Kidnaping Story Was a Hoax, Girl Tells Police
A 17-year-old Sun Valley girl who disappeared for three days, then showed up at a hospital Monday night claiming that she had been kidnaped, made up the tale of abduction because she “needed time to herself,” police said.
Police learned of the hoax after they re-interviewed Maria Kaffatos a day after she was found at Pacifica Hospital of the Valley in Sun Valley, Los Angeles Police Lt. Fred Nixon said.
“Maria admitted that she had not been kidnaped,” Nixon said. “She stated that she needed time to herself, so she called a friend to pick her up after leaving her house. She stayed with this friend until Monday evening.” Kaffatos’ parents reported her missing Friday night after she failed to show up at her family’s restaurant for work.
Police conducted a kidnap investigation after her father found the girl’s shoe and purse along a street she normally traveled between her home and the restaurant.
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