Woman arrested after sending fake kidnapping video to mother in South Carolina
Jessica Johnston in custody after admitting sending footage of herself bound and gagged
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A woman has been arrested after she sent a staged video to her mother that suggested she had been kidnapped.
Jessica Johnston filmed herself with her hands bound and tape across her mouth in a hotel room in Simpsonville, South Carolina before sending three video text messages to her mother on Tuesday morning.
Her mother, Chrissie Pruitt Johnson, called the police who tracked her down to a motel - where they found her slumped on the bed and unresponsive.
But police quickly became suspicious and after being questioned by officers, the 22-year-old admitted the kidnapping was staged.
Lieutenant Timmie Williams told CBS News: "During the investigation there was different clues that actually sparked the investigators' curiosity".
Johnston told officers sent sent the texts because she was “going through personal issues in her life right now”, while her mother said she had struggled with drug addiction.
In a Facebook post about the incident, Ms Pruitt Johnson said her daughter was a “sick person” who was not “the person she raised”.
She said: “How can you be so evil as to send this video and others to people who care about you.
“All the time I wasted calling these drug rehab centers trying to get help her help to only hear 'don't blame her, it's not her fault she's a drug addict'.
“Jessie is evil and I will not uphold her in this. These police officers stayed away from their families for hours trying to solve this, find who hurt her and all along she did this to herself.
“If any parents think I'm wrong for not putting any more time into her foolishness, well that's your opinion.”
She said it was the first time she had been able to stop questioning what she did as a mother and that her “only focus now” was raising her grandchildren.
Johnston is currently being held in custody on suspicion of filing a false police report.
She has one prior conviction for assault from 2012 and spent a year on probation.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments