# A creepy missing person case (July 2023) (Confirmed to be a Hoax) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 15, 2023, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078 "2023-07-15T18:40:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078/21 "2023-07-19T20:37:53Z")
Yeah, it is looking like the creep in this story is Carlee Russell. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078/22 "2023-07-19T20:39:11Z")
“Do you have to pay for an Amber Alert?” Naw. Just wait until the kids go back to school, then they are heavily discounted. Sheesh! ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078/23 "2023-07-19T22:42:46Z")
I was guessing it was a hoax from day one. ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078/24 "2023-07-19T22:46:47Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > It’s a odd tale reminiscent of urban legend, like the woman driving on Cape Cod who reported finding a [man hiding on her back seat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_in_the_backseat) under a coat. Actually, I saw a story today, which is apparently true: > **[Woman finds man hiding under coat in backseat of her car while driving home](https://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-finds-man-hiding-coat-backseat-car-driving/story?id=101397703)** > > A woman was left shaken and terrified by the side of a highway when she found a man hiding in the backseat of her car as she was driving “with a coat over his head.” ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078/25 "2023-07-20T00:29:57Z")
That police said they were unable to verify Russell’s story, and that they did not believe there was a threat to the public safety in relation to the case, shows that the police do not believe the abduction happened. So it comes down to whether it was a hoax or some mental health episode that had made Russell take complete leave of her senses. The Sherri Papini kidnapping hoax concluded with an 18-month prison sentence and $300,000 fine for the perpetrator. ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2023, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078/26 "2023-07-24T21:48:38Z")
It was a hoax. Confirmed. Part of a statement from Carlee Russell’s attorney, released this afternoon (July 24): _‘There was no kidnapping … my client did not see a baby. My client did not leave the Hoover area. My client apologizes for her actions to this community … Carlee asks for your forgiveness & prayers.’_ ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2023, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078/27 "2023-07-24T22:17:29Z")
Great. Just great. Aside from the waste of time and money looking for her, she’s just made it harder for REAL victims to be believed, which could easily get a REAL victim dead. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2023, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078/28 "2023-07-24T22:19:33Z")
Yes, she is quite the selfish asshole. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2023, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078/29 "2023-07-24T23:42:29Z")
Hope she had fun with her work bathrobe and her Target snacks. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078/30 "2023-07-25T00:36:35Z")
She lost her job: > **[Carlee Russell fired from spa job, co-workers ‘pissed’ about increasingly...](https://nypost.com/2023/07/21/carlee-russell-fired-from-alabama-spa-job/)** > > Carlee Russell has officially disappeared — from the payroll of her Alabama job. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078/31 "2023-07-25T02:14:24Z")
Not surprising. I do think this woman has some serious mental health issues afflicting her right now, though, that drove her to do this. Doesn’t justify or excuse what she did, but I hope she gets help for whatever’s going on with her. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078/32 "2023-07-25T04:33:53Z")
She will not be getting any prayers from me, if I believed in prayers, which I don’t, but still. I’m glad it’s settled so I can stop forgetting to think about it. Mental issues or not, I think she needs the attention of some law enforcement personnel, if only to make sure this goes on her record (her _permanent_ record!) and does not get forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![Digger11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@Digger11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digger11)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078/33 "2023-07-25T04:48:12Z")
> [@Sauron](#): > > Part of a statement from Carlee Russell’s attorney, released this afternoon (July 24): > _‘There was no kidnapping … my client did not see a baby. My client did not leave the Hoover area. My client apologizes for her actions to this community … Carlee asks for your forgiveness & prayers.’_ She’s not the first person to say something along those lines. Just once I would like to hear a DA say something like, “I can forgive her on a personal level, but I still have a job to do, and she is going to be indicted.” ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078/34 "2023-07-25T16:52:50Z")
That’s exactly right – one can hope she gets help for whatever demons are driving her to do this, but she does have to pay the price for her actions. It’s not one or the other. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078/35 "2023-07-25T17:06:42Z")
Idiot! We already have a problem with “Missing White Girl Syndrome”, and now with this I fear when a black girl goes missing it will not be taken seriously. Thoughts and prayers? I got your thoughts and prayers right here… 👊 😡 ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078/36 "2023-07-25T18:00:32Z")
Punishment isn’t the answer, she has suffered enough already. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078/37 "2023-07-25T18:05:56Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#): > > she has suffered enough already How so? ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078/38 "2023-07-25T18:54:43Z")
I wonder where she went for two days with a bathrobe and Cheez-its? IIRC, police arrived in three minutes and started a search for the child. What was off the side of the road? Line of trees and another road? Forestland she could hide in? She didn’t have much time to get somewhere on foot. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078/39 "2023-07-25T19:17:54Z")
Charges will likely be brought by law enforcement. Let’s hope that she gets whatever help she needs. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078/40 "2023-07-26T01:53:53Z")
We have some limited capacity on our modern medical arsenal to address crazy. We can’t fix stupid; not even a little bit. We also can’t fix desperate. Or at least we as a society _won’t_ fix desperate. What combo of crazy, stupid, and/or desperate was she? Hellifino. Until we here have some idea of the makeup of this mistake, we’re hard-pressed to know what remedies or sympathies to offer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-creepy-missing-person-case-july-2023-confirmed-to-be-a-hoax/987078.md?page=3)