Similarity to Movie Noted in Kidnapping Case

ENCINO —  As investigators’ doubts continue to mount in the alleged gunpoint kidnapping of an Encino Bible study teacher, detectives are exploring whether the woman may have fabricated her account based on a movie starring Alicia Silverstone.

The 1997 film “Excess Baggage,” in which a woman fakes her kidnapping to gain attention, parallels several elements of the purported kidnapping earlier this month of Laura Dekkers.

Silverstone’s character drives her BMW to the fifth floor of a parking garage, binds her hands and feet, climbs into the trunk of her car and pulls the lid shut. She later frees herself and uses a cellular phone to call for help.

Dekker’s BMW was also driven to the fifth floor of a parking garage. She said she was bound at the hands and feet, and managed to free herself and use her cellular phone to summon help.

“There appear to be similarities, but whether it’s a copycat by the victim or by the suspect remains to be seen,” said one LAPD source.

Detectives also have a laundry list of concerns about Dekkers’ story, including:

* A witness placing her at the Bel-Air church after the time of the alleged kidnapping.

* A medical exam revealing no injuries, although she alleges that she was hit on the head, tied and held in the trunk for hours.

* A comparison of a Nevada casino parking garage videotape and cellular telephone records showing that Dekkers’ call to her husband saying that she was trapped in her trunk was placed 13 seconds before she drove her car into the garage.

Dekkers has since hired a lawyer and refused to talk to detectives investigating her case.

“She’s trying to get by this terribly traumatic experience,” said her attorney, Richard Marmaro.