Cierra Lemott 
Remember Carlee Russell? She’s the 25-year-old nursing student who recently made national headlines for allegedly being abducted after seeing and aiding a toddler walking on the side of the expressway. Well, the update to the story is that Russell admitted that she did not see a toddler on the side of the road and made up being abducted.
Emory Anthony, Russell’s attorney, issued an apology on behalf of his client, stating that “there was no kidnapping on July 13th,” according to a recent press conference.
Abduction is no joking matter and isn’t something that should be lied about, especially when there are so many missing Black women and girls across the world.
Seeing as the truth has come to light about the situation, Russell should face punishment for her actions. According to the New York Times, Nicholas Derzis, police chief at Hoover Police Department in Alabama, said that there was talk about charges for the case. Despite this, no other information regarding those charges has been released.
Despite the fact that Russell’s incident was a hoax, there are still many missing Black women and girls who need the attention that Russell received in order to be found and helped. Russell’s actions definitely shouldn’t go unpunished.
What do you think her punishment should be?
By Cierra Lemott, Senior, Columbia College Chicago
Instagram: @cece.kodak / @kodakscamera
X: @LemottCierra
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