Investigators have identified the suspects in four fake 911 calls that sparked an Amber Alert in Dyer County, Tennessee, according to Pemiscot County officials.
One of the girls called and turned herself in, according to the Pemiscot County Sheriff's Department. The juveniles are from Missouri. Since they are juveniles, no names are being released. Juvenile authorities are handling the situation.
Officials said four calls were made to 911 between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 15. The caller identified herself as 13-year-old Latrice Watson, and said that she and her 10-year-old sister had been kidnapped and were being molested by a 57 to 60-year-old white male. The caller said that all were driving in a red or burgundy Chevy Suburban.
The first 911 call was received around 3:30 p.m. by Dyer County Tennessee dispatch. The caller said she and her sister had been abducted, and the man had threatened to kill them if she called police. The caller said they were driving on a two lane road, and all she could see were woods.
The second call was received about 30 minutes later, with the caller claiming when she told the man she called police, he slapped her, according to police.
A third call was received by dispatchers in Pemiscot County, at 5 p.m. The recording of the call began as soon as the caller hit send, but before the dispatcher picks up answers, a voice is heard telling someone to scream when the dispatcher picks up. As soon as the call is answered, screams are heard and the caller hangs up, police said.
A final call came in seconds later. In this call, the dispatcher can be heard trying to get the caller to give her the location of the vehicle she is in, police said.
Based on these calls, an Amber Alert was issued by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations shortly after 5 p.m., and the Missouri Highway Patrol followed.
In a press release issued July 16 by the Pemiscot County Sheriff's Department, officials said police have determined that no children are missing in either state, and the calls were a prank.
rharris@blythevillecourier.com