Police: Mom lied about Gainesville girl's abduction

Booking photo of Yolandre Braxton

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 26-year-old mother has been arrested and charged with fabricating evidence and filing a false police report after she reported her 11-year-old daughter had been abducted by the girl's father, sparking statewide alerts Saturday, the Gainesville Police Department said.

Yolandre Braxton of Jonesboro, Georgia, told police early Saturday morning that her daughter, Jahnia Fisher, had been taken by the girl's father, Jamar Fisher. She told police Jamar Fisher had no custodial rights to Jahnia and showed officers a text message, which appeared to be from Jamar Fisher, threatening the lives of Jahnia and Braxton.

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Warrants were issued for Jamar Fisher (pictured, right) on charges of interference with custody and written threats to kill and a statewide missing persons bulletin was issued for Jahnia (pictured, left) by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Police said that when he learned of the warrants, Jamar Fisher quickly contacted GPD and brought Jahnia to the police department to verify her safety.

"Multiple family members confirmed that Jahnia had been staying with Jamar all summer and that the child preferred to stay with her father," GPD spokesman Ben Tobias said in a news release.

Police contacted Braxton again and further investigation revealed she had not seen her daughter since the beginning of the summer, because Jahnia had been staying with Jamar Fisher.

"Braxton was apparently upset that her daughter did not wish to live with her, and so she fabricated the story of the abduction," Tobias said.

According to police, a search of Braxton's cellphone revealed she faked the threatening text message from Jamar Fisher.

"It was determined that neither the abduction of Jahnia nor the threats by Jamar ever occurred," Tobias said. "Jamar Fisher is facing no charges, and the Gainesville Police Department thanks him for helping us quickly resolve this case."

Braxton was arrested but has since been released on bond.