(DailyVantage.com) – The ex-boyfriend of Carlee Russell spoke out about her bizarre kidnap claims and said he was “blindsided” and “disgusted” by her actions. Thomar Latrell Simmons posted on Instagram that his ex-girlfriend’s behavior “created hurt, confusion, and dishonesty,” but her admission that she was lying allowed him to “gain closure.” Simmons initially defended Russell when the story broke.
Meanwhile, prosecutors in Alabama are mulling over whether to charge her with criminal offenses – her lawyer Emory Anthony said he believes she will be indicted. Commenting online, former criminal defense attorney Eric Guster said the charges will likely include lying to police, theft, and filing a false report.
The strange story began on July 13 when Carlee phoned 911 to say she saw a toddler walking along the side of Interstate 459 in Alabama at 9.30 in the evening. Police immediately responded but could not locate a child anywhere along the highway. There was also no sign of the 25-year-old Russell, but her bag, cell phone, hat, and wig were discovered on the roadside. She vanished and returned home two days later.
The nursing student told police that when she pulled over to rescue the boy on the Interstate, she was kidnapped by an unknown assailant driving an 18-wheeler truck. He took her to a house and told her to strip. She escaped but was recaptured before escaping again.
On July 24, her lawyer released a statement and told police she had made it all up. “There was no kidnapping on Thursday, July 13. My client did not see a baby on the side of the road. 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 as to her friends and family,” the statement read.
Mr. Anthony told reporters he was in discussions with police and prosecutors to secure the best outcome for Russell and allow her the opportunity to work on her mental health.
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