Parents Accused of Kidnapping Bride will Face Trial

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

Sam Penrod ReportingA face off in court between a young bride and her parents. They're accused of kidnapping her to stop her from getting married. Now the family is torn apart.

Julia Redd, Defendant: "That we can have a happy family like we once did, we were hoping that would happen for Christmas."

Julianna Redd Myers, 21, looks at her parents as her husband, Perry, looks on during a preliminary hearing against Julia and Lemuel Redd Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac, Pool)

But the wounds are deep; not only did the parents tell their daughter her husband to be was evil and wicked, they took her out of state so she missed her wedding day!

There are two sides to every story and today, for the first time, we heard from the parents. The question now that appears headed for a jury to decide is this: Was preventing their 20-year old daughter from getting married a crime?

August 5th was suppose to be the day Julianna Redd married Perry Myers, but her parents believed it was not in their daughter's best interest and took drastic measures to stop the wedding.

Julianna Myers testifies against her parents, Julia and Lemuel Redd, during their preliminary hearing Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac, Pool)

Julia Redd, Defendant: "We love her, we were just concerned about her. We didn't realize that kidnapping would ever be part of our lives."

Lem Redd, Defendant: "It was concern for her, yes love for her."

Now Lem and Julia Redd are accused of felony kidnapping. Today in court, their daughter testified the day before the wedding her parents picked her up from her BYU apartment and took her all the way to Grand Junction, Colorado. Julianna blames her mother for what happened.

Lemuel Redd listens to his daughter, Julianna Redd Myers, testify against him during a preliminary hearing Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac, Pool)

Julianna Myers: "What's actually the common denominator here is my mom, so it's just a factor of control. I think he is scared of my mom and I think he lives in fear and just goes along with what she says for him to do."

Julianna says her parents felt like she was dishonoring them by marrying someone they didn't approve of. She says they were upset when Perry bought an engagement band without a diamond.

Despite what happened, Julianna married Perry three days later without her parents' blessing. Now her parents say they want to reconcile.

Julia Redd listens to her daughter, Julianna Redd Myers, testify against her during a preliminary hearing, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006, in Provo, Utah. She and her husband, Lemuel Redd are charged with kidnapping their daughter the day before her wedding in August. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac, Pool)

Julia Redd, Defendant: "We love Julianna and we want to get to know Perry better and have him feel comfortable being a part of our family now that Julianna has made her choice."

The judge today ruled there is enough evidence against the parents for them to stand trial sometime next year. Many observers wonder if this case may be best settled if everyone involved gets into counseling, so this family can begin to heal.