{"id":584714,"date":"2023-07-28T21:09:55","date_gmt":"2023-07-28T18:09:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/carlee-russell-charged-in-connection-with-kidnapping-hoax\/"},"modified":"2023-07-28T21:09:55","modified_gmt":"2023-07-28T18:09:55","slug":"carlee-russell-charged-in-connection-with-kidnapping-hoax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/carlee-russell-charged-in-connection-with-kidnapping-hoax\/","title":{"rendered":"#Carlee Russell charged in connection with kidnapping hoax"},"content":{"rendered":"
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HOOVER, Ala. \u2014 Carlee Russell, the Alabama nursing student who claimed she was kidnapp<\/a>ed for 49 hours in a stunt she later confessed was a lie, was charged with two misdemeanors in connection with the hoax, police announced Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The arrest warrant was issued earlier today, Hoover Police Chief Nicholas C. Derzis said in a news<\/a> conference.<\/p>\n

She surrendered to authorities, accompanied by her attorney, <\/strong>at the Hoover City Jail to face two misdemeanor charges:\u00a0false reporting to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident, he said. <\/p>\n

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Carlethia \u201cCarlee\u201d Nichole Russell.<\/span>Courtesy Hoover Police Department via Facebook<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The charges carried a bond of $1,000 each and are punishable by up to a year in jail and a $6,000 fine if convicted, the chief said. Russell was released from jail after posting bond.<\/p>\n

\u201cHer 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Alabama Attorney General<\/a> Steve Marshall said \u201cwe intend to fully prosecute this case,\u201d adding his office will monitor the investigation for potential further charges.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Marshall said while Russell wasn’t kidnapped, they “don\u2019t see this as a victimless crime,” pointing to the “significant hours spent” and “resources expended” in the frantic search for her. <\/p>\n

Russell\u2019s attorney, Emory Anthony, said Friday: \u201cAll we can do now is wait for the court date and see how we go from there.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked how Russell is handling the charges, he said:\u00a0\u201cShe\u2019s doing like anybody else charged with something. She realized that, although it\u2019s two misdemeanors, it\u2019s still a serious offense. She understands that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The news comes four days <\/strong>after Russell confessed it was all made up in a statement from her attorney, read out Monday by Hoover Police Chief Nicholas C. Derzis.<\/p>\n

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“There was no kidnapping on Thursday 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,” the statement, shared by her attorney said. “My client did not have any help in this incident. This was a single act done by herself.” <\/p>\n

Russell\u2019s disappearance captured the attention of the nation. She went missing after she called 911 on July 13, claiming she saw a toddler in a diaper wandering on the side of Interstate 459 South.<\/p>\n

The 25-year-old returned home July 15 on foot and provided a story to police claiming that she was abducted, taken by a male with orange hair and a woman.<\/p>\n

She claimed she was forced into an 18-wheeler truck and taken to a home where a man and a woman told her to get undressed and then took photos of her.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In a July 19 news conference, police said they were only able to have a preliminary interview with Russell and were waiting to complete a more in-depth interview to determine her whereabouts in the time she was missing. <\/p>\n

Derzis said investigators were unable to corroborate many of her claims.<\/p>\n

The police chief said Friday that police have still been unable to fully retrace Russell’s whereabouts in the time she was missing, and it\u2019s unclear if she was with anyone.<\/p>\n

However, he said that during the course of the investigation, officials found internet searches on her phone about paying for Amber Alerts, how to take money from a register without getting caught and about the movie “Taken.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

In her statement Monday, Russell asked for forgiveness from the members of her community and law enforcement who rallied for her to be found when she vanished.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy 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,\u201d her statement said.<\/p>\n

Her confession comes after her parents appeared on NBC’s “TODAY” <\/a>show saying their daughter had been abducted.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Russell\u2019s ex-boyfriend, Thomar Latrell Simmons, posted on Facebook after she returned home, thanking the community for their support and alluding that she was kidnapped. <\/p>\n

In a fresh post on Monday, he wrote: “I strongly feel exactly like you all. blindsided with Carlee\u2019s actions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMyself and my family\u2019s nature was to react in love, and genuine concern. We are disgusted from the outcome of this entire situation,\u201d he added. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Derzis on Friday said that, from here, the Attorney General\u2019s office will go through the police department\u2019s files and prepare its prosecution.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Debra Jones reported from Hoover, Marlene Lenthang reported from Chicago.<\/em><\/p>\n

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<\/span>Debra Jones<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Debra Jones is a producer for\u00a0NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n