Hoover police announced that they charged Carlee Russell, the Alabama nursing student who previously claimed she was kidnapped for 49 hours, with two charges in connection with the hoax.
During a Friday afternoon press conference, Hoover Police Chief Nicholas C. Derzis said Russell turned herself into Hoover police, accompanied by her attorney. She’s been charged with false reporting to police and falsely reporting an incident; both charges are misdemeanors.
“Her decisions that night created panic and alarm for the citizens of our city and even across the nation as concern grew that a kidnapper was on the loose using a small child as bait,” Derzis said. “The story opened wounds for families whose loved ones really were victims of kidnappings, some of which even helped organize searches.”
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Russell called 911 earlier this month at around 9:30 p.m. to report seeing a toddler walking along Interstate 459 in Hoover. Minutes later, she reported the same information while on a call with her sister-in-law, adding that she would stop to see if she could help.
Traffic camera footage showed Russell’s car, hazard lights blinking, slow to a stop near mile marker 11. The family member reported hearing Russell ask, “Are you OK,” but heard no response, and then Russell screamed.
Days later, at around 10:45 p.m., Russell arrived at her parents’ house in Hoover.
Police have no evidence of a toddler walking along the highway. No other calls to 911 reported a toddler, “despite numerous vehicles passing through that area as depicted by the traffic camera surveillance video.”
Police said Russell claimed she was kidnapped and forced into an 18-wheeler by a man with orange hair, and a woman. She claimed she fled on foot, only to be captured again, blindfolded, and put into a car.
It was all ruse.
During a July 24 press conference, defense attorney Emory Anthony said Russell admitted to making up the entire story and never saw a toddler wandering alone.
“My client has given me permission to make the following statement on her behalf: There was no kidnapping on July 13, 2023. My client did not see a baby on the side of the road. My client did not leave the Hoover area when she was identified as a missing person. My client did not have any help in this incident, but this was a single act done by herself,’’ Anthony wrote.
Anthony added that Russell is now asking for forgiveness for her actions.
“My client apologizes for her actions to this community, to the volunteers who were searching for her, to the Hoover Police Department and other agencies as well.”
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[Feature Photo via Hoover PD]
