Carlee Russell Admitted There Was Never a Kidnapping

The news of a toddler walking on the side of a highway followed by Carlee Russell’s mysterious disappearance shook the nation. After Russell returned home two days later, she told police that she was abducted. Since then, Russell has admitted that her abduction claim was a hoax and she never saw a toddler walking along the interstate.

Russell’s story, as originally told, was that she had seen a toddler alone on the side of a highway and stopped her car to check on the child’s well-being. According to Hoover police, Russell vanished after she phoned 911 just after 9:30 p.m. to report seeing a toddler on Interstate 459 South. She had also called a family member and said she was going to help the child before the family member lost contact with her.

However, police investigation and footage showed that the kidnapping story could not be verified. Russell had apparently searched for Amber Alerts and the movie “Taken” before she disappeared. Many people have questioned why someone would go to such lengths to lie about something so serious.

Also Read: Most of the Information Carlee Russel Gave Cannot Be Verified, According to Police

Hoover Police Chief Nicholas Derzis read a statement that he said was furnished by Russell’s attorney, Emory Anthony, admitting that a kidnapping never took place.

“My client has given me permission to make the following statement on her behalf. There was no kidnapping on Thursday, July 13th 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. This was a single act done by herself,” the statement read.

Jefferson County District Attorney’s Bessemer Division office had a discussion with police about potential charges against Carlee Russell. According to ABC News, Chief Assistant District Attorney Lane Tolbert said on Thursday that “police may charge Russell with “falsely reporting an incident and false reporting to law enforcement authorities.”