Carlee Russell Hoax
Carlee Russell faked her own kidnapping in Hoover, Alabama, sparking a massive search. She returned home two days later. She had researched Amber Alerts and kidnapping beforehand.
On July 13, 2023, Carlee Russell, 25, called 911 reporting she had spotted a toddler walking alone on Interstate 459 in Hoover, Alabama. She then disappeared, triggering a massive search operation.
Russell returned to her family's home two days later with a story about being kidnapped by a man and a woman who held her captive. She described being bound and escaping.
Investigation quickly revealed the story was fabricated. Russell's phone showed she had searched for Amber Alerts, how to take money from a register without being caught, and one-way bus tickets in the days before her disappearance. No toddler was ever on the highway.
Russell was charged with filing a false police report and falsely reporting an incident. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a year of community service and ordered to reimburse search costs.
Curated starting points for verifying and researching this case. Direct references are checked; search links are provided as further-reading aids. ColdCaseIndex is an index of public information — see a case correction? Email info@coldcaseindex.com.
Have Information About This Case?
Cold cases are solved when someone comes forward. Even a detail that seems minor can matter. If you have any information about this case, contact law enforcement through one of these channels:
- FBI Tips (tips.fbi.gov) — submit a tip online to the Federal Bureau of Investigation
- FBI Tip Line: 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324)
- The local police department or sheriff's office in Alabama, or the state bureau of investigation
Tips can usually be submitted anonymously. To report an error on this page, email info@coldcaseindex.com.