Carlee Russell, a 25-year-old woman from Alabama, recently made headlines after she claimed to have been kidnapped. The community and police were involved in a dramatic two-day search for Russell. The Hoover Police Department announced Monday that the entire ordeal was a hoax disappearance.
In a press conference held on Friday, Hoover Police Department Chief Nicholas Derzis disclosed that Carly Russell had been arrested and charged with two misdemeanors for making false statements to the police.
The charges brought against Russell include false reporting to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident, both of which are class A misdemeanors in Alabama and carry a potential punishment of up to one year in prison.
Hoax disappearance
This bizarre incident began on July 12 when Russell called 911 to report a toddler walking along Interstate 459 in Alabama.
Her car was found abandoned. Investigators reviewing the highway surveillance video could not find any evidence of a child on the roadside.
