Carlee Russell smiles in mug shot as she’s charged with false police report in kidnap hoax

Alabama woman Carlee Russell facing two misdemeanour charges in Jefferson County after confessing to wild abduction story was lie Hoover Police announce at press conference

Carlee Russell: Police give timeline of disappearance

Carlee Russell wore a big smile when she had her mug shot taken as she was charged with two misdemeanour counts for faking her own disappearance and kidnapping in Alabama.

An arrest warrant was issued Friday, on charges of false reporting to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident.

Ms Russell was released from jail later that day after posting bond, her lawyer said.

The Alabama woman “disappeared” on the evening of 13 July after calling 911 claiming she was stopping to help a toddler walking alone on Interstate 459. She returned home two days later and claimed she had been kidnapped and barely managed to escape.

Police revealed last week they were unable to verify many of Ms Russell’s claims and pointed to her “relevant” internet history which included searches for Amber Alerts and the movie Taken.

Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis told local WVTM 13 that investigators had sussed out the hoax long before her confession.

Key Points

• Carlee Russell charged after falsely reporting kidnapping
• Police seeking two charges against Carlee Russell, report says
• Carlee Russell admits she was never kidnapped
• Crime stoppers refunding $63k in reward money
• Russell looked up the movie Taken before disappearing

[28 July 2023 01:00 · Ariana Baio]

Mother of murder victim says Carlee Russell ‘disrespected’ parents who have lost a child

A mother in Alabama whose daughter was murdered has spoken out against Carlee Russell, saying her alleged fake kidnapping story was “disrespectful” to parents who have lost a child.

Shea Wardrup Pilkington-Wiley posted on Facebook last Wednesday describing how Ms Russell’s case brought back the same “sickening feelings” she felt when her daughter, Madison Pilkington, was murdered.

“The unanswered calls that kept going to voicemail. The unanswered texts. The sickening feelings we all felt. Remembering shattering like glass and our souls being ripped from our bodies. She dredged it all up to the surface,” Ms Pilkington-Wiley wrote.

“To find it was all a hoax well… I’m freaking angry!” she added. “I’m angry for every parent out there that has lost a child.”

[28 July 2023 02:00 · Ariana Baio]

Crime stoppers refunding $63k in reward money

The Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama will be refunding the $63,378 that was donated during the search for 25-year-old Carlee Russell.

“We are releasing all funds,’’ Bob Copus, executive director of Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama, told AL.com on Tuesday. “We’re basing that on the statements made at the news conference.”

More than $60k was donated in the 49 hours that Ms Russell went ‘missing’ at the beginning of July.

Police and Ms Russell’s attorney revealed on Monday that Ms Russell faked her disappearance and lied about being kidnapped.

[28 July 2023 03:00 · Ariana Baio]

What Carlee Russell’s attorney said

Carlee Russell’s attorney, Emory Anthony, prepared a statement for the Hoover Police Department that was read aloud during a press conference on Monday.

“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. My client did not have any help in this incident — this was a single act done by herself. My client was not with anyone or any hotel with anyone from the time she was missing. My client apologizes for her actions to this community, the volunteers who were searching for her, to the Hoover Police Department and other agencies as well and to her friends and family. We ask for your prayers for Carlee as she addresses her issues and attempts to move forward, understanding that she made a mistake in this matter.”

[28 July 2023 05:00 · Ariana Baio]

Attorney for Carlee Russell says she is ‘dealing with her issues'

An attorney representing Carlee Russell has said he expects her to be charged over false claims that she was abducted.

Emory Anthony told local news station WDHN that he had met with Hoover Police Department detectives to discuss his client’s case. Mr Anthony said that Ms Russell was better but still “dealing with her issues.”

“It was a great meeting; It was a short meeting,” Mr Anthony said. “We tried to identify some things about where we go from here. There [are] responsibilities that we need to take care of.”

Mr Anthony’s remarks come just a day after authorities confirmed that Ms Russell, 25, had admitted to lying about being kidnapped on the side of a highway after stopping to check on a toddler. The attorney did not elaborate on what motivated Ms Russell’s fake story.

