Kristal Franklin

An AMBER Alert issued Friday has been cancelled and charges are pending against a woman after the Knoxville Police Department says she made up a story about her baby being abducted.

Police say they got a call just before 11 a.m. that a 10-month-old infant, “Jeyden Kai-Rennee Franklin,” had been abducted from her mother. Kristal Franklin, 26, told officers she was walking with two diaper bags and the infant in a car seat when a man and woman stole one of her bags and abducted the child.

Officers responded to the area and immediately began searching. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the FBI became involved in the investigation as well. KPD says more than 150 man hours were spent on the investigation.

Franklin was taken to the KPD Safety Building where she was interviewed. A description and pictures of the infant were distributed to the media and an AMBER Alert was declared.

During the interview, Franklin confessed to making up the story. The two pictures of the alleged kidnapping victim she provided were actually infant pictures of her relatives.

Franklin is being taken for a psychological evaluation. Charges are pending. Police say she has a prior arrest record in Knoxville.