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Middletown woman made up story about being kidnapped, police say

Posted at 2:09 PM, Sep 28, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-28 17:45:08-04

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- A Butler County woman is facing a felony charge after she made up a story and said she was kidnapped, according to the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.

Thelma Williams, 58, of Lemon Twp., posted a video on social media of herself bound and gagged, claiming a man was holding her against her will, Butler County Sheriff’s Lt. Ed Tanner said.

Deputies and detectives told the Journal-News they went to a residence in the 2300 block of South Verity Parkway on Wednesday afternoon after a Florida woman -- a friend of Williams' who saw her Facebook post -- called 911.

"I know she's been receiving death threats," the caller said. "She tried to file a police report."

Deputies said they found Williams loosely bound with ripped clothes when they arrived.

After several hours of investigation -- which included viewing security tape at a local McDonald’s showing Williams in the restaurant during the time she claimed to be tied up -- detectives determined the story was false.

“She admitted she made it up,” Tanner said. “She said she had been going through some personal issues and needed help.”

Williams was charged with filing a false report, a fifth-degree felony, and taken to the Middletown jail, according to Tanner.

Williams was charged because five deputies spent several hours investigating a crime that never happened, Tanner said.

The Journal-News is a media partner of WCPO - 9 On Your Side.