Detective Captain Robert P. Pistone.
A mother and daughter were arrested by Haverhill police after state and local police concluded their report of a baby thrown into the Merrimack River was a “hoax.”
Holly Fowler, 42, and Kristine Fowler, 23, both of 170 Washington St., were charged with misleading a police investigation and filing a false police report, said Captain Robert P. Pistone, Haverhill police spokesman. They are expected to be arraigned Monday in Haverhill District Court.
“After interviewing the person who made the complaint, the police have determined that it does not appear to be credible and the police and fire departments have called off the search,” said Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini.
State police announced just before 10:30 p.m., Thursday, the report was a hoax. Haverhill and Massachusetts State Police began investigating three hours earlier after two passersby reported seeing what appeared to be a baby being thrown over the Comeau Bridge into the Merrimack River.
No body was found as state police helicopters, a state police dive team and Haverhill firefighters searched the area. Pistone said earlier an investigation was launched immediately.
“We have resources searching the area where the report was made and investigators are interviewing the witnesses who made the report,” Pistone said. Part of the investigation involves checking surveillance video in the area, he said.
The report came from two people who were passing by around 7:30 p.m. Comeau Bridge connects County Bridge Square with Bradford.
What idiots these two women are! They should also be charged and made to pay for the cost of the investigation into this non-event!
does whav have a news drone?