Father charged in fake story of daughter's abduction in Milwaukee

A Milwaukee man fabricated a story about an armed carjacker stealing a borrowed car with his 4-year-old daughter inside so that police would "do something" about his own stolen car, according to a criminal complaint.

The false account Tuesday set in motion a huge police response involving 42 squads and dozens of officers, the activation of the statewide Amber alert system and a gaggle of media outlets responding to the scene of the fake abduction, according to the complaint.

James E. Murdock Jr., 26, was charged with obstructing an officer for the incident that began with the false tale of the 2015 Hyundai Accent being taken at gunpoint outside Murdock's home in the 2500 block of W. Becher St., according to the complaint.

The story was complete with details of how Murdock left the girl in the car while he used the restroom and how he chased after the gunman who drove off with the vehicle.

When told by police that officers had recovered the abandoned, empty vehicle at N. 92nd St. and W. Brown Deer Road, Murdock admitted that his daughter had not been abducted, that she was at school and that he lied so that police would find the car, according to the complaint.

If convicted of the misdemeanor charge, Murdock could be sentenced to up to nine months in jail and fined up to $10,000, according to the complaint.