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Missing person : Betsy (username: "wstphal")

Hey a Private Investigator might not be a bad idea. They might be able to get a little insight on the situation and help determine if there is something going on.
 
I also agree that her description of her work environment was very hard to believe. Its like she was being held captive. That, or maybe thats what she THOUGHT, and truly believed it. She doesnt strike me as someone in such need/want of attention to make up anything. But, I have been wrong about people in the past.. case in point.

If you analyzed every aspect of this, nothing makes sense. Except some sort of personality disorder. Even if it was an intervention because she has too many animals (this we do know because research showed many snake purchases) you would think they would want her to get rid of them, therefore return them to us. Maybe my understanding of that type of controlling relationship is limited.
 
Per Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine :
All of her medical certifications have been renewed as of Jan 21 2011.
Click to expand...

So very professional and precise and punctual in this regard. Very tidy.

So 'internal motivation' seems to be intact.
 
zorro said:
I'm just saying, for her own good and the people she owes snakes to why don't we put our money where our mouths are. Say we each put $50.00 to retain a lawyer to find out where the snakes are and help our friends on the forum??????????????
I don't know but I would be willing to help
John
Click to expand...

Count me in....Just tell me when & where through PM
 
vetusvates said:
So very professional and precise and punctual in this regard. Very tidy.

So 'internal motivation' seems to be intact.
Click to expand...

I still vote for internal motivation, but you can also obtain documents pertaining to her professional standing with the state medical board, to see if there are any lawsuits or allegations against her. If there is anything that might be harming her professionaly, it would be shown there. You have to pay to get copies, but it is available to anyone.
 
ratsncorns said:
I also agree that her description of her work environment was very hard to believe. Its like she was being held captive. That, or maybe thats what she THOUGHT, and truly believed it. She doesnt strike me as someone in such need/want of attention to make up anything. But, I have been wrong about people in the past.. case in point.

If you analyzed every aspect of this, nothing makes sense. Except some sort of personality disorder. Even if it was an intervention because she has too many animals (this we do know because research showed many snake purchases) you would think they would want her to get rid of them, therefore return them to us. Maybe my understanding of that type of controlling relationship is limited.
Click to expand...

I didn't get the impression that work was that difficult for her especially in October. Her and I split shipping on a rodent order. I called, emailed and texted her a number of times while she was working. She was even surfin the web looking at the various other suppliers because Rodentpro was out of stock on some of the stuff I needed. Spent close to 45 mins on the phone with her.

Not sure how that is a tyrannical work environment. Kind of reminds me of a person that is painting a picture in a certain light in an attempt to gain sympathy. I would also swear that she told me that she was a night nurse for a small practice and not a MD. :shrugs:

Wayne
 
I've been following this thread, and I have to say I'm also worried. I keep coming back to the feeling that there is an outside influence. I've known people that were in abusive relationships, and if that is the case it could explain everything described. A controlling influence combined with fear makes people act pretty strange sometimes. Fear of being "caught" talking to or getting e-mail from someone you're not supposed to talk to can make someone seemingly change their personality overnight, and unfortunately many times there is a reason to fear. I hope that isn't the case here.
 
medusacoils said:
I didn't get the impression that work was that difficult for her especially in October. Her and I split shipping on a rodent order. I called, emailed and texted her a number of times while she was working. She was even surfin the web looking at the various other suppliers because Rodentpro was out of stock on some of the stuff I needed. Spent close to 45 mins on the phone with her.

Not sure how that is a tyrannical work environment. Kind of reminds me of a person that is painting a picture in a certain light in an attempt to gain sympathy. I would also swear that she told me that she was a night nurse for a small practice and not a MD. :shrugs:

Wayne
Click to expand...
Hmmmm.....
Fascinating.....

Well, she was on the forum for a while (a good while?) and leaving her profession deliberately vague. Fair enough. No problem.
It became obvious to me that she was a physician, but I didn't out her on the forum. We discussed it in PM's, I think. She didn't harp on it. I thought that was noble of her, not to wave her credentials nor earning potential around in everyone's face. To this day I think that was one of the many things that made it so easy and desirous to be friends with her.
She seemed surprised that I guessed correctly.
Frankly, I was surprised that she didn't realize how easy it was for me to guess.
 
starsevol said:
Yes, there is a professional page somewhere on the interwebz with her picture and address of the practice.
Click to expand...

All of the above and this mean that there is a Dr. Westphal in Mass ... but I am just not sure it's the same person we're dealing with? :shrugs:

I am just confused! I don't see what the external motivation could be in such a short time in an abrupt manner. If anything, a reasonable person would send a quick email from the library regarding their well-being (or work as it sounds!!).

---

Anyone else kinda weirded out that whoever Whstpal was is probably reading this right now?? :sidestep:
 
Betsy is an MD because the website shows her picture (and its definitely her to those of us who met her in person) clearly stating the practice and that shes an MD. Now to just dig it up and find it again. Its buried in all my documents about her. But that will have to wait for tomorrow, I just got off of job #2 and am ready for bed...

Wayne, what you mention is very conflicting with what she told us about her work environment. She was pretty much saying everyone was watching her and complained to her supervisor if she did anything, at all. She couldnt get time off, she would never find another job because they wanted something crazy like 6 months notice. She gave the impression that it was miserable there. I dont really know what to believe. But, its all speculation. All that matters is the poor innocent bystanders in this. The snakes, and us.
 
