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Carlee Russell is making a statement. On her 27th birthday, the Alabama woman who was charged in July 2023 with fabricating her own kidnapping took to Instagram to share an update on her growth in the past year.
"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," she wrote on July 22. "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 claimed that her support system has assisted her in navigating after calling 911 last summer to report seeing an unaccompanied child by the side of the road. The child disappeared when the police arrived minutes later. t
"To those who have been there for me, your kindness and support have meant the world to me," she said. "Every little thing—a text, a call, a direct message on social media, a post, a prayer, a kind gift, or encouraging words—helped me fight to survive another day. Sincerely, I appreciate you helping me see the bright side even in the most dire circumstances."
The nursing student also expressed her desire to continue improving herself.
The work is not yet done, but as I begin this new year, I am full of hope and optimism about overcoming obstacles in the future, loving the people who love me, and accepting God's plan for my life. Russell continued.
Russell's case captured the attention of the country last summer when, 49 hours after she had vanished from a Hoover, Alabama, highway inexplicably, she made her way back home. She initially told police that she had been taken by an orange-haired man and a woman, but police were unable to confirm the specifics of her account.
Russell later acknowledged fabricating the abduction story.
Later that month, her attorney told E! News, "There was no kidnapping on Thursday, July 13, 2023." "The baby by the side of the road was not observed by my client. When my client was reported missing, she stayed in the Hoover region."
"My client was not with anyone or any hotel with anyone from the time she was missing," the attorney continued, adding that the disappearance "was a single act done by herself." My client offers her sincere apologies to everyone affected by her actions, including her friends, family, the Hoover Police Department, the volunteers who were looking for her, and other agencies."
According to NBC News, Russell entered a guilty plea to two counts of filing a false police report in March 2024. In addition to being placed on 12-month probation, she had to complete 100 hours of community service and make restitution of almost $18,000.
