Carlee Russell, an Alabama nursing student, admitted on Monday that she had not been abducted earlier in the month, confessing to the bizarre hoax that triggered a massive two-day search. Her attorney, Emory Anthony, read a statement at a press conference, confirming that there was no kidnapping and Russell did not witness a baby as she initially claimed.
On the night of July 13, Russell disappeared after reporting a sighting of a toddler on a highway in Hoover. She called 911 and initially said she would stay at the scene but later vanished after an unsettling call to her sister-in-law. After a two-day search, she reappeared at her parents’ door on July 15 and was later taken to the hospital, treated, and released. However, she stopped cooperating with the investigation, leaving uncertainty about her whereabouts during the 49 hours she was reported missing.
Investigations revealed that Russell searched for the movie “Taken,” which involves abduction, and looked up one-way tickets from Birmingham to Nashville. Furthermore, she stole items from her workplace and made questionable decisions before her disappearance.
Despite the apparent hoax, Russell’s boyfriend defended her against cyberbullying, urging people to consider her mental health. Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama stated that they would not refund contributions made during the search, and no criminal charges have been filed against Russell’s parents regarding the hoax. The investigation is ongoing, and the Hoover Police Department has not requested any donor contributions to be refunded.