By Steve Huff
I know where I stand and what'll happen if you try it
I am FIREPROOF
I know my heart and I just can't deny it
I am FIREPROOF
I tried to tell you but you wouldn't be quiet
I am FIREPROOF
I'll never bow down and you won't buy it
I am FIREPROOF
~ From the song "Fireproof," by the Christian rock group, "Pillar."
David Ludwig, age 18, from Lititz, Pennsylvania, quoted the lyrics from the song "Fireproof" by Christian Rockers "Pillar" in an entry he made in his weblog, http://www.xanga.com/Haydren/, on October 7, 2005. The night before, October 6, David had attended a concert by the group and he commented in the same blog entry, "The concert last night was AMAZING!! Pillar and Audio A rock my face off!"
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David Ludwig |
One month and one week after David Ludwig had his face "rocked off," he was on the run, an accused kidnapper and double-murderer. He was only 18.
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Kara Beth Borden in a police release photo |
His alleged captive, 14-year-old Kara Beth Borden, also of Lititz, was described in an Amber Alert issued out of concern for her safety on November 13, 2005, as "white, 5'1" tall and weighs 100 pounds. She has brown hair with blonde highlights. She was last seen at 8:00 wearing a black sweatshirt with "Pillar" across the front, blue jeans, and black sneakers..."
Kara Beth Borden, who went by the screen name "Karebear000" on her own weblog, http://www.xanga.com/karebear000, came across like a normal girl of 14 — one who was devoted, above all else, to her Christian faith. From Kara Borden's user profile at Xanga.com:
i love the lord..i go to church..i love all my friends! YOU GUYS ARE SOO AWESOME! hmm im 14 and i have brown hair with blonde highlights..im about 5'1..i have brown eyes also..which i totally hate =P..music totally rox..and i love soccer and bball..shopping is fun..but i mostly like just chilling with friends..hehe..hmm well i dont know what else..wellt if there's anything you want to know just ask me!! LOVE YOU ALL!!
In her "interests," Kara reinforced her declaration of faith:
JESUS!! church,my youth group,other youth groups, family,friends,my doggie,KIDS,babysitting,soccer, bball,football,talking on the phone,food,eating, taking pictures,cooking,guitar,the beach,camp, taking walks,riding my bike,just being outside, having partys OH YEAH BABY,going to partys, making new friends,helping out,music,DDR!!CANDY,PUSHPOPS.shopping hugging...
Not much about a boyfriend in Kara Beth Borden's Xanga. But her myspace.com profile was different — http://www.myspace.com/meantxtoxlive. Prior to Sunday evening, the 13th of November, she listed her age as 17. Strangely, sometime before Monday, November 14, Kara Beth appeared to change her age to 14, and she, or someone with access, locked her journal to anyone not on her myspace.com "friends" list.
Her comments made on the profiles of other people were still available, though. The first comment apparently left at http://www.myspace.com/haydren on October 3, 2005, was from Kara Beth:
*YAY* heh you have to leave me a comment babe!! k? mk byeeeeeee lyl
<3Kara<3
Kara's name, bracketed with emoticons (graphics intended to display what would otherwise be non-verbal expressions) meant to indicate hearts, was signed to the first comment on David Ludwig's myspace profile.
Ludwig and Borden were, by all accounts, dating on the sly. For this reason, the minimal presence each teen had on the other's websites seemed significant. It gave the appearance that they knew they were being watched.
Apparently, they were.
On the Sunday morning, November 13, 2005, everything exploded.
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David Ludwig and Kara Borden - Full Coverage
Feature Story - Kara Beth Borden and David Ludwig