Missing baby and mother ‘human trafficking’ US case revealed as hoax

A missing baby and mother "human trafficking" case has been revealed to be a hoax.

Police in North Carolina today arrested a woman for claiming that a mother and her newborn baby were missing and in danger. Last week, the Scotland County Sheriff's Office shared a Facebook post seeking the public's help in locating a woman named April Morrison and her baby daughter. They included a photo of what was assumed to be the infant in question and said that they believed the child was "in danger and not in the care of her mother." Danilla Mitzia 'Missy' Bethea was arrested today in connection with the hoax. Authorities believe she fabricated the story in a bid to get a third party to pay her money. The photo of the baby was taken from social media and April Morrison does not exist. A statement released on their Facebook page reads:

"April Morrison was a fictional character and there was no infant child named Lee Ann Morrison. "These false statements were allegedly made and provided for the purposes of allegedly receiving money, from the reporting party, who believed she was supporting an infant child in need, and one whom she believed she would gain custody or guardianship over."

The Sheriff's office has since apologised to the FBI, the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, and other local authorities. Bethea is currently being held on a $100,000 secured bond at Scotland County detention facility.