An American mother has been taken into custody and charged with serious offences after authorities allege she orchestrated a terrifying fake abduction of her own daughter in a misguided attempt to teach her a lesson about online safety.
Desperate Plot to Demonstrate 'Real Danger'
Tammi Hamby, a 59-year-old from Arkansas, is accused of conspiring with three friends to stage the kidnapping of her 22-year-old daughter. According to law enforcement reports, the drastic plan was conceived after Hamby discovered her daughter, who has developmental delays and a mental age of approximately 11, was sending money to an individual she believed to be the country music star Luke Bryan.
Deputies stated that the young woman was found tied to a tree in a field, her wrists secured with zip ties. She was reportedly "in fear for her life" and clutching a teddy bear for comfort when discovered. The mother's alleged intention was to show her vulnerable daughter what genuine danger looked like in response to the online grooming.
Family's Defence and Legal Repercussions
The girl's father, Dr. Jeffrey Hamby, has spoken out in defence of the family's intent, if not their methods. He explained the family felt desperate and out of options as their daughter continued to engage with the online impersonator and send him funds, despite their warnings.
However, the law has responded severely to the staged event. Tammi Hamby now faces felony charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and endangering the welfare of an incompetent person. The immediate welfare consequence is that her daughter has been removed from the family home and placed into state protective custody.
A Cautionary Tale About Online Safety and Extreme Measures
This disturbing case, reported on Thursday 4 December 2025, highlights the extreme lengths to which some families may go when they feel failed by conventional systems for protecting vulnerable adults from online exploitation. While the parental fear is understandable, the response has resulted in criminal allegations and the fracturing of the family unit.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the very real dangers of online impersonation and grooming, particularly targeting individuals with learning disabilities. It also underscores the critical importance of seeking support from official safeguarding channels and law enforcement rather than taking matters into one's own hands.
