Two tourists abducted, robbed after leaving Downtown Disney

[mrsR123]

Don't most ATM's have video surveillance these days? Seems like that would be easy to check for signs of stress, others, etc.

What a sad commentary on our society that we have to debate whether this might me a spurious claim.

Regardless, I'll scratch Downtown Disney off the list of places I'll let my teen shop out of my immediate supervision and think twice about going there after dark alone myself next January.

 

[MICKEEP]

This is really getting interesting.

I see a "Movie-of-the-Week" in the making

 

[YoHo]

On the Birmingham thing. Gary Indiana is part of the Chicago Metro area, so I think that list is going by city limits, NOT metro area.

 

[disneyfan67]

New update from the Sentinel: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...61307,0,2381379.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

The "victims" have refused to prosecute if the suspects are ever caught, and also refused to give details to a sketch artist or take a lie-detector test. The story gets fishier...

I figured there was more to the story and this statement of them not wanting to prosecute the suspects if caught, is a red flag to me. This quote below from the article is troubling, to say the least.


"The couple, who were visiting Walt Disney World with DellaCamera's parents, decided not to go any further with the investigation after they were asked to provide facial details for composite sketches of the robbers and to undergo voice stress analysis, a form of lie-detector test, according to the sheriff's office".

 

[disneyfan67]

Don't most ATM's have video surveillance these days? Seems like that would be easy to check for signs of stress, others, etc.

What a sad commentary on our society that we have to debate whether this might me a spurious claim.

Regardless, I'll scratch Downtown Disney off the list of places I'll let my teen shop out of my immediate supervision and think twice about going there after dark alone myself next January.

I don't think this is a DTD problem at all, IMO. I think this is drug deal that went sour, really quick. Why wouldn't these two want to prosecute the suspects when the eventually get caught? I'm not coming at this from a "fan of Disney and Disney can do no wrong" type of thing. The whole thing stinks and like that "run away bride kidnapping" thing 2 years ago, and the truth will eventually come out.

 

[YoHo]

How is a Drug deal going sour at DTD not a DTD problem?

You know, at Disneyland, I've occasionally gotten a second hand high from pot smoke in It's a Small World. I typically inform the operators and inform guest services. Should I just let that go too? Of course, I then buy a bunch of nachos and some churros cause I have the munchies, so maybe Disney wants it to stay that way. Hmm....

 

[MickeyCrazed]

I figured there was more to the story and this statement of them not wanting to prosecute the suspects if caught, is a red flag to me. This quote below from the article is troubling, to say the least.


"The couple, who were visiting Walt Disney World with DellaCamera's parents, decided not to go any further with the investigation after they were asked to provide facial details for composite sketches of the robbers and to undergo voice stress analysis, a form of lie-detector test, according to the sheriff's office".

OK... now I feel stupid for originally posting this topic.
This sounds as fishy as the boy who got beat up by Tigger earlier this year.
What is wrong with people?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Here is the latest (current) article from the Orlando Sentinel's web site:

The victims of a recent robbery and kidnapping at Downtown Disney have decided not to prosecute if the Orange County Sheriff's Office captures their abductors.

"They both signed DOI's within the past hour," sheriff's spokesman Jim Solomons said shortly after 11 a.m. Wednesday. DOI stands for declination of intent, a form stating that victims decline to prosecute.

The abduction early Sunday of Jessica DellaCamera and Justin Stetzer, tourists from Connecticut, attracted national attention after they reported being taken at gunpoint from Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World's shopping and nightclub center.

They told investigators that three men forced them into a car and drove them to withdraw cash from ATMs before leaving them in a dump in nearby Osceola County, where the men beat them. They also told investigators they fought back and escaped when one of their abductors' guns fired accidentally, according to the sheriff's office.

"When you get down to the bottom line we still consider them victims," Solomons said, noting that DellaCamera and Stetzer, both 20 years old, showed signs of having been beaten.

The couple, who were visiting Walt Disney World with DellaCamera's parents, decided not to go any further with the investigation after they were asked to provide facial details for composite sketches of the robbers and to undergo voice stress analysis, a form of lie-detector test, according to the sheriff's office.

 

[disneyfan67]

How is a Drug deal going sour at DTD not a DTD problem?

What I was trying to say was that a private, illegal act between a few adults doesn't or shouldn't paint DTD in a harsh light. It's not like it's a drug infested housing project or gang war zone. I would be willing to bet good money that I don't have, that plenty of illegal activity goes on at WDW with out any one's knowledge. It's not the perfect place some make it out to be, but it isn't as bad as some would like to paint it as. I'm not saying Disney shouldn't add more security personnel and install more cameras. They should beef up their security force, ASAP, especially with crime in Orlando on the upswing. People pay a fair amount of money to go to WDW and stay onsite, reports like this could really harm Disney's reputation. I hope the police get to the bottom of this case fairly quick. Something just isn't right about this latest incident, IMO.

