St. Louis Women Charged in False Amber Alert Case

Two women in St. Louis, Missouri, have been accused of fabricating a story about a missing five-year-old child in an attempt to locate their stolen vehicle. The false report led to the activation of an Amber Alert and a significant deployment of law enforcement resources.

Details of the Incident

On March 30th, police received a 911 call after 8 a.m. reporting a child left unattended in a running 2020 Jeep Renegade that had been stolen. The caller claimed the child was inside the vehicle when it was taken.

Search Efforts and Discovery

Authorities quickly located the stolen Jeep Renegade approximately one mile from its last known location. However, a search of the vehicle and the surrounding area, utilizing K9 units, drones, and helicopters, revealed no sign of a child. This prompted the issuance of an Amber Alert.

Investigation and Confession

Investigators focused on the individuals who reported the vehicle stolen: Ashley Collins and Kayla Williams. Their initial statements were found to be inconsistent during the investigation.

Inconsistencies in the Story

Collins, who made the 911 call, was unable to provide any images of the alleged missing child. Despite claiming the child resided with her girlfriend, Williams, investigators found no evidence of a child living at Williams’ residence. Family members of both women also failed to corroborate their story, even after Collins stated she had gained custody of the child following her sister’s death.

After approximately five hours, Collins and Williams confessed to fabricating the story about the missing child, admitting their vehicle had been stolen but that the child was not real.

Law Enforcement Response

Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Lohr of the St. Louis County Police Department explained the impact of such false reports. “I don’t know if it was a sense of panic, I don’t know if the individual thought it would get more response to the fact that their vehicle had been stolen,” Lohr stated. “From a law enforcement perspective, we essentially stopped everything we’re doing and dedicate every available body to something like this. In cases like this, time is of the essence, so it’s important that we jump as quickly as we can on a case like this.”

Charges Filed

Ashley Collins has been charged with misuse of 911 and making a false report. Kayla Williams faces one count of making a false report.