Alabama woman convicted of faking her own kidnapping, faces jail time, fine

Russell appeared in court on Wednesday afternoon, the first time since the July incident, and entered a not-guilty plea, according to WBMA. The municipal court judge found the Alabama woman guilty of two misdemeanor charges.

The judge said that the charges carry a six-month jail time sentence each and a $831 fine, and also recommended restitution of around $18,000 to be paid.

According to WVTM, Russell’s attorney Emory Anthony said, "We stipulated an appeal of the case and the reasoning behind it was that they were trying to ask for jail time, which we totally disagree with, all right."

"So, in fairness, it's no need of having a trial here knowing their position. So we have stipulated an appeal of the case, it will start anew in the Bessemer circuit court."

Anthony found the fines to be fair, but said that jail time was not necessary in this case.

"Under the circumstances of Class A misdemeanor first offense, if you can find where someone we're put in jail, just bring the file to me and I'll look at it," Anthony said. "Generally, they're not put in jail. So we totally disagree with that. Restitution, we don't disagree with that. But to lock up and put in jail, we disagree."

On July 13, Russell was reported missing, with Russell calling 911 just before 10 pm stating that she saw a toddler walking along the side of the interstate. She called a family member and stopped to check on the child after calling 911, and told the family member the same details. That family member lost contact with Russell, but the line remained open.

Family and community members as well as police conducted a search around her last known location, with thousands of dollars being offered for her safe return. Accounts on social media shared details of Russell, saying that she had been abducted on I-459, with many posts being viewed millions of times.

911 received a call on July 15 that Russell had returned home on foot, with first responders transporting her to the hospital to be evaluated, where she was treated and released.

Detectives went to the house and hospital to get an initial statement from Russell.

It was noted that Russell’s call was the only one that came in in regards to the wandering child on the interstate, and that no one had reported a child missing in that time frame. Officers had responded to the location within five minutes of being dispatched, and found Russell’s wig, cell phone, and purse on the side of the road near her vehicle.

Police began investigating possible leads, and on July 18, police said that Russell had gone to a Target store after leaving her job, purchasing snacks, and said that these items were not in her abandoned vehicle nor with her items found on the roadside.

Police released a list of Russell’s internet search history the following day, which revealed that she searched phrases like "you have to pay for an amber alert or search," "how to take money from a register without being caught," "Birmingham bus station," "one way bus ticket from Birmingham," and a search for the movie "Taken."

On July 24, through a statement released by Anthony, Russell admitted that there was no kidnapping, nor that there was a toddler running along the side of the interstate. She apologized and asked for prayers.

Russell was arrested and charged on July 28, and released on bond shortly after being booked.