Brittany Patterson fake kidnapping story caused chaos at the Apple Festival—until police exposed it as a complete lie.
The internet was up in arms over a Facebook post going viral in a local community that claimed a child was kidnapped at the Apple Festival in Hendersonville, North Carolina, over Labor Day weekend. The story, written by a woman named Brittany Patterson, spread like wildfire across social media and quickly racked up shares and comments. But now, police say the whole thing was completely made up.
In her post, Patterson described what she called her “worst nightmare.” She said that while attending the Apple Festival with family and friends, her partner briefly took his hand off their child’s stroller and in a matter of seconds, their baby girl Georgia was gone.
According to the post, a woman allegedly took the stroller, walked five blocks away with the child, and nearly escaped the festival grounds before being spotted and confronted. She even claimed the woman had given the baby juice from a toy apple and that medics were called to check the drink for sedatives.
It sounded like something out of a movie. But it wasn’t real.
When the story gained attention and concern started pouring in from locals and parents, Hendersonville Police Department launched an investigation.
On Wednesday, Hendersonville Police Department released a statement regarding their investigation:
“The Hendersonville Police Department is aware of a post circulating on social media and is currently investigating the allegation.
HPD can confirm there was no abduction or attempted abduction at the North Carolina Apple Festival corresponding with the social media posting. Video footage reveals the child was left unattended in a stroller for approximately ten minutes. During that time, concerned citizens relocated the stroller into the shade nearby until a parent came back to retrieve the child.”
The backlash was immediate. Social media users called Patterson out for weaponizing fear and attention. Some accused her of clout chasing.
While police have not confirmed whether Patterson will face any consequences for the false story, many are demanding accountability. Making up a kidnapping story in the middle of a heavily attended public festival puts people on edge, misuses emergency services, and spreads unnecessary panic.
Brittany Patterson has not responded publicly since the police debunked her story.
