Alabama Woman Carlee Russell Ordered to Pay Restitution for Faking Abduction

Carlee Russell, the Alabama woman who falsely claimed she was kidnapped, has been ordered to pay nearly $18,000 in restitution and sentenced to 12 months supervised probation, community service, and mental health counseling. She had initially pleaded not guilty to false reporting charges but later admitted to making up the kidnapping. The incident sparked a nationwide search and led to calls for stronger penalties for false reporting.