carlee russell

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Source: Hoover Police Department / Hoover PD
Carlee Russell has been found guilty of faking her own abduction, with the judge recommending jail time.
On Wednesday (October 11), Hoover, Alabama Municipal Judge Brad Bishop found Carlee Russell guilty of faking her own kidnapping. The verdict comes after Russell pleaded not guilty to charges of false reporting to law enforcement and falsely reporting an incident. Judge Bishop found her guilty, spurred by the recommendation of the state prosecutors. The judge also recommended that the 26-year-old serve a prison sentence of one year along with paying restitution of $17,874. In addition, he added two fines of $827 each. 

Russell had seemingly disappeared on July 13th on her way home from work after calling 911 to report a toddler in a diaper she alleged to have seen walking alone along Interstate 459. When the police arrived, they found her vehicle and her phone but she was missing. Russell would then show up at her parents’ doorstep two days later claiming she was abducted. Upon investigation, law enforcement discovered discrepancies. Russell would later admit it was a hoax, leading to her losing her job at Woodland Day Spa.

Lawyer Emory Anthony, who is representing Russell along with Richard Jaffe, has stated that they plan to appeal as she was in municipal court – in that setting, there is no jury trial. Judge Bishop did acknowledge that defendants often appeal to take it to the Jefferson County Circuit Court to obtain a trial with a jury of their peers.
“There’s no need of having a trial here, knowing their position,’’ Anthony said. “We have stipulated and appealed the case and it will start anew in the Bessemer Circuit Court.” With regard to the judge’s recommendation for jail time, he and Jaffe feel it is too steep considering that the Class A misdemeanor is Russell’s first offense. 
He also said that Russell is not opposed to paying restitution. “I think anything is fair when it comes to restitution with the expenses that were done. So we have to say that is fair,” he said. “Anytime you assert restitution it has to be proven. The amount, $17 thousand and some, hours spent, I would think that would be fair.”

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Source: Hoover Police Department / Hoover PD
Carlee Russell has now confessed that her highly publicized disappearance was a hoax, leading to her now ex-boyfriend distancing himself from her online.
On Monday (July 24th), Hoover Police Department Chief Nick Derzis said that Russell’s attorney, Emory Anthony, provided a statement from the young woman to his office. The statement said that there was no kidnapping, which spurred a flurry of attention nationwide to the case from Alabama. “There was no kidnapping on Thursday, July 13. My client did not see a baby on the side of the road,” the statement said. Chief Derzis read the statement that afternoon at a news conference. It was also expressed that Russell acted alone, and did not leave the city.

“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, as to her friends and family,” Anthony continued. “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. Carlee again asks for your forgiveness and prayers.”
Soon afterward, Thomar Simmons posted a lengthy statement on Instagram, slamming the 25-year-old and referring to himself as her “ex-boyfriend”. “Carlee’s actions created hurt, confusion, and dishonesty,” Simmons wrote. “I was made aware of the false narrative after coming to the defense of my ex Carlee Russell.” While expressing that he and his family reacted with “genuine concern”, the admission left them “disgusted” while acknowledging the volunteers who went out to search for Russell. Simmons also unfollowed Russell on all of her social media accounts and scrubbed any mention of her from his.
When asked by the press, Chief Derzis did state that they are investigating her absence. “We’re still trying to determine where she was during those 49 hours, but I am glad that we received this … at least puts some of the social media super sleuths hopefully at rest for a little bit as far as … what everybody thinks took place,” he said. Derzis also said that Russell could face criminal charges depending on the results of the investigation. She was to be interviewed again
by authorities Monday, but her attorney instead provided the statement. 

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The mysterious situation around Alabama woman Carlee Russell has gotten more tangled as she has been fired from her job at a spa.
According to reports, the owner of The Woodhouse Spa in Birmingham where Russell was employed confirmed that she was terminated last Friday (July 21). Stuart Rome revealed that her former co-workers were “pissed” after the press conference by the Hoover Police Department casting doubts on her disappearance and resurfacing last week. “It was really devastating for them thinking a co-worker was abducted,” he stated. “The following day, Saturday, it was the busiest day of the week, and they had to plug along and work and in the off times pass out flyers and other things.”

The 25-year-old allegedly disappeared after leaving work on the night of July 13, shortly after calling 911 to report seeing a male toddler barefoot walking alongside the I-459 highway. When police arrived, they found her vehicle, cell phone and wig but no sign of her or the missing child. She would return back home two days later and initially claimed to police that a trucker had abducted her in an 18-wheeler.
Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis said in the press conference last Wednesday (July 19) that they “were unable to verify most of Carlee’s initial statement.” He revealed Russell’s Internet search history, which threw more suspicion on her story, including searches for “do you have to pay for an Amber Alert?” and the cost of a one-way ticket from Birmingham to Nashville, Tennessee. They also found no evidence of a child being at the scene. Russell’s mother, Talitha Russell, and her boyfriend, Thomar Simmons, have publicly defended her to the press.
The spa was then hit with dozens of nasty messages and reviews afterward. “Basically, we’ve spent the last day battling to get things deleted,” Rome said. “Comments. I’ve had to shut down my comment section on Instagram and Facebook page, which hurts us because we do a lot of marketing there. We’re just trying to keep the doors open.” He also said that if the situation is confirmed to be a hoax, the news may not make people more helpful if another abduction occurs. “They’re just not going to respond like they did, which is the worst part,” he said.

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Questions still remain after the disappearance and return of Carlee Russell, prompting a look at the timeline of the situation from last week. After Wednesday’s (July 19) press conference, although plenty of questions were answered, more have sprouted that question the veracity of Russell’s claims.

The disappearance of the nursing student from Hoover, Alabama captured the attention of the country. The circumstances of the incident as well as the return still have people buzzing and expressing skepticism.
The Disappearance

Russell was driving along Interstate 459 when she made a call to 911 at 9:30 P.M. last Wednesday (July 12th), reporting that she saw a male toddler at the side of the road by mile marker 11. She called a family member after the 911 call, saying she was going to check on the child. At that point, the family member lost contact with Russell and said they heard her scream, but the phone line remained open according to the Hoover Police Department.
Authorities arrived on the scene, finding Russell’s cell phone, purse, and wig by her car but no sign of her or the toddler. Further investigation by police noted that she had stopped off at a Target at 8:20 P.M. to get snacks after leaving her job in Birmingham, ten miles north before setting out for her home in Hoover. The purchased food was not present.

The Return
The 25-year-old arrived at the front door of her family’s home on Saturday night (July 15th), barefoot. According to local police, they obtained video surveillance footage showing Russell walking down the street alone in her neighborhood. Medics were called to the residence to treat an “unresponsive but breathing” person. Russell was then taken to UAB Hospital, where she was treated and detectives took an initial statement from her.

Speculation and Skepticism
Many social media users have begun to cast doubt on Russell’s story, noting that authorities shared that there were no other 911 calls about the toddler. The frenzy caused Talitha Russell, Carlee’s mother, to issue a stern and lengthy denial  on Tuesday (July 18th) of any wrongdoing saying “no matter how many demands or false narratives that are produced we will not be bullied into doing anything that will compromise our daughter’s mental well-being or the investigation.”

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