Earlier this month, Carlee Russell vanished after she reported seeing a young child walking alone on an Alabama highway. Her story had donations pouring in.
What came next? Police say she was never missing and the money remains in a kind of limbo.
Russell, 25, vanished on a Thursday and had returned to her home by foot the following Sunday. During the 48 hours she was missing, Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama raised more than $63,000 in reward money to help locate her.
But after she returned home on her own, the reward money was no longer needed, so the organization said it would return it to the donors, The Birmingham News reported last week.
Bob Copus, the executive director of Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama, said that some bigger donations had already been returned, but then, just hours after saying the money would be refunded, the organization decided to change course.
In a statement to The Birmingham News, the organization said it would not return the remaining money, which AL.com reported is $13,378.58 from the nearly 60 donors. Why not? They cited the ongoing police investigation.
“This investigation is still ongoing, and accordingly, there is no basis to refund any contributions at this time. Furthermore, the Hoover Police Department has not requested for any donor contributions to be released or refunded,” the statement said.
Copus explained more, saying if the money isn’t used, or the case is never solved, the money would be given back.
“For large donations, we have an agreement that said you’re giving us this money for this specific case to be used if law enforcement officials deem they’re going to use that money for a payout,’’ Copus explained. “If it’s not used or the case is never solved, you can have your money back.”
However, in the days following the statements from the organization, a new wrinkle has been added.
On Monday, Russell admitted that her disappearance, which she first said was a kidnapping, was fabricated, according to Hoover Police Department Chief Nicholas Derzis.
"There was no kidnapping on Thursday July 13. My client did not see a baby on the side on the road," a statement provided to Derzis from Russell's attorney said.
Derzis added that Russell says she acted alone in her endeavor and never left the city.
“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," Russell's attorney said in the statement. "We ask for your prayers for Carlee, as she addresses her issues and attempts to move forward, understanding that she made a mistake in this matter. Carlee again asks for your forgiveness and prayers.”
Copus and the organization said that those who want to can request their money back from the organization, which said it was reaching out to donors to inform them they could.
“We would never use a crime as a fundraiser,” Copus added. “This is strictly for the benefit of getting law enforcement the best information as quickly as possible. And also, it allows the public to get involved because they want to get involved.”
There has been no update on how funds will be handled now that Russell has admitted to lying about the reason for her disappearance.
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