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Kidney Thieves Terrorize Austin
Updated 11/20/97
Reproduced below is a phony "news item" that has been circulating on the
Internet for the past month or so. It's a particularly entertaining variation of
a myth which has previously targeted cities such as Las Vegas and New
Orleans. Don't believe a word of it.
The Daily Texan, in which the item allegedly first appeared, ran an
editorial on November 20 which stated, in part:
Apparently, a message titled "A reason not to party anymore" is
circling the globe. The message's anonymous author claims that The
Texan ran an article reporting that a group of organized crime
members -- kidney thieves -- is roaming about the country and
slipping drugs into innocent college students' drinks... It never
happened. Not at the University, not in Austin, not in a plane, not in
a train, not even in a box or with a fox... The kidney-theft story is an
urban myth. Don't believe it. If you get e-mail about it, please respond
and tell the sender the truth.
For a complete debunking of organ theft rumors and links to further
information, see The Kidney Snatchers, elsewhere on this site.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
This story came from the "Daily Texan" - the
University of Texas newspaper. Apparently it
occured during Fall Premier - a UT tradition
that is a celebration of the end of midterms.
"Reason to not party anymore"
This guy went out last Saturday night to a
party. He was having a good time, had a couple
of beers and some girl seemed to like him and
invited him to go to another party. He quickly
agreed and decided to go along with her. She
took him to a party in some apartment and they
continued to drink, and even got involved with
some other drugs (unknown which).
The next thing he knew, he woke up completely
naked in a bathtub filled with ice. He was
still feeling the effects of the drugs, but
looked around to see he was alone. He looked
down at his chest, which had "CALL 911 OR YOU
WILL DIE" written on it in lipstick.
He saw a phone was on a stand next to the tub,
so he picked it up and dialed. He explained to
the EMS operator what the situation was and
that he didn't know where he was, what he
took, or why he was really calling.
She advised him to get out of the tub. He did,
and she asked him to look himself over in the
mirror. He did, and appeared normal, so she
told him to check his back. He did, only to
find two 9 inch slits on his lower back. She
told him to get back in the tub immediately,
and they sent a rescue team over.
Apparently, after being examined, he found out
more of what had happened. His kidneys were
stolen. They are worth 10,000 dollars each on
the black market. (I was unaware this even
existed.) Several guesses are in order: The
second party was a sham, the people involved
had to be at least medical students, and it
was not just recreational drugs he was given.
Regardless, he is currently in the hospital on
life support, awaiting a spare kidney. The
University of Texas in conjunction with Baylor
University Medical Center is conducting tissue
research to match the sophomore student with a
donor.
I wish to warn you about a new crime ring that
is targeting business travelers. This ring is
well organized, well funded, has very skilled
personnel, and is currently in most major
cities and recently very active in New
Orleans. The crime begins when a business
traveler goes to a lounge for a drink at the
end of the work day. A person in the bar walks
up as they sit alone and offers to buy them a
drink. The last thing the traveler remembers
until they wake up in a hotel room bath tub,
their body submerged to their neck in ice, is
sipping that drink.
There is a note taped to the wall instructing
them not to move and to call 911. A phone is
on a small table next to the bathtub for them
to call. The business traveler calls 911 who
have become quite familiar with this crime.
The business traveler is instructed by the 911
operator to very slowly and carefully reach
behind them and feel if there is a tube
protruding from their lower back. The business
traveler finds the tube and answers, "Yes."
The 911 operator tells them to remain still,
having already sent paramedics to help.
The operator knows that both of the business
traveler's kidneys have been harvested.
This is not a scam or out of a science fiction
novel, it is real. It is documented and
confirmable. If you travel or someone close to
you travels, please be careful. Sadly, this is
very true. My husband is a Houston
firefighter/EMT and they have received alerts
regarding this crime ring. It is to be taken
very seriously. The daughter of a friend of a
fellow firefighter had this happen to her.
Skilled doctor's are performing these crimes!
(which, by the way have been highly noted in
the Las Vegas area). Additionally, the
military has received alerts regarding this.
This story blew me away. I really want as many
people to see this as possible so please
bounce this to whoever you can.
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