If this was my son he would be grounded for life. But today's parenting gurus forbid any from of punishment. They say to nurture a child's imagination. BS!

Did anyone bother to ask why this 11 year old was so frightened of bringing home a bad report card that he would make up a story like this?

SAD!!!

I would file this under the heading "Why didnt I think of that!!" Well, he gets an "A+" for originality anyway.

So sad that he felt he needed to do that- not to jump to conclusions, but it does make you wonder why the child was so afraid of showing the report card to his parents...

Sounds like this kid's imagination was nurtured a little to much!

Weren't any of you students? I came from a loveing family and can count the number of times I was spanked in my entire lige on one hand with fingers left over. But I was still TERRIFIED to bring home a bad report card. That's just kids being kids. But I'm glad nobody's jumping to any conclusions.

Maybe a good idea initially, but he obviously didn't realize that the school could just produce another report card if needed. This was a big lesson in lying for sure. He should be required to volunteer to pay back some of what the city spent looking for him.

If this boy put half the effort into his schoolwork as he did with this endeavor, he wouldn't have to worry about his report card. This kid needs to have his energy channelled better.

This sounds like an idea I might have entertained when I was 11. My parents were not abusive physically or mentally. They were almost too perfect parents. I would have just been fearful of having to face their looks of disappointment. Kids do outrageously dumb stuff sometimes, its part of growing up and not always a sign of abuse. I agree that this one had a great imagination!

Boys will be boys!

This should be an eye opener to the parents of this boy. If this kid is so afraid to show them his bad report card, what will he do if gets in real trouble. I am glad that the boy did not think of killing himself because he was too afraid or embarrased to show his report card. The parents should seriously consider that possibility.

Pathetic how people automatically insinuate the boy had bad parents or bad home life because he was scared to show them his report card. Ever think the kid may just be embarrassed or felt bad letting his parents down? Maybe he has school problems that his parents are unaware of and he's too scared to talk to them about. Kids are full of excuses and strange reasoning. I mean look at his story. Don't immediately go after the parents.

You tell me, what kid was not afraid to bring home a bad report to their parents... seriously you all try to make something out of nothing.

It's the first thing I thought of. I remember when I was a kid how much emphasis was placed on grades. If I even so much as got a C, I was afraid to come home. Not to say my parents were abusive angry people, or anything of that nature, but I'm sure there were other ways he could have went about hiding his report card, besides fabricating a kidnapping story...

My mom would have punished me for the bad grade, but she would have beat me senseless if I would have done what this kid did. Maybe that's part of kids today's problem, parents don't put the fear of God in their children anymore so they aren't afraid of the consequences of their actions. I was too afraid of why my mom would have done to me to think up something like what that kid did. My mom in no way abused me, but she definately let me know what would happen if I did something I wasn't supposed to do. And this wasn't in the old days, cause I'm only 25.

Poor baby, he's probably abused at home to make up a story like that. Hopefully the police are thinking about that.

Why the heck are kids getting report cards already? It's only September!

I'll tell you exactly why this boy was scared. His parents/guardian do not give a hoot about this childs education except when he brings home bad grades.

How about if the grandparent had the boy call and apologize to the police instead of doing it for him.

What child isn't afraid of showing his/her parents a bad report card? It's ridiculous how some people are insinuating that the parents might beat him for a bad report card.

And I thought that hiding all of my bad papers with the kindergarten teacher's red marker frowny face on them, in an old tree trunk was imaginative.

Give me a break! Wonder why he was afraid of a bad report card?! Probably because he'd likely have his precious game player or cell phone taken away! People seem to forget that children aren't the innocent babes you think. They're capable of some pretty malicious things. Watch/read the news!

People are reading too much into his fear of showing the report card. I ran away once when I broke something I shouldn't have been playing with. My parents never hurt or abused me but they taught me that actions have consequences and I knew I was wrong. I was frightened because I knew I how wrong I was.

