Boston Police say 14-year-old's kidnapping was a hoax

By James Vaznis, Globe Staff

Boston Police say they were the victims of a hoax today when they launched a major search for a 14-year-old Dorchester girl who was simply skipping school.

Alexus Clarke, a resident of Monadnock Street, was nervous that her mother might be angry at her for being a truant. So she text-messaged her mother, saying that she was in trouble and being held against her will, said Police Superintendent Daniel Linskey.

"As a father, I feel happy a 14-year-old girl is safe and unharmed. As a police officer, I'm a little upset we wasted some time," said Linskey.

Clarke was reported missing at about 9:30 a.m. She was found by police at about 5:30 p.m.

Linskey said dozens of officers spent hours looking for Clarke, who is in eighth grade at a Boston middle school.

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