Carlee Russell, the Alabama woman who captured national attention last year with her fabricated kidnapping story, has broken her silence for the first time since her sentencing hearing in March.
The 27-year-old nursing student took to social media on July 22 to reflect on her tumultuous past year in a heartfelt post celebrating her birthday.
According to People, Russell’s post acknowledged the personal growth and divine intervention she experienced since the incident.
“I wasn’t going to make a birthday post but I would be remiss not to publicly acknowledge the goodness God has shown to me. He not only allowed me to see another year but He changed the trajectory of my life from the negative place I was in this time last year,” she wrote.
Russell expressed gratitude to those who supported her during the difficult period, saying:
“To those who have been there for me, your kindness and support have meant the world to me. Whether it was a text, call, direct message on social media, post, prayer, thoughtful gift, or words of encouragement, nothing was too little and each helped me to fight to live another day. Thank you sincerely for helping me find the light in the darkest of moments.”
Despite acknowledging the challenging road ahead in the court of public opinion, Russell remained optimistic about her future.
“[As] I step into this next year of life, I am filled with hope and optimism toward continuing to overcome challenges, cherishing those who cherish me, and embracing the future and God’s plan for my life with an open heart and mind,” she concluded.
In July 2023, Russell staged a false abduction after making a 911 call claiming she saw a toddler wandering on the side of a highway in a diaper.
When authorities arrived to find her missing, it sparked a massive search involving local and federal agencies as well as community members. The search ended when Russell admitted that the entire incident was a hoax.
Russell was sentenced to probation for false reporting to law enforcement and falsely reporting an incident. Although prosecutors had requested jail time, she received probation following her guilty verdict in October 2023 by a judge in Hoover, Alabama.
As Russell seeks to rebuild her life, her story serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of false reporting and the widespread impact such actions can have on public resources and community trust.