People jump to so many conclusions on the internet. I came up with every excuse in the book to not show my parents my report card if it was bad. I even "lost it in a fight in the woods". My parents didnt beat me, or molest me or anything of the sort. I just didnt want to lose my Nintendo!

Maybe he was afraid to show his parents his bad report card because they've taught him the value of an education and hard work, and he was ashamed he wasn't going to meet the standard. Or maybe, as the first poster suggested, he KNEW he was going to be grounded for life and was just trying to get out of it. Being "afraid" of your parents doesn't necessitate abuse. Unfortunately in our media-sound-byte society the line between discipline and abuse is often obscured.

If the parents were actually parenting, the child may not have had a poor report card or they would have known in advance. My son is 10, where education is involved I am aware of his accomplishments and shortfalls. Parenting isn't a "photo opp" it's a commitment.

yeah, it does kind of make you wonder and YES! grounded for life does not describe the punishment. I have an eleven year old if he ever tried something like this...I think he would rather deal with the consequences of a bad report card, than the consequences of a stunt like this.

This kid has a future in Hollywood, or definitely a great story writer. That's original. Way to go kid!

Concocting wild stories to cover one's own tail is a valuable life skill that will later propel him to the heighest levels of society.

Ah, poor kiddo. Fibbing about homework is old hat (honestly, teacher, the dog ate it!), but this kid really crafted one heck of a story. At least he was using his imagination! At any rate, here's hoping that the young man has learned a good lesson – best to just face the music rather than lie.

This child obviously has some major issues and should get some professional help. To go to that extreme and lie about being kidnapped because he had a bad report card is just plain wrong. Maybe if you paid attention in school and did your homework like every other student. Shame on you!!!

Please people – my kids are afraid to show me their bad report cards – not because I will physically punish them, but because I'll take away some of their priviliges – bad grades = no dirt bike, no xbox, no skateboard.

The message being if you don't have time to do your homework, you certainly don't have time to play.

To infer that the child is abused is just plain silly.

They should take the child on a tour of the jail so he can see what happens when you make bad choices.

This child obviously has some major issues and should get some professional help. To go to that extreme and lie about being kidnapped because he had a bad report card is just plain wrong. Maybe if you paid attention in school and did your homework like every other student you would have the need to make up lies. Shame on you!!!

Why do people assume the worst? And how do you know that the police didn't investigate why he didn't want to tell his folks? I wouldn't have made up such a crazy story, but I'm a natural overachiever and wouldn't want to disappoint my parents if I made a mistake or got bad grades. Once I covered up an accidental bleach spill on the carpet with a similar colored pudding and it worked for over 2 years (until they steam cleaned the carpet).. I wasn't afraid of getting in trouble, just disappointing.. They never did anything but nurture me.

maybe he it wasn't that he was "scared" or "frightened" to show his report card. Maybe he just didn't want to dissapoint his family. You know sometimes kids do love their parents so they don't want to disappoint them.

Oh the press these kids face. I remember being in school and my parents lecturing me that a B was bad. Honestly, school is overrated anyway.

Yes, I wonder why he was so afraid to show his report card. I remember when I was in 3rd grade, I got a D and was so scared of being hit by my dad's belt. Anyway, I wrote over it and made it B (which was really obvious of course), brought it home and my father hit me so bad the skin tore off my backside. I hope it wasn't this bad for this kid.

Doing this was definitely wrong, but why would he fake something so out there all because of a bad grade?

i am pretty sure he will get in more in trouble for making up this bogus story!

I feel bad for him, thinking he has to make up a lie. I don't know if i would punish mines because who know what he would do the next time he had bad news. This is a great time for the parents, grandparents and all his family to hug him, assure him they can talk to him about anything. Why was he so scared to tell his parents? I pray this is answer is looked into and family counseling is done.

