'This is not a game to be taken lightly': Daughter of missing woman hopes Carlee Russell understands what she's done

1 year ago 38

TURN HERSELF IN. ALL RIGHT. SO WE’VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS DISAPPEARANCE. IT WENT VIRAL, GOT NATIONAL ATTENTION WITHIN HOURS, FOLKS AROUND THE COUNTRY, WE’RE SHARING HER STORY AND WORKING TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT HER DISAPPEARANCE. YEAH, IT’S GOOD NEWS, THOUGH, TO THOSE WHO HAVE FELT IN THE PAST MISSING PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVEN’T RECEIVED THE SAME ATTENTION AS MISSING CAUCASIANS. WVTM 13, LISA CRANE HAS MORE FAMILY MEMBERS WITH MISSING LOVED ONES. WATCH THE CARLEE RUSSELL CASE VERY CLOSELY. AND WHEN THEY FOUND OUT IT WAS ALL A HOAX, MANY WERE VERY UPSET. I SPOKE TO A WOMAN WHOSE MOTHER DISAPPEARED FROM SAINT CLAIR COUNTY DECADES AGO ABOUT HOW SHE HAS BEEN AFFECTED. MY MOTHER’S NAME WAS FELICIA MARTIN, COCHRAN. SHE WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL, SWEET, CARING, LOVING INDIVIDUAL. SHE WAS A GREAT MOTHER. BRANDY MARTIN IS A GROWN WOMAN NOW WHO CALLS WASHINGTON, D.C. HOME. BUT IN 1992, SHE WAS TEN YEARS OLD, LIVING WITH HER MOTHER AND SIBLINGS IN PELL CITY. THAT’S WHEN HER WHOLE WORLD CRUMBLED. AND THE LAST TIME SOMEONE SAW HER WAS OUTSIDE OF A BEAUTY SALON WHERE SHE WAS ARGUING WITH HIM AND THEY LEFT IN HER CAR. HER MOTHER LEFT WITH HER STEPFATHER. SHE WAS NEVER SEEN AGAIN. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET MEDIA ATTENTION. I DON’T BELIEVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THAT TIME TOOK IT AS SERIOUSLY AS WE WOULD HAVE LIKED THEM TO. AND SO HERE WE ARE 30 SOMETHING YEARS LATER, STILL WISHING, HOPING, PRAYING, SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS. BRANDI SAYS IF HER MOTHER’S CASE HAD RECEIVED THE SAME ATTENTION AS CARLIE RUSSELL’S, THEY MIGHT HAVE FOUND HER OR HER REMAINS. SHE SAYS SHE’S HAD MOMENTS WHEN SHE’S ANGRY AT CARLY FOR FAKING THE SAME EXPERIENCE. HER MOM REALLY WENT THROUGH. BUT MOSTLY SHE JUST WANTS HER MOTHER’S CASE AND THE TENS OF THOUSANDS LIKE IT TO RECEIVE THE SAME ATTENTION. I JUST WANT CARLY TO JUST UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF HER ACTIONS AND THAT THIS IS NOT A GAME TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. AND I HOPE WHATEVER CONSEQUENCES COME OF THIS THAT SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT SHE HAS TO

Within hours of hearing about the disappearance of Carlee Russell, people around the country were sharing her story and getting the word out.Those who feel that people of color haven't received the same attention as missing Caucasians say that's good news.Family members with missing loved ones watched the Carlee Russell case very closely and when they found out it was all a hoax, many said they were very upset. Brandi Martin’s mother disappeared from St. Clair County decades ago. She was deeply affected by the Russell case.“My mother's name was Felicia Martin Cochran," Martin said. "She was such a beautiful, sweet, caring, loving individual. She was a great mother.”Brandi is a grown woman now who calls Washington, D.C., home. But in 1992, she was 10 years old living with her mother and siblings in Pell City. That's when her whole world crumbled. “The last time someone saw her was outside of a beauty salon where she was arguing with him, and they left in her car," said Martin.Her mother left with her stepfather and was never seen again.“It was very difficult to get media attention," Martin said. "I don't believe law enforcement at that time took it as seriously as we would have liked them to. And so here we are 30-something years later, still wishing, hoping, praying, searching for answers.”Brandi said if her mother's case had received the same attention as Carlee Russell’s, they might have found her or her remains.She said she's had moments when she's angry at Carlee for faking the same experience her mom really went through. But mostly she just wants her mother's case and the tens of thousands like it to receive the same attention. “I just want Carlee to just understand the magnitude of her actions and that this is not a game to be taken lightly," said Martin. "And I hope whatever kind of consequences come of this, that she understands that she has to reap what she's sown.”

Within hours of hearing about the disappearance of Carlee Russell, people around the country were sharing her story and getting the word out.

Those who feel that people of color haven't received the same attention as missing Caucasians say that's good news.

Family members with missing loved ones watched the Carlee Russell case very closely and when they found out it was all a hoax, many said they were very upset.

Brandi Martin’s mother disappeared from St. Clair County decades ago. She was deeply affected by the Russell case.

“My mother's name was Felicia Martin Cochran," Martin said. "She was such a beautiful, sweet, caring, loving individual. She was a great mother.”

Brandi is a grown woman now who calls Washington, D.C., home. But in 1992, she was 10 years old living with her mother and siblings in Pell City. That's when her whole world crumbled.

“The last time someone saw her was outside of a beauty salon where she was arguing with him, and they left in her car," said Martin.

Her mother left with her stepfather and was never seen again.

“It was very difficult to get media attention," Martin said. "I don't believe law enforcement at that time took it as seriously as we would have liked them to. And so here we are 30-something years later, still wishing, hoping, praying, searching for answers.”

Brandi said if her mother's case had received the same attention as Carlee Russell’s, they might have found her or her remains.

She said she's had moments when she's angry at Carlee for faking the same experience her mom really went through. But mostly she just wants her mother's case and the tens of thousands like it to receive the same attention.

“I just want Carlee to just understand the magnitude of her actions and that this is not a game to be taken lightly," said Martin. "And I hope whatever kind of consequences come of this, that she understands that she has to reap what she's sown.”

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