The child was turned in to police.
KINGS MOUNTAIN, N.C. -- A Cleveland County mother who claimed her child had been kidnapped and triggered a statewide Amber Alert now faces charges of filing a false police report.
Deputies said Jeanette Goforth told investigators that her five-month old baby was inside her car when it was reported stolen. The report sent hundreds of officers into action in the middle of the night, but now, they say it was all a hoax.
According to investigators, warrants have been issues for Goforth after she told them that her child, Marly Latrice Moore, was in the car when it was stolen from the Kings Mountain truck stop off of Interstate-85 around midnight.
Charles Atkins, who lives down the road from the truck stop, was asked by police if he has seen anything.
An Amber Alert reported early Sunday morning was cancelled later that day. Investigators said the mother had entered a false claim.
“You go into a panic,” said Atkins. “We’re a father and mother of five, so it really tears your heart out.”
The alert was cancelled around 5 a.m. Investigators said the baby was turned in at the Kings Mountain Police Department. A short time later, investigators released a statement saying the child had never been in the stolen car, and the mother had been lying.
“It puts panic through the community,” said Atkins. “It costs taxpayers’ funds and money. These guys are out here desperately working, they’re risking their lives.”
Investigators are still looking for the stolen car. It is a 1994 Mazda four-door, dark grey.