I think we have all screwed up at one time or another and tried to cover it up. Ideas like these always seem to be good until we realize that they come with consequences too. Some would like to say that he had a reason for making up the story. That somehow his homelife is such that the punishment for a bad grade necesitated his decision, but I don't buy it. Sounds to me like we need more parents that hold their kids accontable for what they do or don't do. Hopefully this kid learned that it's better to fess up and tell the truth than to lie, have everyone find out about it, and get into and even bigger mess.

Clearly he feared punishment... x box, video games, toys and other privileges would be taken away, disappointing his parents, or perhaps being spanked. Lets not jump to conclusions that his parents must be bad parents if he feared going to them with a bad report card. Hey, I wish I had thought of that as a kid... genious!

The family should be billed for the wasted resources involved in pursuing the imaginary perp. Why he was scared to show his report card really isn't the issue. Many kids fear being held accountable for bad grades, but don't resort to elaborate lies that involve costly time and energy of an already taxed police system.

We all want smart children, but to what cost? I think parents are putting too much pressure on children to excell! In my opinion, this is what happens, our children are afraid to fail, even though its not acceptable, but we as parents have to know that they are human.

I have a little boy (he's 12 now) but he is prone to making up sensational stories too!... He broke our basement window on accident, called 911 and told them there was an intruder with a gun. I don't hit my kids at all and it was an accident, I'm very gracious so he had nothing to "fear". He's also told his teacher I was in the hospital when he forgot to have a slip signed for a field trip. I think some kids think it's easier to avoid a situation rather than face the music. Or... if he's like my Billy... he just loves a good story. I wouldn't necessarily jump to the conclusion that he feared his parents reaction so much that there must be some abusive living situation.

How come when a white person says a black person kidnaped them the media and NAACP get there panties in a wad but a black kids says a white man kidnaps him and no one even mentions it.

Kids today have too much imagination and yet not enough. He concocts this elaborate story, when a simple ball point pin would have done wonders.

A for creativity
F for judgment

As the cop, I would have investigated whether the kid had an abusive home environment, or whether he was just embarrassed as heck.

The apple dosen"t fall far from the tree.........

Did he avoid it because he was scared of the reaction his parents would have had and if not just face them it cant be worse than lying about it

Gee, I got a bad grade, so I'll file a false police report instead.

I don't wonder about why he was afraid to show the report card. My parents dissapointment was always enough to make me feel rotten.

Strange that he got a report card so early in the school year. I don't get it...

Like Albert Einstein said "Imagination is more important than knowledge."

I would ground my child until the end of the school year. However, I do agree that it makes you wonder what type of punishments he gets for bad grades!

They are already getting report cards in September?

Bad report card, saying he was kidnapped to hide it... Definitely the product of our "amazing" education system.
I'm sure high school will be full of "amazing" adventures for this kid...

what school sends report cards in September?

had that been me when i tried to hide my report card thier would not have been any end to the punishment my father would have brought down on me. Parents need to take it back in time and stop letting kids get away with seriours things. spar the rode spoil the child.

I agree with most about why he would be worried about his punishment for bad grades but what about the costs spent because of this lie. He should be charged with making a false report with public service for a punishment. We all need to be held accountable for making false accusations.

First of all, this kid should be punished by the police for filing a false report. Secondly, just because a kid lies to his parents, doesnt mean that the child is abused. Kids lie! Its human nature! So, lets quick trying to refocus the problem on the made up abuse, and focus on the fact that because the child lied, to the police of all people, and he should be punished.

I don't question why he was scared to bring home a bad report card. Because, when I was little I was scared to bring home a bad report card as well. I would think of all kinds of stories get out of bringing it home. This little boy's story is just the most unique. The reason why, wasn't because I was afraid that my parents would beat me, but because I was just scared of punishment period. I didn't want my playstation, television, or phone privileges taken away. I didn't want to be grounded and not able to play with my friends. I didn't want to sit and read a book all day. Or have to go to school earlier than normal, to get caught up. I think the boy just didn't want to get in trouble, more so than being scared of getting beat.

