Cobb County Inmate Who Was Subject of Ebola Scare Hasn't Left Country Since 2005

The man who stirred up fears of the Ebola virus arriving in Cobb County hasn’t left the country in nearly a decade and made up his most recent “trip” to Africa, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The AJC says that Harry Randall Withers does have a valid U.S. Passport, which Withers claimed would prove an overnight stay in Nigeria, but investigators determined that Withers hasn’t left the country since 2005. That didn’t stop the Suffolk, Virginia man from claiming to Cobb County jail staff during booking for an alleged DUI on the morning of Oct. 3 that he had contracted the deadly disease.

Withers was immediately isolated from other inmates and the jail was temporarily shut down while authorities determined their next moves. Withers was transported to WellStar Kennestone Hospital, where it was determined that he did not have Ebola.

The Ebola-free inmate faces an additional felony charge of making false statements along with misdemeanor DUI and failure to maintain lane charges. He remains incarcerated on $5,000 bond.

Photo Credit: Cobb County Sheriff’s Office