Hours after a lawyer representing Carlee Russell revealed that the 25-year-old Alabama woman was not abducted as she reported to police, her now-ex-boyfriend released a statement condemning her actions.
Russell was missing for two days before reappearing in Hoover, Alabama, and telling the police that she had been kidnapped July 15.
By July 19, police said they had been “unable to verify” the statements Russell had made about his alleged kidnapping.
So, at a press conference on MondayHoover Police Chief Nicholas C. Derzis said the nursing student had submitted a statement to them through her attorney.
“There was no kidnapping on Thursday, July 13, 2023,” the statement read. “My client did not see a baby on the side of the road. My client did not leave the Hoover area when she was identified as a missing person. My client did not have any help in this incident, but this was a one-off act done by herself.”
In a sentence Shared Monday, Russell’s now ex-boyfriend, Thomar Latrell Simmons, condemned his actions. Simmons had previously spoken to the media and posted online about being Russell’s boyfriend before his lawyer said his kidnapping was a hoax.
In his July 24 post, he called the nursing student his “ex” and said she had created “pain, confusion and dishonesty.”
“I became aware of the false narrative after coming to the defense of my ex Carlee Russell,” she said in the statement. “My nature and that of my family was to react with love and genuine concern. We are disgusted by the outcome of this whole situation. I feel strongly exactly like all of you. shocked with Carlee’s actions.”
He added that “it is still an ongoing investigation” but with Russell’s “confession we can now close this situation.”
He concluded by thanking fans for their support and asked that people “continue to keep us in your prayers.”
In a statement read by police on July 24, Russell’s attorney said he apologized to the community and everyone who had searched for her.
“As for her friends and family, we ask for your prayers for Carlee as she addresses her issues and tries to move on, understanding that she made a mistake in this matter. Carlee once again asks for your forgiveness and prayers,” the statement concluded.
Russell’s legal team did not immediately respond to TODAY’s request for comment on Tuesday.
