'MySpace' teen back from Middle East

[24champ]

By DAVID N. GOODMAN, Associated Press Writer
Sat Jun 10, 12:39 AM ET



DETROIT - A 16-year-old honor student from Michigan tricked her parents into getting her a passport and then flew off to the Mideast to be with a West Bank man she met on MySpace.com, authorities say.

ADVERTISEMENT

U.S. officials in Jordan persuaded her to turn around and go home before she reached the West Bank. She returned home Friday.

Katherine R. Lester is a straight-A student and student council member, her father said. "She's a good girl. Never had a problem with her," Terry Lester said.

MySpace.com is a social networking Web site with more than 72 million members that lets users post photos, blogs and journals. There have been scattered accounts of sexual predators targeting minors they met through the site.

Katherine disappeared Monday after talking her family into getting her a passport by saying she was going to Canada with friends, sheriff's officials said. She apparently planned to visit a man whose MySpace account describes him as a 25-year-old from Jericho, Undersheriff James Jashinske said.

The FBI traced the teenager to a Wednesday flight from New York's Kennedy Airport to Tel Aviv, Israel. At a scheduled stop in Amman, Jordan, U.S. officials persuaded her to return home, FBI agent Robert Beeckman said.

Television news footage showed Katherine waving as she walked across a tarmac at Bishop International Airport in Flint late Friday. She was taken to a private area to be reunited with her family.

Katherine apparently contacted the man from Jericho about three months ago, Jashinske said. Jericho, a city of 17,000, is a relatively calm area of the volatile West Bank.

MySpace forbids youngsters 13 and under from joining and provides special protections for those 14 and 15 — only people on their list of friends can view their profiles. Older users also have the option of restricting certain personal data so it can be seen only by people they have identified as friends.

Shawn Lester told The Saginaw News that her daughter has "never given me a day's trouble. ... I just don't understand with all these new laws protecting America how a 16-year-old kid could get out of the country." She said her daughter never had a boyfriend and seemed to be content with that.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said he could say little about the girl because of privacy rules.

Katherine and her mother live in Gilford, a village about 80 miles north of Detroit in Michigan's agricultural Thumb region. Her father lives in Grand Blanc Township.

The age of consent in Michigan is 16; Katherine turns 17 on June 21.

"I'll be honest with you, we don't know if a crime's been committed," Jashinske said Friday.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060610/ap_on_re_us/myspace_mideast_trip_17


what in the world is going on with teens flying around halfway across the planet because of somebody they met over the net????

[Florida_Bronco]

Not smart girl, not smart at all.

[Tombstone RJ]

The girl flat out lied to her parents, then manipulated them into letter leave the country. Yah, she's not a "problem." Horsecrap, her parents are idiots.

[heydensmom]

WOW good thing she never made it to the West Bank who knows what would have happened to her.

[Jason in LA]

It seems that myspace is more trouble than what it's worth. When ever there is any type of news report it's always a bad report.

I don't care if this kid is getting straight A's. She's dumb. There are a boat load of guys in this country, and in her area. She has to find one on the other side of the planet?? Then try to go and see him, not knowing if he really exsist. If she found him, what's the chances of her ever getting back home?

Those straight A's are probably from home schooling. What parent is going to give their kid anything less than that?

[Blueflame]

Exhibit "A" for the concept that "book smarts" don't always translate into "street smarts"... or common sense. Just because any student gets good grades in school doesn't mean they will make good choices in life or that they will see through the con men on the internet. This girl sounds incredibly naive to me... someone needs to explain to her that it's very risky to assume that everyone on the internet is 100% honest and trustworthy. If this incident helps her to learn from her mistake then at least some good will have come from it.

[watermock]

She never would of never of been seen again. The predator would of had her face hidden in their vanity clothing within hours. What I don't get is how the FBI found out she was getting on a plane so fast. How did they know that whatsoever? Something is missing in that story.

And if she's so smart, why hasn't she heard of the ongoing violence in the west bank? Hell, Hamas just unilaterally broke a self imposed truce yesterday. Maybe he said he was Secretary of State for Al Quaeda and she could be paid to work for his "government" by hand delivering "packages".

[Garcia Bronco]

She never would of never of been seen again. The predator would of had her face hidden in their vanity clothing within hours. What I don't get is how the FBI found out she was getting on a plane so fast. How did they know that whatsoever? Something is missing in that story.

And if she's so smart, why hasn't she heard of the ongoing violence in the west bank? Hell, Hamas just unilaterally broke a self imposed truce yesterday. Maybe he said he was Secretary of State for Al Queada and she could be paid to work for his "government" by hand delivering "packages".

