Very recently, the American media has been preoccupied with the case of Carlee Russell, the Alabama woman who claimed to have been abducted in July of 2023, only to later admit she’d made up the whole story. But Carlee’s hoax is not unique, and there have in fact been scores of people who faked their own kidnappings, for reasons ranging from mental illness, attempts at receiving a ransom, avoidance of some unpleasant situation, or simple bids for attention. On this wild episode of 13 O’Clock, Tom and Jenny will discuss several cases of faked abductions, including those of Dr. Mark Salerno, Quinn Gray, Dar Heatherington, Rahmell Pettway, and so-called “runaway bride” Jennifer Wilbanks.

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