Police Arrest Man Who Claimed Family Was Kidnapped

Police searched for several hours for a woman and two children who were supposedly kidnapped Wednesday in Athens, but the report was a fake and the man who made the claim was arrested.

Three officers responded to Athens First Bank on Hancock Avenue at 9:10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, on a call about a kidnapping.

According to an Athens-Clarke County Police news release, Bennie Lee Pilcher told police masked men with guns broke into a Waddell Street residence and kidnapped him, his wife and two children.

He said he was told to go to the bank and withdraw $2,500 or his family would be killed. He also gave a description of the vehicle in which his family was supposedly being held.

“Based on information Pilcher provided, officers went to several locations in an attempt to locate the vehicle and/or parties alleged to be involved,” police said in the news release. “After several hours of searching and questioning Pilcher, it was determined the kidnapping never occurred and no family members were being held hostage.”

Pilcher, of Hickman Drive, was charged with making a false report and attempted theft by deception.