I didn't get the impression that work was that difficult for her especially in October. Her and I split shipping on a rodent order. I called, emailed and texted her a number of times while she was working. She was even surfin the web looking at the various other suppliers because Rodentpro was out of stock on some of the stuff I needed. Spent close to 45 mins on the phone with her.
Click to expand...

Wayne, what you mention is very conflicting with what she told us about her work environment. She was pretty much saying everyone was watching her and complained to her supervisor if she did anything, at all.
Click to expand...
Sorry to chime in when I couldn't be less involved, but this conflicting picture reminds me so completely of a friend. In less than a month, he went from loving his job and being very good at it, to being convinced that he was responsible for the business failing and that all of his decisions were being scrutinised and criticised behind his back. Basically, he suffered a complete breakdown. Your descriptions make me very worried for Betsy (also for the people whose snakes she has).

Sadly, if she's reading this thread, it might just be confirming her worst fears and making her even less likely to give an update. I wish I could offer advice, but where my friend was concerned, there was absolutely nothing that we could do for him until he'd had months of treatment. His problems were simply beyond anyone outside the medical profession.
 
Has anyone alerted Betsy to this thread and the one on Fauna yet? Maybe knowing that we're not going to let this fall by the wayside will motivate her.
 
vetusvates said:
Hmmmm.....
Fascinating.....

Well, she was on the forum for a while (a good while?) and leaving her profession deliberately vague. Fair enough. No problem.
It became obvious to me that she was a physician, but I didn't out her on the forum. We discussed it in PM's, I think. She didn't harp on it. I thought that was noble of her, not to wave her credentials nor earning potential around in everyone's face. To this day I think that was one of the many things that made it so easy and desirous to be friends with her.
She seemed surprised that I guessed correctly.
Frankly, I was surprised that she didn't realize how easy it was for me to guess.
Click to expand...

Well now I am really confused. When I met her she took a look at my wrist and was amazed and fascinated by what it looked like. I asked her if she had seen anything like it before and she said no. She also said that it was one of the most "fouled" up things she has ever seen.

ratsncorns said:
Betsy is an MD because the website shows her picture (and its definitely her to those of us who met her in person) clearly stating the practice and that shes an MD. Now to just dig it up and find it again. Its buried in all my documents about her. But that will have to wait for tomorrow, I just got off of job #2 and am ready for bed...

Wayne, what you mention is very conflicting with what she told us about her work environment. She was pretty much saying everyone was watching her and complained to her supervisor if she did anything, at all. She couldnt get time off, she would never find another job because they wanted something crazy like 6 months notice. She gave the impression that it was miserable there. I dont really know what to believe. But, its all speculation. All that matters is the poor innocent bystanders in this. The snakes, and us.
Click to expand...

I don't know what to believe or say to this. I only know that when I talked to her on the phone, when we were setting up the rodent order, she was at work and on her work computer. She told me that anyway.

I don't know what to believe anymore!?!?! It seems she was saying different things to different people. :shrugs:

Wayne
 
Since I am about to graduate with a degree in psychology and I have a mother with Borderline Personality Disorder, I just want to add that this is very consistent behavior with Borderline and Bipolar.

In a good phase, you are loving and generous. You are charming. You spend money you don't have and you pick up hobbies etc. that you don't have time for.
Then things start going bad. You suddenly are paranoid that those who you liked and trusted hate you. You feel that you are scum of the earth. You owe money you can't pay. You don't have time to keep up with the commitments you agreed to. You withdraw suddenly.

If Betsy is suffering from a Borderline/Bipolar downturn, it really doesn't matter WHAT you say or do, or how nicely you say it. She will perceive you to hate her and are set against her. She will black list you and react with defensiveness and anger.

My advice: pool money together and one of you go to her place and get all the loaned snakes back. If you show up and ask, she will hand them over, I'm betting. If she made a down payment to you, pay it back to her so that she doesn't have any way to take legal action against you.

I have friends and acquaintances who think my mom is the best ever. Generous, fun, kind, full of life. They don't get to see her dark side- too bad for me, I got to live with the terror of it all.
If she has BPD or is Bipolar, she can get pretty downright vicious, believe me. And neglectful of her responsibilities including the snakes.

I've had my mom, who rescues homeless pets and does catch-and-release spay and neutering, neglect animals to the point of extreme suffering and death when in a bad turn. Dogs thirsting to death, cats living for months in cramped travel carriers with ears full of ear mites, etc. When she is well, she is the BEST animal person ever. I've had her babysit my animals for me- and she checked on them multiple times a day- Played with them constantly- perfect, loving care.

Don't be fooled, just because Betsy WAS nice and WAS competent doesn't mean that she ALWAYS is.

A big clue of Borderline: inconsistent black listing of people/entities. The Borderline will tell you that so-and-so is making their life hell-on-a-stick. The story will change. Next month they won't remember what they said or who they told what. Sometimes YOU are the hated one. They are always being persecuted by someone. They pick up new hobbies/careers/education paths all the time, then drop them suddenly. Sometimes after putting a monumental amount of time, effort, and money into them.
(For example, my mom got into photography. She got THE BEST equipment, despite being out of work. She started a degree in photography. She won awards. Then one day, she dropped out of school, sold her camera, and took her ribbons down and put them away. Then she was crazy about graphic design. She started a degree. She bought the best computer and software.... then it was farming. Bought a house, land, goats, pigs, alpacas, a llama... then it was moving back to the city and do computer programming. ?!?!?!?!)
 
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