Photo: Hoover Police Department
Carlee Russell, the Alabama woman who faked her abduction, is speaking out about her growth one year after the kidnapping hoax.
On Monday (July 22), Russell returned to Instagram, sharing an update amid her 27th birthday, per E! News.
"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," Russell wrote. "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."
Russell first made headlines in July 2023 after she suddenly disappeared following a 911 call where she reported a child walking alone on the side of the highway. Russell previously claimed she was kidnapped after getting out of her vehicle to check on the child. She returned home on foot two days after her alleged abduction.
At the time of her return, Russell's loved ones said she "was literally fighting for her life for 48 hours" and asked the public to give her grace until "she’s physically & mentally stable again."
However, Hoover police later said they could not find any evidence of the child and couldn't locate items Russell took from her job on the night of her disappearance. Authorities also revealed that Russell searched for information on Amber Alerts, bus stations, and how to take money from a register "without getting caught" just before her disappearance.
Russell ultimately admitted that she fabricated the entire situation, from the 911 call to her abduction.
In March 2024, Russell pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanors, false reporting to law enforcement and falsely reporting an incident in Jefferson County Court. Russell was given a year of probation, 100 hours of community service, and ordered to pay $17,000 in restitution.
Russell thanked those who showed her "kindness and support" amid the aftermath of the hoax.
"To those who have been there for me, your kindness and support have meant the world to me," Russell wrote Monday. "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."
"The work is not finished yet," she added, "but 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."
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