A Houston woman landed behind bars after concocting a false kidnapping claim that put police on high alert, according to court documents. Jessica Denise Williams, in her early 40s, has been charged with making a false report. The incident began with Williams reporting her car as stolen, and then escalated when she falsely claimed a child was abducted during the theft.
A FOX 26 Houston report notes that Williams fabricated a story about a 'juvenile' relative being in the stolen car, a lie she later admitted to. Her deceit prompted the Houston Police Department to waste resources better reserved for real emergencies on Thanksgiving.
An hour and a half after her original report, Williams upped the ante, telling police a 14-year-old was taken with the stolen vehicle in a desperate attempt to hasten their response, information provided by ABC13 Houston. Houston Police Department Lt. Larry Crowson explained, "We checked with her relatives and found out the 14-year-old was actually a 30-year-old that was not in the car."
In truth, the non-existent 'juvenile' was neither young nor in the car at all. Before her arrest, Williams further told reporters her deaf niece was the one in the vehicle, a claim riddled with inconsistencies. "Anytime we've got a report someone is kidnapped, we to take it seriously and try to put the proper resources on it," Lt. Crowson told ABC13. Even as the police rushed to the scene, Williams was busy crafting her implausible tale using her cousin's identity.
After her fib unraveled, Williams was incarcerated, with bond set at $5,000. She'll face the consequences of her actions in court soon. While Houston police had treated the incident as a top-tier emergency, Williams' fabrication stands as a reminder of the consequences of making false reports to authorities.