It's a little odd for a 16 year-old to be traveling to the mid east unattended.


It's truely does take a village

[-Slap-]

She probably got the idea from The Family Guy episode where Stewie flew off to England to meet Miss Maggy. Goddamn televison, warping the minds of our young people.

[Dr. Broncenstein]

The fault lies on the parents. Don't know where you kids are? Why not?

/Personal resonsibility surrenders...

[watermock]

I'm not sure post 9/11 but I don't think you even need a passport go cross into Canada, just proper ID.

[Arkansas Bronco]

From what I have read I think you need a pasport to go to Canada but just ID and I think Birth certificate to go Mexico

[watermock]

Mexico is going to passports I think. Rather ironic isn't it? Harder to get into Mexico than out of it. I always thought it was ironic that Mexico would want a Birth Certificate when your Drivers License or Id with a picture ID is much more accurate. Oh, make sure you bring something 45 years old made of brittle paper.

Another thing that is totally mind baffling is the Social Security Card...why in the hell is it made of flimsy paper? Again, why don't all states just put your social security number on your DL or ID? Your DL has a black metal strip on the back with all your information. God only knows what but wouldn't it be better than two pieces of paper with no photo? It's totally absurd. Maybe I'm missing something here. I simply laminated my SS "card" that isn't even a card.

[Blueflame]

From what I have read I think you need a pasport to go to Canada but just ID and I think Birth certificate to go Mexico

We traveled to Canada to play golf for a weekend less than a year ago and got across the border... both ways... just fine with birth certificates and driver's licenses as ID... so unless things have changed since last September, passports aren't necessary yet.

[Pat Bowlen]

The girl flat out lied to her parents, then manipulated them into letter leave the country. Yah, she's not a "problem." Horsecrap, her parents are idiots.
She must be stopped!

[Arkie]

That's crazy for a teen to fly halfway across the world to anywhere. Of all the places in the world, why the West Bank? That teen is just nuts.

[Pat Bowlen]

"Oh, Mom... I was gonna call you..."

[broncocalijohn]

I wouldnt let my teen on there or my wife/girlfriend. I have never been on that site and i would only go if i was trolling for some putang if i wanted to cheat. I wonder how many sexual diseases have been transmitted thanks to the help of M.S. Underage girls having sex with adults..My Space. Thinking you are all that because you have 159 "friends" even though you have never meet one in real life......MySpace. How many kids not doing their homework because they are chatting on a site about absolutely nothing important in life? .....MySpace. The devil. If I saw my wife or girlfriend on that site, I would be suspicious big time. Repent your ways MySpacers.

[bcbronc]

From what I have read I think you need a pasport to go to Canada but just ID and I think Birth certificate to go Mexico


as of today you don't need a passport to enter canada. since 9/11 there has been lots of discussion about it (and those discussions have picked up again after the terrorist bust in toronto), but it hasn't happened yet. a passport may become necessary in the near future, but currently proof of citizenship and picture ID (birth certificate and DL) are all you need to cross our border.

[Breck Bronc]

as of today you don't need a passport to enter canada. since 9/11 there has been lots of discussion about it (and those discussions have picked up again after the terrorist bust in toronto), but it hasn't happened yet. a passport may become necessary in the near future, but currently proof of citizenship and picture ID (birth certificate and DL) are all you need to cross our border.I think December 31, 2006 is the starting date where you need to have a passport to get into Canada from the U.S. and vice versa.

[bcbronc]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-04-05-us-visits_x.htm

By Mimi Hall, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — U.S. citizens will be required to show a passport to re-enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, Panama, Bermuda and the Caribbean by 2008, the departments of State and Homeland Security announced Tuesday.

The change, which will be phased in over the next three years, is part of an ongoing effort to tighten border security after the 2001 terrorist attacks. Canadians, who now are the only foreigners allowed to enter the United States with only driver's licenses, also will need passports to head south across the border.

[Swedish Extrovert]

You don't need a passport to go to Canada. I've crossed the border form Seattle to Vancouver before I got my US Passport.

Thats funny though. Myspace is fun.... I guess I'm just a risk taker. When I go back to Sweden this summer, I'll be staying with a girl I met there. Seems cool. Hopefully I get back with both my kidneys.

[Kaylore]

She probably got the idea from The Family Guy episode where Stewie flew off to England to meet Miss Maggy. Goddamn televison, warping the minds of our young people.
That's a good episode.

[penguintheory]

So the girl doesn't have common sense. Too bad. Maybe we should outlaw all these chick flicks encouraging this type of romantic behavior.

