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Zionsville woman made up story about abduction

Posted at 4:16 PM, Apr 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-20 16:24:18-04

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. -- A Boone County woman who claimed to escape an abduction attempt  while taking out her trash at the end of March made the story up, Zionsville police concluded.

Tina Marie Rattinger, who lives at the Domain Apartments in Zionsville, told police she was taking her trash to the dumpster just before noon when a white van pulled up and a Hispanic-looking man jumped out.

The man reportedly held a box cutter to her neck and tried to pull her inside the van.

Rattinger said she managed to wrestle herself free of his grip before running to the main office for help.

The van was described as white with a ladder on top, no windows, and no markings.

 

Rattinger told police the suspect was a Hispanic male approximately 5'8" – 5'10" tall, with a bald head and light facial hair. He was wearing blue jeans and a white t-shirt.

After an extensive investigation, the Zionsville Criminal Investigation Division determined Rattinger fabricated the entire story, including her injuries. She has been charged with false informing.

"We are grateful that the false reporting of this crime did not take away from someone who may have absolutely needed our assistance at the time of her complaint," Zionsville police wrote in a release.

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