Carlee Russell calls 911, telling the operator that she sees a toddler walking down the side of an Alabama freeway.

When police arrive, there’s no toddler and  Russell is gone. Her car, however, is still parked along the highway. The door is open and the car is running. Forty-nine hours later, Russell returns home, telling investigators in a brief interview that she was abducted by a man with orange hair and a woman.

As the investigation continues, police find some “really strange” internet searches in the hours before she vanished, such as the cut-off age for an AMBER Alert.

Now Russell admits via a statement from her lawyer that there was no toddler or abduction. The 26-year-old was found guilty of misdemeanor charges of false reporting to law enforcement and falsely reporting an incident. With the conviction,  Russell’s attorneys agreed to “stipulate and appeal” the case. This legal move will transfer the case to circuit court the case will tried again.

Joining Nancy Grace today:

“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” on Fox Nation is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.

[Feature Photo: Carlee Russell/Hoover Police Department]