I feel pretty safe at WDW for the most part, but there's always the slim chance something bad could happen. I think WDW does a pretty good job of giving you the illusion of leaving the real world behind for awhile when you enter their gates. I think reports like this are blown out of proportion by the media. When your headline shouts "Kidnapping at Disney World", people are going to pay attention, whether it fair reporting or not.

 

[tpayne]

Sounds to me like somebody may have been running out of Disney dollars. Didn't I read that Disney was trying to help with their financial situation? It's sad to think they would make up all that, but nowadays it's hard to trust anyone.I hope I'm wrong

 

[jimmytammy]

It sounded like that may be the case after hearing the news. Im with you, hope that isnt the case but sure looks suspicious.

Sounds to me like somebody may have been running out of Disney dollars. Didn't I read that Disney was trying to help with their financial situation? It's sad to think they would make up all that, but nowadays it's hard to trust anyone.I hope I'm wrong

 

[thefirebuilds]

Carnies and Rubes. That's not even a seedy area, but if I were looking for easy pickings it seems like the place to go. The fact that these bozos got into the car TWICE says they aren't very bright. The whole lot is lucky something worse didn't happen.

 

[thefirebuilds]

Wait, did I read an implication these guys were trying to get high at Disney? DisneyWorld is like an expensive acid trip to begin with. I don't think I could handle being high in "It's a Small World."

 

[lisuhut]

oh i hope this story is made up, as sick as it is, cause i go to dtd on my own every time i visit wdw, as i live in england, i only find out this sort of thing through the dis boards, i can not see my husband letting me go on my own ,for quiet time and of course shopping time ,again. these sort of people take the magic away from wdw.

 

[thefirebuilds]

I know there are places in England one doesn't wander on their own, just keep your wits, stay in groups, and don't go off looking for trouble. Those from outside of Tampa/Orlando don't realize how bad of an area it has gotten to be (and has been for 20 years or more).

Last time I was at DW I saw these cops up in mechanical chair lifts like the things in Jurassic Park II, it was really weird. It held them 20 or so feet in the air so they could see around. strange.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) I have written SEVERAL posts about security at Downtown Disney.
2) In each post I said that we no longer go to Pleasure Island or West Side.
3) The wife actually says, "It is the one place in WDW that I don't feel safe.".
4) Need there be more proof?
5) How about other crimes that don't get reported (eg. pick-pockets)?

NOTE: One always sees a few WDW security cars or jeeps at DTD, but they are usually parked neatly instead of cruising and protecting people. I am sorry to be so negative on the point, but Disney has let security lapse at DTD.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

There are Disney Security guards all over the place at DTD and PI. There are Orange County Sheriff's Office deputies all over the place inside Pleasure Island and out in the DTD parking lot. You are a lot more safe shopping at DTD than out at the Florida Mall, IMO. You can't stand in the DTD parking lot at PI closing time for more than a couple minutes before someone in uniform comes along to ask if you're ok and if you are, to please move along. Security has not lapsed in Downtown Disney. What has happened if anything is that crime has increased like it has EVERYWHERE else and DTD can't be completely immune to what is happenening to society at large. But they do a heck of a job keeping things in order! Anyone who "won't go to DD anymore" better not go anywhere else anymore either.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Dznefreek]

There are Orange County Sheriff's Office deputies all over the place inside Pleasure Island and out in the DTD parking lot.

Funny I live locally, go all the time (today as a matter of fact) and never see them. I think you are exaggerating there presence. . . . .

 

[peter11435]

Funny I live locally, go all the time (today as a matter of fact) and never see them. I think you are exaggerating there presence. . . . .

You must not be looking.

 

[YoHo]

Hmm, 2 locals say there's no security. One won't even go anymore. another local says there is security, and Peter, who may be a local, but who I also know to make stuff up (welcome back, we missed your particular....idiom) say security is fine.

I don't know what the security situation is for sure, but I do know that what TRS and Dznefreek say matches the rumors I've heard out of Burbank. Security is understaffed and can't handle DTD.


There should be no reason for DTD to become less safe. That's a copout. if more unsavory activities are occuring there, then Disney needs to step up the security. If it's gotten less safe, because the world is less safe, then Disney needs to do more the return it to safety. That's their job.


Also, just fyi, Terrorists not withstanding, crime in america isn't particularly worse now thne it was 20 years ago. In many places it's in fact significant;y better. If this is not true in WDW, then again, it's Disney's fault, because other places have done impressive things to mitigate crime.