Major Jill Metzger is a United States Air Force personnel officer who gained worldwide attention as the result of a three-day disappearance in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
Maj. Jill Metzger
United States Air Force | |
|---|---|
 Air Force Major Jill Metzger | |
| Born | 1973 (age 50–51) |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service |  United States Air Force |
| Rank |  Major |
| Unit | 376th Air Expeditionary Wing |
| Battles / wars | Operation Enduring Freedom |
Sporting achievements and family
editShe was the women's winner of the United States Air Force Marathon in both 2003 and 2004[1] and placed 10th in the women's division of the Marine Corps Marathon in 2005.[2] Despite being temporarily retired for medical reasons she came in 2nd place at the 2008 United States Air Force Marathon[3]
She has been married to USAF captain Joshua Mayo since the spring of 2006.[4]
Kidnapping
editIn September 2006, Metzger was serving with the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing stationed at Manas Air Base, a U.S. military facility that has been located at Manas International Airport, Kyrgyzstan, since 2001, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom's operations in Afghanistan. On September 5, shortly before she was scheduled to return to the United States, she went shopping at the ZUM department store in Bishkek to buy souvenirs for her family. She failed to return to the base as expected and on September 7, The Pentagon reported her as missing (officially, "duty status whereabouts unknown").[5] She was found three days later in the nearby city of Kant, reporting that she had been abducted from the store, taken via minibus, and escaped from the kidnappers after hitting one of them and fleeing.[6]
The Air Force Office of Special Investigations and other agencies conducted a major investigation,[7][8][9] and February 3, 2012, Air Force investigators closed the case, concluding that the evidence was consistent with Metzger's account of being kidnapped.[9] The investigation debunked online smears claiming that Metzger had voluntarily gone AWOL.[9] Shopping center surveillance video showed at least two unidentified persons surveilled Metzger, with one of them following her, and that criminals may have intended to kidnap a different individual who resembled Metzger.[9] The investigation found that Metzger escaped after sharpening a stick into a shank, stabbing one of the captors and locking him in a room, and fleeing to a nearby home, whose residents were able to contact the police.[9] The Federal Bureau of Investigation also completed an investigation into Metzger's disappearance in 2009, but did not make the results public.[10]
Temporary medical retirement and return to active duty
editIn July 2007, the Air Force Personnel Evaluation Board approved the placement of Metzger (then a member of the 23rd Wing at Moody Air Force Base) on the Temporary Disability Retirement List after she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder by physicians at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.[11][12][13][14]
On October 12, 2010, Metzger returned to active duty as the chief of community programs for the Air Force District of Washington at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.[10]
References
edit- ^ "2004 Marathon Results - Individual". USAF. Archived from the original on 2007-02-27. Retrieved 2007-07-04.
- ^ Evans, Judith (2005-10-31). "Kvasnicka Turns Second Into 1st". Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-07-04.
- ^ "2008 Marathon Results USAF - Individual". USAF. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
- ^ "Missing Air Force Major Found Alive". CBS News. 2006-09-08. Retrieved 2007-07-04.
- ^ "Air Force Major Missing In Kyrgyzstan". CBS News. 2006-09-08. Retrieved 2007-07-04.
- ^ "Air Force: Major not taking leave". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2007-07-04.
- ^ Saralayeva, Leila (2006-09-11). "Kyrgyz Police Say Major Was 'Confused'". Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
- ^ "Vanishing Major: Runaway Bride or Kidnap Victim?". ABC News. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
- ^ a b c d e "Air Force confirms Metzger kidnapped in 2006". Air Force Times. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
- ^ a b "Former missing Air Force officer returns to active duty". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
- ^ "Father says Metzger is to be put on temporary retirement". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2007-07-16.
- ^ "Metzger's situation remains a mystery". WALB News Valdosta. Retrieved 2007-07-18.
- ^ "Metzger retiring, for now". Valdosta Daily Times. Archived from the original on 2013-02-05. Retrieved 2007-07-19.
- ^ "Temporary retirement official for Metzger". Air Force Times. Retrieved 2007-07-19.