Mom who claimed she was kidnapped and raped by four black men for two traumatic days and sent graphic 'hostage' pics to her boyfriend before her 'release' is jailed for inventing the story

  • Leiha Artman was jailed for one year on Wednesday in Muskegon, Michigan
  • The 25-year-old told police in March she was kidnapped and raped
  • She claimed four 'black men' abducted her from the driveway of her home
  • Her partner received a photograph of her bloody and gagged on March 27
  • Two days later he says he collected her from a street and she was 'beaten' 
  • He maintains she was raped but by someone other than those she first blamed 

By Jennifer Smith For Dailymail.com

Published: 22:30 EST, 14 October 2016 | Updated: 23:33 EST, 14 October 2016

Leiha Artman (above in a photograph sent to her boyfriend when she 'disappeared') was jailed on Wednesday after admitting to making up an elaborate kidnap story 

Leiha Artman (above in a photograph sent to her boyfriend when she 'disappeared') was jailed on Wednesday after admitting to making up an elaborate kidnap story 

A mother has been jailed for making up an elaborate kidnap story claiming she was abducted and raped by four black men. 

Leiha Artman from Muskegon, Michigan, claimed she was abducted when the men stopped to ask her for directions while she stood in the driveway of her home in March. 

The 25-year-old said they threw her in the trunk of their car, beat and sexually assaulted her. 

During the two days she was missing, her boyfriend received photographs of her in which she appeared gagged, bound and bleeding from the head.

She was sentenced to one year behind bars on Wednesday after admitting to one count of making a false report of a felony. 

MLive reports the woman was told she would not be put behind bars in exchange for making the plea which, given her previous criminal record, carries a maximum penalty of six years imprisonment.  

Her partner, who wished to remain anonymous, told DailyMail.com on Wednesday she had been coerced into making the plea and into fabricating the story. 

He maintained she was raped and beaten but not by the people she initially blamed. 

She made up the story in fear her real attacker would later punish her for incriminating him, he said.  

'All I know is that I woke up to some very, very brutal pictures. 

'She did make up a story saying it was four black men but, at the end of the day, she did get really, really hurt by someone.

Artman's partner insists she was kidnapped and raped but not but by a different assailant who threatened to harm her if she told police the real story
Artman's partner insists she was kidnapped and raped but not but by a different assailant who threatened to harm her if she told police the real story

Artman's partner insists she was kidnapped and raped but not but by a different assailant who threatened to harm her if she told police the real story

The woman was jailed for one year on one count of making a false report of a felony

The woman was jailed for one year on one count of making a false report of a felony

'She is a good woman and a good mother. She was a heroin addict that needed help and rehab.'   

The man collected Artman on March 29, two days after she said she was kidnapped, in a street near her mother's home.

She phoned him after being dropped off by her captor, she said, to have him collect her.  

He said she was 'bleeding' and 'really hurt'. The pair visited a hospital, where he said she requested emergency contraception. 

Police interviewed her while she received treatment there. It is not clear whether they believe she was attacked at all.

In the image sent to her boyfriend, Artman is seen gagged and with what appears to be blood pouring from her head. 

Text messages which accompanied the photograph demanded money for her release. He said none was exchanged.  

The woman has three children. She was a heroin addict at the time she made the claim to police, her partner said 

The woman has three children. She was a heroin addict at the time she made the claim to police, her partner said 


 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Comments (121)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

 View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now