Watch CBS News

"Baby off bridge" hoax triggers Christmas Eve rescue that wasn't

HAVERHILL , Mass.-- A mother and daughter in a northern Boston suburb are accused of falsely telling police that they saw a man throw a baby off a bridge and into the Merrimack River on Christmas Eve, CBS Boston reported.

The hoax set off a massive response from authorities to the Comeau Bridge at about 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. A State Police helicopter and dive team helped local police and firefighters scour the scene.

According to CBS Boston, police say the women reported that they saw and heard a man throw the baby off the bridge, but by 10 p.m., detectives determined that they made up the story. Holly Fowler, 42, and Kristine Fowler, 23, are charged with misleading a police investigation and filing a false police report.

"It's one of those reports you have to treat as serious unless you confirm it one way or the other," Haverhill Police Capt. Robert Pistone said in a statement.

The women are due in Haverhill District Court on Monday.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.