The boy should have been charged with filing a false report and then sentenced to community service. However, all this could have been avoided had he gotten his lesson in school., Education is the best thing a person can get and no one can take it away from you.

This could be only a 4-week progress report in which grades are estimated; just a guess. I would think that attentive guardians would already be aware of his work in school, if they properly monitored his homework. Punishment might not work as well as someone taking an active role in guiding the boy. However, something tells me there are other problems here; as someone questioned, "why was he so afraid?"

A friend and I missed the school bus one morning when I was in 6th grade. I was so terrified of getting a beating that we decided to leave notes saying that we ran away. We gathered some supplies and headed off into the woods. We didn't get very far before we were found.

My father was extremely strict and very tough on punishment. I would have done anything to avoid getting into trouble....anything. So it's not too far fetched to reason why this kid would go through such an elaborate scheme.

Missed where it says the kid was black. Does race have to be a part of EVERY conversation??? Geeez
And I too would like to know what school is passing out report cards in September.

I remember burying my report card in a cigar box behind the garage...held out til two days before the mid-semester card came out but my parents were suspicious...thank goodness the 2nd report card was a little better....however, faking a kidnapping? This kid's got some umph about him... I would've just got told off...wonder why he was so frightened??

Who cares why he lied? Thats between him and his parents/guardians. Kids lie all the time including about grades and report cards. However the family should be forced to pay for some of the costs of the police man hours and/or that child should be forced to do some community hours to repay for the lost time.

my son got a report card last friday.

pretty sad when your kid dont wanna show you his/her report car so much that they could lie like that!!!!!! probably an abused kid check into it sheeeeeeeesh

WOW! It's very scary what the kid did but it is also VERY scary that people commenting have already make up their minds about how and how much punishment they would give their children! First, you do not even know all the facts as many have said, maybe before providing punishment, or how much, you should know all the facts. Anyone who thinks this is 'liberal' needs to THINK ... its not liberal its very conservative parenting. Know as much of the facts as you can before you act!

For all those who jump to the worst by "in-sinuating" that the child would've got a beating if he brought home failing grades, for all you know, maybe the grandparents threatened to take his playstion away.

It was actually a bad progress report. School just started Aug. 10th.

playstation

Jeff, did it say anywhere that the boy is black? I didn't read that . . . I pictured a little white boy in a rural setting.

yeh , real strange that a report card be issued within days of school starting ?!
so what's the real deal here ?

To the people wondering about report cards in September, it sounds like a year-round school calendar.

Poor chap. It's a little reckless to assume his parents/grandparents beat him for bad grades. I would be more inclined to assume he is just a typical 11 year old who is ashamed of a bad report card. I am a genius though, so I have never been confronted with such a quandary.

@Sean
Our school year begins much earlier here than most.

/lives in Huntsville

Why does everyone assume that because he's afraid to show he's report card that he's abused? I was terrified to show my parents a bad report card as a kid too. One because I hated to disappoint them and two because I hated getting in trouble and grounded from games/tv/phone until I passed.

i find this story to be some what amusing...the boy is so scared of something that his parents would be angery so this poses the question of is something going wrong at home that he was so afraid that he had to elaborate such a story? on the other hand it could be a prank....Who gets report cards in september??? i feel bad for the child as well as the police, obviously he was scared of something...

A few things.......School just started 3 weeks ago (at the most), why is the child getting a report card – perhaps it's just a progress report gone awry??? Second, why is this kid so afraid to show his grandparents his marks? Third, to "JEFF" they never said it was a black kid....where did you get this information from? And lastly....if he was my kid, he definitely would be grounded until he goes to college....great imagination, bad idea.....

It's probably a mid-term report!

Give me a break folks. The kid didn't want to get in any trouble. It doesn't mean he was beaten or abused because he was scared to give his report card. He is 11 taking away the TV for a night is abuse to there mind. He just didn't think of what a stir it would cause, I have a 11 year old boy and trust me they can come up with some great stories. That I may add make me stop and wonder sometimes.

