Carlee Russell’s ex-boyfriend Thomar Latrell Simmons says he’s still confused over why she faked her own disappearance in July.
Russell, 24, was charged on July 28 with misdemeanor false reporting of an incident and false reporting to law enforcement after she called 911 on July 13 at around 9:34 p.m. and said that there was a toddler on the side of the road in diapers, then went missing.
She would return home on July 15 at around 10:45 p.m. and was seen walking along a sidewalk in her neighborhood beforehand.
In a statement to the Hoover Police Department, Russell’s attorney, Emery Anthony, said his client admitted she never saw a baby on Interstate 459 and was never a missing person.
Carlee Russell is charged with two misdemeanors after faking her own kidnapping in Hoover, Alabama. (Hoover Police Department)
“My client did not have any help in this incident. This was a single act done by herself,” the statement said. “My client was not with anyone or any hotel with anyone from the time she was missing. 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 and to her friends and family.”
During a recent appearance on the 205 Boyz podcast, Simmons said he still doesn’t know why Russell faked her abduction, but said the two had an argument before the disappearance.
“I mean, we had a little argument, but it wasn’t nothing to kidnap yourself over,” Simmons said. “It was a light argument. I’m confused. What happened, what made you do that?”
Simmons said he’s had no contact with Russell since they broke up.
CARLEE RUSSELL ARRESTED, FACES CHARGES AFTER DISAPPEARANCE HOAX
Hoover, Alabama police are reviewing traffic camera video from I-459 that shows Carlee Russell’s car, seen driving slowly in the emergency lane with warning lights, pull over before she went missing July 13. (Courtesy: Hoover Police Department / TCA)
He also said the two went to New York City about a week or two before Russell disappeared.
“We were having fun,” Simmons said. “We were going and taking tours to the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge.”
Russell’s ex-boyfriend said he’s still “healing” and “coping” following the faked disappearance.
“If you really want to tell me the truth, you could’ve told me. You could’ve told me before all this happened. You had time to tell me,” Simmons said of his ex-girlfriend’s actions.
After police revealed information leading up to Russell’s admission that the disappearance was a hoax, Simmons deleted pictures of the two on his Instagram.
The Hoover Police Department said in a press release that 25-year-old Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell called 911 on Thursday night at 9:34 p.m. to report a toddler that she saw walking on the side of Interstate 459 South near Birmingham, Alabama. (Hoover Police Department)
Simmons also deleted a Facebook post where he said Russell “was literally fighting for her life for 48 hours.”
“My client did not have any help in this incident. This was a single act done by herself,” Russell’s attorney said in the statement to police. “My client was not with anyone or any hotel with anyone from the time she was missing. 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 and to her friends and family.”
