She later claimed that she had been taken by a male and a female after stopping to check on the toddler. These contradictory statements raised suspicions and led the police to investigate further.
On July 15, Russell returned home unharmed to her family. And was checked out by a local hospital. The circumstances left authorities baffled and the public bewildered.
Derzis expressed his concerns about the impact of this hoax, stating that it reopened wounds for families whose loved ones have been actual victims of kidnappings.
The frustration surrounding the case intensified when it was revealed that Russell was only facing misdemeanor charges. Derzis and other officials called for an “enhancement” to the law to address cases like this more adequately.
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.
The Circuit Clerk of Jefferson County, Bessemer Division’s office, is responsible for filing the charges as advised by the prosecutors.
