Jill Metzger
Encyclopedia
Major Jill Metzger is a United States Air Force
(USAF) personnel officer who gained worldwide attention as the result of a still unexplained three day disappearance in Bishkek
, the capital of Kyrgyzstan
.
in both 2003 and 2004 and placed 10th in the women's division of the Marine Corps Marathon
in 2005. Despite being temporarily retired for medical reasons she came in 2nd place at the 2008 United States Air Force Marathon
She has been married to USAF captain Joshua Mayo since the spring of 2006.
stationed at Manas Air Base
, a US military facility that has been located at Manas International Airport
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"). She was found three days later in the nearby city of Kant
. Metzger claimed to have escaped from kidnappers, though U.S. officials noted "serious inconsistencies" in her account.
Kyrgyz Interior Ministry spokesman Nurdin Jangarayev told the press that security camera
s showed Metzger and another US servicewoman entering the store and then, three minutes later, Metzger separating from her companion. Vendors near the store later told police she purchased hair dye from them and was alone at the time.
Over the following hours, records showed that two phone calls were placed to Metzger's mobile phone, without success. For one of these calls the phone was traced to the area in which Bishkek's central bus station is located.
police department, said, "It seemed to me that her testimony was little believable; she was confused in her evidence". Svetlana Ivashenko, a resident at the Kant household where Metzger had requested help, said, "Who had seized her, why and where they had held her all this time, she couldn't clarify". US defense officials investigating the case said that "serious inconsistencies" had become evident and they were exploring the possibility that, rather than having been kidnapped, Metzger was attempting to flee her marriage. It was later made public knowledge by the FBI she purposely disappeared so she could collect disability benefits.
at Andrews Air Force Base
, Maryland
. Although the Federal Bureau of Investigation
completed their investigation into Metzger's disappearance in 2009, the results have not been made public.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
(USAF) personnel officer who gained worldwide attention as the result of a still unexplained three day disappearance in Bishkek
Bishkek
Bishkek , formerly Pishpek and Frunze, is the capital and the largest city of Kyrgyzstan.Bishkek is also the administrative centre of Chuy Province which surrounds the city, even though the city itself is not part of the province but rather a province-level unit of Kyrgyzstan.The name is thought to...
, the capital of Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
.
Sporting achievements & family
She was the women's winner of the United States Air Force MarathonUnited States Air Force Marathon
The United States Air Force Marathon is an annual event held on the Saturday closest to the birthday of the United States Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, home to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. It was established in 1997.The marathon includes a half...
in both 2003 and 2004 and placed 10th in the women's division of the Marine Corps Marathon
Marine Corps Marathon
The Marine Corps Marathon is an annual marathon held in Arlington, Virginia and Washington, DC. The mission of the MCM is to promote physical fitness, generate community goodwill and showcase the organizational skills of the United States Marine Corps....
in 2005. Despite being temporarily retired for medical reasons she came in 2nd place at the 2008 United States Air Force Marathon
United States Air Force Marathon
The United States Air Force Marathon is an annual event held on the Saturday closest to the birthday of the United States Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, home to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. It was established in 1997.The marathon includes a half...
She has been married to USAF captain Joshua Mayo since the spring of 2006.
Disappearance
In September 2006, Metzger was serving with the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing376th Air Expeditionary Wing
The 376th Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional United States Air Force Air Combat Command unit. It is currently stationed at the Transit Center at Manas International Airport, Kyrgyz Republic...
stationed at Manas Air Base
Manas Air Base
Transit Center at Manas is a United States military installation at Manas International Airport, near Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, primarily operated by the U.S. Air Force....
, a US military facility that has been located at Manas International Airport
Manas International Airport
Manas International Airport is the main international airport in Kyrgyzstan located 25 km north-northwest of the capital Bishkek.The airport is operational 24 hours and its ILS system is ICAO CAT 2...
since 2001, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom's operations in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. On September 5, shortly before she was scheduled to return to the United States, she went shopping at the ZUM department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
in Bishkek to buy souvenirs for her family. She failed to return to the base as expected and on September 7, The Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
reported her as missing (officially, "duty status whereabouts unknown"). She was found three days later in the nearby city of Kant
Kant, Kyrgyzstan
Kant is a city in the Chuy Valley of northern Kyrgyzstan, some 20 km from Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.It is the administrative center of the Ysyk-Ata District ....
. Metzger claimed to have escaped from kidnappers, though U.S. officials noted "serious inconsistencies" in her account.
Kyrgyz Interior Ministry spokesman Nurdin Jangarayev told the press that security camera
Closed-circuit television
Closed-circuit television is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors....
s showed Metzger and another US servicewoman entering the store and then, three minutes later, Metzger separating from her companion. Vendors near the store later told police she purchased hair dye from them and was alone at the time.
Over the following hours, records showed that two phone calls were placed to Metzger's mobile phone, without success. For one of these calls the phone was traced to the area in which Bishkek's central bus station is located.
Conflicting accounts
A Kyrgyz police official said that Metzger gave conflicting accounts of her three-day disappearance and refused to give any further statements after speaking with US embassy officials. Batmirza Dzhailobayev, head of the KantKant, Kyrgyzstan
Kant is a city in the Chuy Valley of northern Kyrgyzstan, some 20 km from Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.It is the administrative center of the Ysyk-Ata District ....
police department, said, "It seemed to me that her testimony was little believable; she was confused in her evidence". Svetlana Ivashenko, a resident at the Kant household where Metzger had requested help, said, "Who had seized her, why and where they had held her all this time, she couldn't clarify". US defense officials investigating the case said that "serious inconsistencies" had become evident and they were exploring the possibility that, rather than having been kidnapped, Metzger was attempting to flee her marriage. It was later made public knowledge by the FBI she purposely disappeared so she could collect disability benefits.
Temporary medical retirement
On July 10, 2007, Metzger's father informed the media that she had been temporarily retired from the Air Force after having been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, a status that requires a further medical examination after 18 months to assess whether or not she can return to active duty. She may remain on the disability list for up to five years while the Air Force continues the investigation or until evaluations determine if she should be permanently retired, discharged, or returned to active duty. “The Air Force Personnel Evaluation Board approved the placement of Maj. Jill Metzger, a member of the 23rd Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., on the Temporary Disability Retirement List effective July 17, 2007,” said Capt. Dustin Hart, deputy chief of Moody Public Affairs. Metzger, whose claims of being kidnapped and beaten in Kyrgyzstan are still unsubstantiated, will receive pay and benefits during her temporary retirement. Though she has not yet spoken to the media, her family said she was professionally diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder by physicians at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.Return to active duty
On October 12, 2010, Metzger returned to active duty as the chief of community programs for the Air Force District of WashingtonAir Force District of Washington
Air Force District of Washington is composed of two wings and one group, the 11th Wing, the 79th Medical Wing and the 844th Communication Group at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility...
at Andrews Air Force Base
Andrews Air Force Base
Joint Base Andrews is a United States military facility located in Prince George's County, Maryland. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 11th Wing, Air Force District of Washington ....
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. Although the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
completed their investigation into Metzger's disappearance in 2009, the results have not been made public.