... take that, anti-violent video game activists.

[JAPS]

She never would of never of been seen again. The predator would of had her face hidden in their vanity clothing within hours. What I don't get is how the FBI found out she was getting on a plane so fast. How did they know that whatsoever? Something is missing in that story.

And if she's so smart, why hasn't she heard of the ongoing violence in the west bank? Hell, Hamas just unilaterally broke a self imposed truce yesterday. Maybe he said he was Secretary of State for Al Quaeda and she could be paid to work for his "government" by hand delivering "packages".

Holy mother of god. Are people really this stupid? !!!

[Jason in LA]

It's a little odd for a 16 year-old to be traveling to the mid east unattended.


It's truely does take a village

That's exactly what I thought. Somebody found it kind of odd and probably just asked a couple questions, then figured out that something was very wrong.

The parents had probably filed a report by then, so her name may have popped up when she showed her ID.

[Jason in LA]

I wouldnt let my teen on there or my wife/girlfriend. I have never been on that site and i would only go if i was trolling for some putang if i wanted to cheat. I wonder how many sexual diseases have been transmitted thanks to the help of M.S. Underage girls having sex with adults..My Space. Thinking you are all that because you have 159 "friends" even though you have never meet one in real life......MySpace. How many kids not doing their homework because they are chatting on a site about absolutely nothing important in life? .....MySpace. The devil. If I saw my wife or girlfriend on that site, I would be suspicious big time. Repent your ways MySpacers.

I totally agree. If I met a girl through myspace, no way would I ever have an exclusive relationship with her. There has already been a debate about trust in a different thread, so some people know my stance. I trust a woman to a point. But I wouldn't trust a myspace account. If a woman is attractive, she'll be getting a lot of emails and friends invites from other guys, and probably has a ton of guys on her friends list. Myspace is mostly used as a hookup site. I could hookup with a chick with a myspace account, but I could never make that chick my girlfriend, because she'll always have that myspace account, and will always be chatting with other guys on the net.

[Florida_Bronco]

I totally agree. If I met a girl through myspace, no way would I ever have an exclusive relationship with her. There has already been a debate about trust in a different thread, so some people know my stance. I trust a woman to a point. But I wouldn't trust a myspace account. If a woman is attractive, she'll be getting a lot of emails and friends invites from other guys, and probably has a ton of guys on her friends list. Myspace is mostly used as a hookup site. I could hookup with a chick with a myspace account, but I could never make that chick my girlfriend, because she'll always have that myspace account, and will always be chatting with other guys on the net.

Agree 100% :thumbs:

I have a MySpace account, but it's basically used to keep in touch with my friends from the midwest after I moved here. I don't have a single person on my friend list that I haven't met in real life.

[youcandoit1687]

Holy mother of god. Are people really this stupid? !!!

I'm a 22 year old supermodel named Kyla Cole...anybody wanna meet up in a warzone with me?

[-Slap-]

That's a good episode.
What about the children?!

[smalltowngrll]

I don't know about any of you out there...but, when you were 16, and you made up your mind to do something....how many of you told your parents? How many of you listened to your parents? Doesn't make it right or wrong...just reality is that she was 16 and finally made a stupid decision....on the grandest of scales!

She may be a very smart student...but, I think either someone forgot to teach her common sense, or she just chose to be a teenager that day and didn't listen!

At 16, there really aren't many things you can stop a teenager from doing...unless it's illegal! You can talk until you are blue in the face, but, if they choose to not listen...what are you going to do? Without breaking the law yourself?

[youcandoit1687]

I don't know about any of you out there...but, when you were 16, and you made up your mind to do something....how many of you told your parents? How many of you listened to your parents? Doesn't make it right or wrong...just reality is that she was 16 and finally made a stupid decision....on the grandest of scales!

She may be a very smart student...but, I think either someone forgot to teach her common sense, or she just chose to be a teenager that day and didn't listen!

At 16, there really aren't many things you can stop a teenager from doing...unless it's illegal! You can talk until you are blue in the face, but, if they choose to not listen...what are you going to do? Without breaking the law yourself?

teenagers do bad things that are spontaneous. i dont know any levelheaded teenager who would have something that planned out and not realize...holy sh t, i am going across the world to meet a supposed person that i have "known" for 3 months because...who knows why?

the girl needs some sort of counseling. theres gotta be a problem with her family, self esteem(the whole never had a boyfriend thing), or something.

[JAPS]

I'm a 22 year old supermodel named Kyla Cole...anybody wanna meet up in a warzone with me?

If you read between the lines, you'll really know what I meant