In a recent development, Carlee Russell, a 24-year-old Alabama woman, has been convicted on two misdemeanor charges following her fabricated abduction in July.
The verdict was delivered by Hoover Municipal Court Judge Thomas Brad Bishop, who found Russell guilty of falsely reporting an incident and providing false information to law enforcement, as reported by FOX affiliate WBRC.
The prosecution recommended a one-year jail term, the maximum sentence, which equates to six months for each charge. In addition, they proposed a fine of $831 and restitution amounting to $17,974.88. The case is expected to be appealed in circuit court.
On the night of July 13, Russell made a 911 call reporting a toddler wandering on the southbound side of Interstate 459 near Birmingham, as per the Hoover Police Department. She reappeared two days later near the location where she was previously seen walking along the sidewalk.
In a statement delivered through her attorney, Emery Anthony, to the Hoover Police Department, Russell confessed that she had not seen a baby on Interstate 459. "My client did not have any help in this incident. This was a single act done by herself," the statement read. "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."
The mystery surrounding Russell's whereabouts during the 49 hours she was missing remains unsolved. "We still don't know what happened in those 49 hours, where she was. Did she have any help? We have no idea," said Derzis during a press conference when charges were filed. "We wanted the focus to be, bring her home. She got home. We're very excited about that."
Derzis further stated, "That facts that I (spoke about) last Wednesday pretty much showed that we knew it was a hoax."
Earlier, the police reported that Russell had stolen toilet paper and a bathrobe from her employer, the Woodhouse Spa Birmingham. She was later spotted picking up takeout food and buying snacks at Target.
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