3 May Have to Pay Police for Faking Disappearance
Rialto police said Thursday they are considering making three women who faked their own disappearance pay for the $10,000 investigation into what police feared was a bloody kidnaping.
“Why should the taxpayers be duped for a harebrained idea like this?” asked Rialto Police Capt. Phil Greek.
He said an investigation of the hoax by Suzanne Ballinger, 38, her 17-year-old daughter, Sherry Richards, and Sherry’s friend, Laura Fleming, 18, cost the Police Department about $10,000. Greek said he has asked the city attorney of Rialto to look into possibly billing the women.
The three turned up unharmed in Ogden, Utah, Wednesday night, nearly a week after they abandoned a blood-stained car in North Hollywood, Greek said. As for the motive for the hoax, Greek said Ballinger was seeking sympathy from family members. He said she was frustrated with driving two hours to work in Van Nuys and was upset about her financial situation.
The department does not plan to file criminal charges against the women.
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