by Al Summers
News Editor
alsummers@timescourier.com
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A 17-year-old Ellijay woman’s claim of being abducted at the East Ellijay Wal-Mart and being raped repeatedly between Gilmer County and Cherokee County on Saturday, May 22, turned into an admission on Wednesday, May 26, that the whole event was a hoax .
Gilmer County Chief Det. Stacy Nicholson told the Times-Courier that the parents of Linda Sue Key reported her missing when she did not report for work at the East Ellijay McDonald’s restaurant on May 22.
Around 11:30 p.m., Key called her parents and told them she was not sure of her location, but she had been abducted from the East Ellijay Wal-Mart parking lot by some Hispanic males and raped repeatedly throughout the day.
Gilmer detectives Chris Goulart and Mike Mabry determined the girl was calling from Cherokee County and alerted Cherokee County authorities to her location. She was picked up in Cherokee County, where a rape investigation was started. Gilmer County authorities were conducting a kidnapping investigation.
During the course of the investigation, Key gave conflicting stories to investigators, who became suspicious of her claim.
When the woman was reinterviewed by detectives on Wednesday, May 26, she admitted the claim was a hoax and had made the story up. She was charged with false report of a crime and false statement.
Nicholson said he appreciated the cooperation of the staff at Wal-Mart and at the Murphy USA gas station with the investigation.