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Baskin children discovered alive and well
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 10:00 pm
Parents Mark and Debbie Baskin hope to be reunited soon with their grown children located Monday in California after being abducted 20 years ago.

Sheriff's Detective Lt. Bill Sharp said Christie and Bobby Baskin were located Monday night in San Jose with their grandfather Marvin Maple after two witnesses saw a story about the family in the "San Diego Tribune."

One woman who wanted to remain anonymous reported to authorities Maple, who went by the name John Bunting, (right) made statements about being wanted. Another woman identified him through an Internet photograph. Maple reportedly told one of the women he was upset with the media misrepresentation of him.

San Jose, Calif., Police apprehended Maple Monday night. Maple is in custody charged with kidnapping his grandchildren March 1, 1989 when Christie was 8 and Bobby, 7. Grandmother Sandra Maple died about two years ago.

During a telephone interview Tuesday from his Vidalia, Ga., home, Mark Baskin wants his children to know "first, we still love them. We never stopped loving them. We don't blame them for what happened and we want to have a relationship with them."

The Baskins don't know how their children will receive them after an almost 20-year absence.

"We don't want to appear to be pushy or bombastic," Baskin said. "We want to lay the fleece out and say this is what we want. The ball is in their court."

The parents learned Christie, who goes by the name of Jenny Bunting, has a college degree in nursing and is in nursing administration. She is single and living with her grandfather. Bobby, who goes by the name of Jonathan Bunting, is married and may have children.

"I may be a grandparent," Baskin said with a touch of awe in his voice. "That would be wonderful. I've been wondering for quite a while I might be a grandparent and not know it."

The parents received updated photographs of their adult children.

"Christie's so beautiful and Bobby is so handsome," the father said proudly.

Sheriff's Detective Capt. Preble Acton, who investigated the case in the 1990s, thanked the women for reporting their suspicions about Maple.

"If they had minded their own business, this wouldn't be happening right now," Acton said.

The Baskins kept the case going and never gave up in almost 20 years.

Acton remembered calling their home after several years and getting the answering machine message asking Christie and Bobby to call.

"I just hope the kids will up their minds and talk to them," Acton said. "I just hope they take time to learn what happened."

She acknowledged Sharp and Sgt. Dan Goodwin for their efforts in pursuing the case.

Since detectives notified the parents Monday night, they've been on a roller coaster and didn't sleep much.

"It's like an out-of-body experience," Baskin said. "It's something we've been praying for and thinking about for 20 years having our hopes raised and dashed. Suddenly, it looks like reality. It's just amazing."

Sharp and Goodwin are en route to San Jose to interview Maple and the Baskin children.

In a press release, Goodwin stated detectives want to speak with both Christie and Bobby and try to arrange a reunion with their real parents. Jenny Bunting told Sharp by telephone Tuesday the woman she calls her mother, Frances Bunting, died about two years ago.

The Baskins plan to take off work Wednesday in hopes of speaking to their children.

"We will feel out a little bit and give them access," Baskin said. "It may just take some time."

Their son, Michael, who is now 25, is worried and delighted. Their adopted son, Paul, 16, described the discovery of Christie and Bobby as "freaking awesome."

The Baskins are thankful for Sharp and Goodwin who have been handling the case recently.

"We are so thankful for the diligence," Baskin said, adding, "People in Murfreesboro never gave up hope and grieved with us when it happened and cared about it. People all over the map, especially those in Murfreesboro, cared and prayed about it."

He's grateful for his mother, siblings and other family members who live in Murfreesboro and friends who never gave up. During the past week, friends in Georgia and Florida offered strong prayers.

"Sometimes you kind of give up," Baskin said. "As long as someone doesn't give up, the prayer chain doesn't stop. Christ responds."

Baskin, now pastor of Normantown (Ga.) Baptist Church, asked people to keep praying.

"We're almost at the end of the journey but we still have a way to go to establishing a relationship with Christie and Bobby," Baskin said.

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