I cannot believe that an 11 year old would lie about something so horrible. This is a tragedy because all of that man power spent looking for the man, could've been spent looking for an actual missing child. My problem is the same, why was this boy so afraid to bring this bad report card home. I cannot fathom the idea of a child this old making up such a story unless they genuinely were afraid of something. Are they looking into this? Also this boy needs really needed to be punished, this is not ok behavior. A day of cleaning the police cars and motorcycles for all the work the police put in would have made an example.

I get a laugh out of you people calling for the police to investigate the boys home life. A young boy does something dumb, which is what young boys spend most of their time doing anyway, and you think it merits investigating his family members? This kid could come from the greatest family alive and still be terrified of disapointing his parents. I really think we can find better things to spend tax payer money on then investigating every parent who can't keep an eye on their young son 24 hours a day.

Another good one, how many suspects were picked up? If any how horrific do you think it was for them!

Only a desperate kid would jump through hoops like this. The flack from past bad report cards may have triggered this.

The first bad report card I brought home caused World War III. I used to shiver from panic and turn white and cold every time thereafter. I learned to bypass my father and have my mother sign it on the morning of taking it back to school. That brought relief. My mother didn't understand the meaning of all those grades (or did she?) and didn't ask questions (I think she knew I was tired of getting beat up).

Yea. This kid faces issues at home.

For one: Since when do they distribute report cards after only a couple weeks of school??

Two: If I had done this my butt would've been whooped till next week. Definitely worse than admitting to it. That's because today's parents, mostly white, don't discipline their kids. Kids these days are out of control. Back in my day nobody dared talk back to a teacher, lie to a parent, or disrespect authority to this magnitude.

I'm sure it was just a mid term progress report .

Re: Jeremy's comment above. What are you talking about? He said it was a white male.

I, too, would question why he was SO afraid of his parents reaction. I was a kid who needed to be this afraid of my mother's reaction and I was severely physically and emotionally abused.

I agree with others. What is going on that this kid is that scared of bringing home a bad report card or is it that he just doesn't understand how much manpower he just wasted looking for a phantom kidnapper. I wonder how many white males with a red car got pulled over after this kids story.

Jeff, where did you read it was a black child?

Why are so many people worried about why he fibbed? Maybe if more parents did hold there kids accountable for grades/behavior we could dig America's schools out of the gutter.

the high school in my town uses 6 week grading periods. maybe they do too. im a fan of it cause the grades dont reset til the end of the semester...its a better representation of the students success or failure

Schools with year round calendars have been in session since July so they are due a report card. The kid probably didn't expect all of the police involvement – in a good home a spanking can be scary enough for a child or the loss of some expected event. As a precaution look at the home and parents but don't assume the worse because the kid watched too many action movies.

When I got bad grades, I was terrified to show my parents as well. Getting grounded losing privilages, I just didn't want to go through all that. I came up with ways to 'change' my grades but after thinking of ways to change it and not being successful I found it was easier just to make the good grades. But I don't think I would have come up with a plan like that. It was TOO deep.

My goodness people....all kids are afraid to tell their parents bad news weather it is a low grade on a report card or being pregnant....and sometimes the schemes to hide it are very unfortunate. Any parent that parents carries that stygma of being a beast! And no...you can't ground your kid for life or you would be punishing yourself as well. I'm sure he will have a long while to think about what he did and try to redeem himself in his parents eyes. I pray he does and they forgive him, teach him, and go on loving him!

They never said the child was black, nor did they even mention a family name. We cannot assume this didn't raise a red flag with investigators and that they haven't taken this a step further to interview the kid and find out if he is living in an abusive situation.

Likely the real charges he will face won't be pretty. Give him an A for storytelling. He has learned that child abduction would make his position more sypathetic, and make the news even when it's a lie. Sad but true.