Carlee Russell smiles in mug shot as she’s charged with false police report in kidnap hoax

Authorities in Alabama have revealed that Carlee Russell’s story about being kidnapped on the side of a highway after stopping to check on a toddler was a hoax.

Ms Russell’s disappearance baffled police in Hoover after the 25-year-old’s car was found in the stretch of a highway following a 911 call she made reporting a stranded toddler. She inexplicably reappeared at her parents’ home 49 hours later, claiming she was kidnapped by “a man with orange hair” and was forced to undress and pose for photographs.

After much speculation about the veracity of her claims, Hoover Police Department Chief Nicholas Derzis confirmed on Monday that Ms Russell has admitted to lying about her supposed abduction in a statement she provided through her attorney.

“There was no kidnapping on Thursday, July 13. My client did not see a baby on the side of the road,” the statement read, according to Chief Derzis, who read it at a news conference. “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.”

It has been confirmed that Carlee Russell was not kidnapped but what remains questionable is where she went in the 49 hours she was missing.

It is unclear why Ms Russell wanted to disappear but police in Hoover, Alabama pointed to Ms Russell’s actions beforehand to give some insight into her mental state.

Using tracking information, internet search history and surveillance camera footage, investigators saw Ms Russell leave her workplace carrying items that she allegedly was not supposed to have.

This included a roll of toilet paper and a bathrobe.

She then stopped by Target to get snacks and a local restaurant to get dinner before driving down the interstate.

An attorney for Ms Russell did not provide any more information regarding her disappearance but confirmed she was in the area while she was missing.

A Pennsylvania woman was accused of faking her own kidnapping to avoid embarrassment after she failed to graduate from college, according to authorities.

Andrea Blanco reports:

The Black and Missing Foundation, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to helping bring awareness to missing people of color by providing resources, tools and educating communities on personal safety, issued a statement regarding Carlee Russell’s disappearance.

“Now that we officially know the truth, we can no longer give any more energy to this case,” the foundation wrote.

“While Carlee’s revelation is disheartening, we will not be dismayed. There are far too many missing people of color who actually need our help and are counting on us to help bring them home. We are calling on our community to not let this single incident undermine our efforts to help us find us. We have shown that we have the power to make our cases a priority too, and we must move forward and build upon this momentum.”

Authorities in the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office –Bessemer Divison are considering pressing charges against Carlee Russell, a report from ABC News says. 

The charges include falsely reporting an incident and false reporting to law enforcement authorities, according to Lane Tolbert the chief assistant district attorney.

“We advise what we think the charges should be," Mr Tolbert told ABC News.

If the DA chooses to charge Ms Russell those charges would be filed by the Circuit Clerk of Jefferson County. They did not provide any further information or updates regarding those charges.

Carlee Russell could be facing two charges: falsely reporting an incident and false reporting to law enforcement authorities.

Each charge is considered a misdemeanour in Alabama and carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison each, according to ABC News.

The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Bessemer Divison is allegedly considering the charges against Ms Russell, chief assistant district attorney Lane Tolbert told ABC News.

Ever since Carlee Russell’s disappearance was revealed to be a hoax, questions have swirled about the thousands of dollars raised to help bring her home.

Contrary to rumours, Ms Russell’s family does not appear to have gained at all financially from those donations.

Her mother released a statement insisting that the family did not accept any money on the 25-year-old’s behalf and instead directed donors to Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama.

The non-profit, which accepts anonymous tips and offers rewards for information leading to arrests, took in more than $63,300 in the two days that Ms Russell was missing.

The company told AL.com that it has refunded the largest donors who gave at least $20,000 but was holding off on returning smaller donations because the official investigation is ongoing.

Authorities in Alabama have revealed that Carlee Russell’s story about being kidnapped on the side of a highway after stopping to check on a toddler was a hoax.

Ms Russell’s disappearance baffled police in Hoover after the 25-year-old’s car was found in the stretch of a highway following a 911 call she made reporting a stranded toddler. She inexplicably reappeared at her parents’ home 49 hours later, claiming she was kidnapped by “a man with orange hair” and was forced to undress and pose for photographs.

Andrea Blanco reports:

Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis made it clear in his press conference last Wednesday that there was something suspicious about Carlee Russell’s kidnapping story.

“The fact that I think last Wednesday pretty much showed that we knew that it was a hoax,” Mr Derzis told local news outlet WVTM 13.

Mr Derzis told reporters that authorities were “unable to verify” many of Ms Russell’s claims and shed some light on her mental state before her disappearance by sharing relevant internet searches.

Ms Russell, through her attorney, admitted that she lied about the kidnapping on Monday.

“It is what it is,” Mr Derzis added.

Multiple local, state and federal law enforcement agencies contributed to the search for Carlee Russell beginning on 13 July in addition to community members and the Russell family.

But when it was revealed that Ms Russell was never actually missing and had lied about her own kidnapping, many wondered how much it cost.

Hoover Police Chief Nicholas “Nick” Derzis did not provide the cost of the frantic search launched following Ms Russell’s fabricated abduction but said they would figure it out.

“We don’t have a dollar figure yet but we’re certainly working on getting one and not only ours, but the other agencies that gave us a lot of support,’’ he said.

“We still don’t know what happened during those 49 hours, where she was, did she have any help,” Mr Derzis added.

Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama raised over $60,000 in the search and said they were be returning the money to donors.