He added: “I know you have a hundred questions but we won’t be able to answer them at this point in time, but just walk with us and we should be through this shortly ,” Mr Anthony said.

[28 July 2023 07:00 · Ariana Baio]

Three unanswered questions in the mysterious case of Carlee Russell

After law enforcement in Hoover, Alabama cast doubt over Carlee Russell’s claim that she was kidnapped, the 25-year-old admitted to fabricating her story, leading to more questions about her perplexing case.

[28 July 2023 08:00 · Ariana Baio]

Watch: Hoover Police Department’s press conference on Monday

[28 July 2023 09:00 · Ariana Baio]

Timeline of Carlee Russell’s hoax abduction

11 July

7.30am: Ms Russell searches for “Do you have to pay for an Amber Alert”.

13 July

1.03am: Ms Russell searches for, “How to take money from register without being caught Reddit”.

2.13am: Ms Russell searches for, “Birmingham bus station”.

2.35am: Ms Russell searches for, “One-way bus ticket from Birmingham to Nashville” departing 13 July.

12:10pm: Ms Russell searches for the film “Taken”.

Ms Russell also searched for more information about Amber Alerts while at her workplace including one about the maximum age for an Amber Alert to be issued.

8.20pm: Ms Russell leaves her workplace, Woodhouse Spa. She is seen concealing a dark bathrobe, toilet paper and other items.

She then picks up dinner from a local restaurant and drives to Target where she purchases snacks.

9.21pm: Ms Russel leaves the shopping center parking lot and begins driving down the interstate.

9.34pm: Ms Russell calls 911 and reports a toddler walking along Interstate 459 alone and without pant or shoes.

Data shows Ms Russell drove 600 yards while on the phone with police, claiming she pulled over to assist the child.

After the 911 call, Ms Russell called her brother’s girlfriend.

9.36pm: Ms Russell goes missing.

9.40pm: Police arrive on scene.

14 July

7am: Russell family begins searching for Ms Russell

Searches continue all day and night until the following evening.

15 July

10.45pm: Ms Russell returns home on foot. Surveillance footage shows her walking on the sidewalk alone.

[28 July 2023 10:00 · Ariana Baio]

ICMYI: Police seeking two charges against Carlee Russell, report says

Authorities in the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office –Bessemer Divison are considering pressing charges against Carlee Russell, a report from ABC News says.

The charges include falsely reporting an incident and false reporting to law enforcement authorities, according to Lane Tolbert the chief assistant district attorney.

“We advise what we think the charges should be,” Mr Tolbert told ABC News.

If the DA chooses to charge Ms Russell those charges would be filed by the Circuit Clerk of Jefferson County. They did not provide any further information or updates regarding those charges.

[28 July 2023 11:00 · Ariana Baio]

Carlee Russell’s attorney expects her to be charged over fake disappearance

Emory Anthony told local news station WDHN that he had met with Hoover Police Department detectives to discuss his client’s case. Mr Anthony said that Ms Russell was better but still “dealing with her issues.”

“It was a great meeting; It was a short meeting,” Mr Anthony said. “We tried to identify some things about where we go from here. There [are] responsibilities that we need to take care of.”

Mr Anthony’s remarks come just a day after authorities confirmed that Ms Russell, 25, had admitted to lying about being kidnapped on the side of a highway after stopping to check on a toddler. The attorney did not elaborate on what motivated Ms Russell’s fake story.

Andrea Blanco reports:

[28 July 2023 12:00 · Ariana Baio]

Black and Missing Foundation issues statement on Carlee Russell

The Black and Missing Foundation, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to helping bring awareness to missing people of color by providing resources, tools and educating communities on personal safety, issued a statement regarding Carlee Russell’s disappearance.

“Now that we officially know the truth, we can no longer give any more energy to this case,” the foundation wrote.

“While Carlee’s revelation is disheartening, we will not be dismayed. There are far too many missing people of color who actually need our help and are counting on us to help bring them home. We are calling on our community to not let this single incident undermine our efforts to help us find us. We have shown that we have the power to make our cases a priority too, and we must move forward and build upon this momentum.”