The world was shocked to learn that Carlee Russell‘s kidnapping was all a hoax. Now, her ex-boyfriend Thomar Latrell Simmons says he’d still unclear about her motives. 

On July 13, Russell made headlines after being missing for 48 hours after reporting that she allegedly saw a toddler walking on the side of the interstate in Hoover, Alabama. 

Simmons was a guest on the 205 Boyz podcast, where he spoke with host Marcus Goody about the days leading up to her disappearance. He told Goody the couple was in a good place before Russell disappeared. 

He recalled moments from their trip to New York a week before Russell pulled her mysterious move. “We was having fun. We was taking tours of the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge. We was good,” he said.

The host asked Simmons if he could recall anything after their trip that may have indicated something was wrong with Russell or their relationship, which led to him to admit they got into “a little argument.”

“But it wasn’t nothing to kidnap yourself over,” he added. “What made you do that?”

Simmons then clarified that he and Russell have had “no contact at all” since the disappearance and that he is not planning to communicate any time soon.

“If you really want to tell me the truth, you could’ve told me,” he said. “You could’ve told me before all this happened, before the police conference came out. You had time to tell me.”

On July 24, the Hoover police department held a press where Russell’s
attorney Emery Anthony provided a statement.

“There was no kidnapping on Thursday, July 13, 2023,” the statement began. “My client did not see a baby on the side of the road. My client did not leave the Hoover area when she was identified as a missing person. My client did not have any help in this incident — this was a single act done by herself.”

Simmons stated that he experienced a range of emotions after hearing the statement. “I was mad, I was sad. I was in all type of emotions,” he said.

The day after the admission statement, Simmons made a since-deleted post declaring that he was “disgusted” over the situation.

“Carlee’s actions created hurt, confusion, and dishonesty,” he wrote at the time. “I was made aware of the false narrative after coming to the defense of my ex Carlee Russell. Myself and my family’s nature was to react in love, and genuine concern. We are disgusted from the outcome of this entire situation. I strongly feel exactly like you all, blindsided with Carlee’s actions.”

Later in the podcast, Simmons said he was “trying to get back to my normal life” despite being recognized whenever out in his hometown. As for Russell, she is facing two misdemeanor charges, including false reporting to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident.

You can check out Simmons’ entire interview below:

Carlee Russell