Amber Alert Canceled After Police Say Abduction Was Hoax

Two women face charges for allegedly fabricating a kidnapping report

Mar. 31, 2026 at 3:40am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a car key fob against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the stolen vehicle at the center of this hoax case.A false report of a child abduction diverted police resources and left the community on edge, exposing the serious consequences of fabricated emergencies.Affton Today

Police in Missouri say an Amber Alert that set off a frantic search for a 5-year-old girl on Monday never should have been issued because the girl didn't exist. Authorities say the reported abduction of a girl named Aleise Dawson was a hoax and two women tied to the case are expected to face charges.

Why it matters

False reports of child abductions can divert critical police resources, undermine public trust, and re-traumatize families who have experienced real kidnappings. This case highlights the need for thorough investigations to verify claims before issuing high-profile alerts.

The details

According to police, the women claimed a guardian had left the child in a running car in the St. Louis suburb of Affton, only to return and find both the vehicle and child gone. Officers found the car a few blocks away but determined the entire incident was fabricated. The women gave a detailed description of the nonexistent girl, which police shared in the alert before realizing the report was false.

  • On Monday, an Amber Alert was issued for a 5-year-old girl named Aleise Dawson.
  • By Monday afternoon, police said the person who made the report had taken it back "after an intense investigation."

The players

St. Louis County Police Department

The law enforcement agency that investigated the false abduction report and plans to seek charges against the two women involved.

Two women

The individuals who allegedly fabricated the story of a child abduction in the hope that police would devote more resources to the search for a stolen vehicle.

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What’s next

Police plan to seek charges of filing a police report against the two women involved in the hoax.

The takeaway

This case highlights the serious consequences of false reports of child abductions, which can divert critical resources, undermine public trust, and re-traumatize families who have experienced real kidnappings. It underscores the importance of thorough investigations to verify claims before issuing high-profile alerts.