrest, but not until Feb. 27, when she’s served six months.

“I sense a different attitude today,” Finley told Sweeten. “You appear to have gotten some of the message. Maybe you’re beginning to understand how horrific your actions were.”

While ruling may shorten the so-called “hoax mom’s” time behind bars, it will not affect the ongoing federal investigation into charges she stole thousands of dollars in an identity theft scheme.

Although she refused to elaborate to reporters, District Attorney Michelle Henry shed some light on that probe when answering the judge’s questions in court.

“It’s a very intricate investigation into business fraud,” Henry told Finley. “With each new thing that’s uncovered, it leads to five new things.”

Sweeten, 38, of Lower Southampton, was sentenced in August for faking her own abduction and that of her 9-year-old daughter. She created the ruse—which prompted an Amber Alert and an east coast manhunt—to cover up the fact that she’d stolen more than $285,000 from her ex-husband’s family.

Sweeten called 9-1-1 on May 26 and wailed into the phone that she and her daughter had been carjacked by two black men. Instead, Sweeten and the girl boarded a plane to Florida. Detectives found them at Disneyworld.

It was that 9-1-1 tape, which was played at Sweeten’s sentencing hearing, that convinced Finley to depart from state sentencing guidelines and send her to the county jail. Since she had no prior convictions and the crimes were both misdemeanors, Sweeten could have gotten probation.

Sweeten’s attorney, Louis Busico, petitioned the judge this week to reconsider the sentence, saying his client had become a model prisoner.

In court Wednesday, Sweeten ticked off the numerous self-help programs she’s participate in since being incarcerated in August. She said she mentors other prisoners, attends Bible study and works in the prison laundry.

Most importantly, Sweeten told the judge, being separated from her three daughters has shown her how much she’s hurt others.

“I visit my kids through Plexiglass and I have to apologize,” she said.

Sweeten expressed remorse for the scam, saying she knows now how offensive her lies were.

“Every time there’s an Amber Alert I think about what I did. I don’t know who I was that day.”

Both Henry and prison officials opposed the house arrest motion, saying Sweeten is a flight risk. Henry noted that Sweeten told police that she planned to “disappear” after treating her daughter to a trip to the Magic Kingdom.

Finley said he took into consideration the fact that Sweeten did not flee when she was out on bail awaiting sentencing. He ruled that she must wear an electronic monitoring bracelet and be subject to random phone calls from corrections officers while on house arrest.

Sweeten’s husband filed for divorce shortly after she was arrested. She will live with a friend in Lower Southampton when she’s released.

Persons on house arrest are confined to their homes except to go to work and doctor’s appointments. Sweeten did work as a legal assistant to attorney Debbie Carlitz before her arrest, but Carlitz has been disbarred and Sweeten’s financial dealings in that office are the main focus of the federal probe, sources said.

Both Busico and Henry said they were pleased with the judge’s ruling.

Sweeten’s ex-husband, Anthony Rakoczy, and several friends were in the courtroom to support her Wednesday. There was no sign of her father, William Siner, who went on a rampage after she was sentenced in August, attacking several television camermen.

Siner is scheduled for a court hearing on assault charges in January.

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/92/2009/december/16/hoax-mom-will-get-house-arrest-after-6-months.html