Alabama Nursing Student Charged with Falsely Reporting Kidnapping

In a recent development, Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell, a 25-year-old nursing student, has been charged with two misdemeanors for falsely claiming that she was kidnapped earlier this month. The charges include falsely reporting to law enforcement and falsely reporting an incident, both of which are Class A misdemeanors. If convicted, Russell could face a maximum punishment of one year in jail and a $6,000 fine for each charge. The charges were filed in municipal court, and Russell turned herself in voluntarily, subsequently being released on a $1,000 bond for each charge.

Despite the frustration expressed by Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis and members of the public regarding the misdemeanor charges, authorities are taking the matter seriously. Derzis has even requested state legislators to consider enhancing current legislation for false crime reporting. Additionally, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has been involved in the case and stated that his office will monitor if further charges are warranted.

The incident began when Russell called 911 on July 13 to report a missing toddler on the side of a highway. However, she vanished after making the call, leading to a large-scale search involving local, state, and federal agencies. Two days later, she reappeared at her parents’ house and claimed that she had been kidnapped by a man and a woman with orange hair, who allegedly took photos of her and gave her cheese crackers. However, investigators grew suspicious of her story due to the lack of evidence supporting the existence of a missing toddler on the highway. They also discovered troubling online searches made by Russell prior to the alleged kidnapping.

After a week, Russell’s attorney released a statement on her behalf, admitting that the kidnapping was fabricated, and there was no baby involved. She expressed remorse and sought forgiveness from the Alabama community, the volunteers involved in the search, and the Hoover Police Department. Authorities are now continuing their investigation to determine the appropriate course of action in this case.

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