WHEELING, W.Va -
On Sunday, WTRF.com reported an alleged abduction and assault that reportedly happened in Ohio County.
On Monday night, WTRF.com reported that according to the West Virginia State Police, the investigation into the matter was closed.
Since then, the story has taken another turn on social media.
On Wednesday, we spoke to one sergeant who wants to put a stop to rumors spreading throughout the valley.
Saturday evening, a 47-year-old woman turned up at an area hospital.
She claimed the injuries she had were a result of being abducted, and
physically and sexually abused.
She then told police that she had regained consciousness in her own car, and drove around until she found the nearest hospital.
Two members of the West Virginia State Police took on the case. Sergeant Jason Lang says they conducted exhaustive interviews and
interrogations over the next 48 hours.
"I want it to be known that the West Virginia State Police, The Ohio
County Sheriff's Department, and the Wheeling Police Department all took
these allegations very seriously," said Lang. "We assigned additional
men and brought troopers in from outside of the area to investigate
these claims and we were able to substantiate none of these claims."
Monday night, they learned that the alleged victim had fabricated the
entire story. The case was closed, but rumors started spreading like
wildfire on social media. Rumors that there have been multiple
abductions at the highlands shopping center.
Sergeant Lang says there is not a place in the Ohio Valley where he
wouldn't allow his own wife and kids to walk by themselves.
"If there was a street that they couldn't do that, I would send as many troopers as I needed to that street to make certain that was no longer a problem."
Sergeant Lang added that spreading information by social media can be dangerous, especially in situations like this one.
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