Woman Faked Kidnapping After Walmart Theft in New Haven: Police

NEW HAVEN, CT — A woman is accused of creating an elaborate false kidnapping story after she was caught shoplifting from Walmart, police said.

Police responded at 12:13 p.m. Tuesday to the Walmart at 315 Foxon Blvd. on a report of a woman who claimed she and her daughter had been kidnapped.

Shawnee Lone-Eagle, 24, of New Haven, was caught shoplifting by store employees, according to police.

She told police she and her 7-year-old daughter had been kidnapped by a white man she didn't know while walking in the Fair Haven section of the city, and he was forcing her to shoplift on his behalf.

She gave a detailed description of the man, claiming he was holding her daughter in a black sedan outside and that if she didn't take the items, he threatened to drive off with the child, according to police.

Officers responded and began searching the area as Lone-Eagle identified a black car on video leaving the lot as the one with her daughter.

Officers reviewed surveillance footage and found that Lone-Eagle arrived alone, contradicting her claims of arriving in the black car with her daughter.

"Her story changed several times until she admitted that she falsified the entire incident and became uncooperative," police said in a statement.

Police confirmed that the child was safe and wasn't involved in the incident.

Lone-Eagle was taken into custody and charged with first-degree falsely reporting an incident, misuse of the 911 system, interfering with police, and sixth-degree larceny. There was also an outstanding warrant for her arrest.

She was held on $5,000 bond.