An Alabama girl whose temporary disappearance this month drew nationwide consideration and prompted sprawling search efforts throughout the state stated by means of a lawyer on Monday that she had faked the whole ordeal — together with her abduction and her declare of seeing a toddler on the aspect of a highway.

The girl, Carlee Russell, 25, stated by means of her lawyer, Emory Anthony, that she had not been kidnapped on July 13 in Hoover, Ala., and that she had not seen a child on the aspect of an interstate that night time — a element that she had shared with a 911 dispatcher earlier than being reported lacking.

“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,” Mr. Anthony stated in a letter that was learn by the chief of the Hoover Police Department at a news convention on Monday. “Carlee again asks for your forgiveness.”

Mr. Anthony stated within the letter that Ms. Russell had not obtained any assist together with her hoax and that she had not been at a lodge with anybody from the time she disappeared.

Mr. Anthony stated by cellphone that he would meet with officers on Tuesday morning to debate potential prices that Ms. Russell might face for fabricating her kidnapping, however he declined to reply questions or clarify his consumer’s motivations for mendacity.

The police chief, Nicholas Derzis, stated on the news convention that the police have been in discussions with the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office about potential prices within the case. The district lawyer’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to requests for touch upon Monday.

When reached by cellphone, Talitha Russell, Carlee Russell’s mom, stated that “now is not a good time” and hung up. She didn’t instantly reply to questions by textual content.

The admission from Ms. Russell capped a puzzling case that had been shrouded in thriller from the second she advised a narrative a few youngster strolling on the aspect of a closely traversed highway at night time — a picture that elicited skepticism from investigators, who puzzled how nobody else on the highway had seen such an odd sight.

When Ms. Russell known as 911, she advised the dispatcher that she would pull over to assist the toddler. She then known as a member of the family to report the identical particulars, and that individual heard Ms. Russell scream on the cellphone. That was the final time anybody heard from Ms. Russell till about two days later, when she confirmed up at her household’s entrance door on foot, gorgeous relations and officers.

Upon her return, Ms. Russell advised investigators that she had been compelled right into a automotive after which into an eighteen-wheeler earlier than she escaped, solely to be kidnapped once more and put in a automotive, the police stated. Ms. Russell stated she was then held in a home and put in one other automotive earlier than she escaped and ran house by means of the woods.

But on Wednesday, Chief Derzis stated at a news convention that the police had not discovered any proof to substantiate Ms. Russell’s declare of getting been kidnapped, and shared particulars that appeared to trace at what had really occurred.

The division’s investigation discovered that Ms. Russell had searched on-line for details about Amber Alerts and the film “Taken,” which is a few kidnapping, earlier than she known as 911 to report her sighting of the toddler.

Chief Derzis stated on Monday that investigators nonetheless wished to fulfill with Ms. Russell to piece collectively a timeline and totally perceive her causes for the hoax.

In a cellphone interview, the chief stated that the police didn’t but know precisely how a lot cash was spent throughout the search efforts, however that he anticipated it to achieve tens of 1000’s of {dollars}.

He declined to say what potential prices Ms. Russell might face. In Alabama, it’s a misdemeanor to knowingly make a false report back to legislation enforcement.