Carlee Russell's claims that she saw a toddler on the side of the road and was abducted were false, according to police.
Hoover Police Chief Nicholas Dervis revealed the background of the false accusations and the woman has apologized.
Police: Carlee Russell’s Story of Kidnapping Was a Complete Hoaxhttps://t.co/E70sQtayRS
— Retired NCO (@virgofiveeight) July 26, 2023
“My client apologizes for her actions to this community, the volunteers who were searching for her, to the Hoover Police Department and other agencies as well as to her friends and family,” Derzis read.
“We ask for your prayers for Carlee as she addresses her issues and attempts to move forward, understanding that she made a mistake in this matter. Carlee, again, asks for your forgiveness and prayers.”
It was all FAKE! Carlee Russell reveals she made up kidnapping! https://t.co/KkmuwuBtfH
— 𝐊𝐂 𝐎'𝐃𝐞𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 (@KCOnTheRadio) July 25, 2023
"The 26-year-old sent a statement to cops admitting she had been in the area of Hoover as hundreds of people desperately searched for her for 49 hours," the Daily Mail reported.
"Russell had claimed she was kidnapped on July 13 after she stopped to check on a toddler at 9:30 pm. She turned up at her parents' house and told cops she had been abducted, spinning an elaborate story of fighting for freedom," it added.
Russell's original story claimed that she was going to help a toddler she spotted on the side of a highway. She soon disappeared, with her parents claiming she had been abducted.
Russell returned home two days later and the story began to fall apart as police noted missing details in her claims, including odd locations during her 911 call.
The police later noted the concerns with the abduction story without making any claims of Russell's wrongdoing to help the community understand that there was no toddler and no threat to the area.
The confession now concludes the dramatic account, with Russell now having to deal with the consequences of her actions.
