Crawford County, Arkansas — Authorities in Crawford County say a local mother orchestrated a staged kidnapping of her 22-year-old mentally and physically disabled daughter in an alarming attempt to frighten her away from communicating with an online stranger.
The stranger, investigators later learned, had been impersonating country singer Luke Bryan, building what family members describe as an unhealthy emotional attachment with the young woman.
Deputies Respond to Disturbing Kidnapping Report
On November 17, deputies responded to what appeared to be a real kidnapping after receiving a 911 call from the victim herself. According to an arrest warrant and court records, the woman told authorities she had been forcibly taken, restrained, and left tied to a tree in a rural field.
The victim, who police say has intellectual and physical disabilities, was found frightened, distressed, and clutching a teddy bear throughout questioning.
Soon after interviewing witnesses and reviewing statements, investigators uncovered a shocking twist: the alleged kidnapping had been planned by the victim’s mother, Tamara “Tammi” Hamby, a former member of the Crawford County Library Board.
Scheme Designed to Scare Daughter Away From Online Predator, Officials Say
Court records outline a plan that Hamby allegedly crafted to scare her daughter into avoiding communication with strangers online, particularly with someone pretending to be Luke Bryan. Hamby reportedly believed the man, whose phone number was later traced to Nigeria, was attempting to lure her daughter into a dangerous situation.
Despite removing her devices multiple times, the daughter continued to find ways to communicate with the impersonator. According to her father, Jeffrey Hamby, the family had grown increasingly worried about what he described as a “trauma bond” between his daughter and the fake celebrity account.
Jeffrey told reporters his wife was desperate to intervene after months of unsuccessful attempts to cut off the communication. He insisted that she acted without his knowledge but believed she was trying to prevent real harm.
Mother Allegedly Recruits Three Accomplices to Carry Out Staged Abduction
According to investigators, Hamby enlisted in-home nursing assistant Shannon Childers as well as two men, David Q. Quach and Nico Austria, to help carry out the staged abduction. The group allegedly conducted a “practice run” earlier that day, intending to leave zip ties loose enough for the daughter to slip out of.
When the staged kidnapping began, Quach and Austria reportedly arrived wearing ski masks, grabbed the daughter from the home, and transported her to a field. However, Austria took a wrong turn and ended up in an unintended location. There, the victim was zip-tied and tied to a tree, according to the warrant.
When the daughter managed to break free and tried to escape, the suspects allegedly tackled her and tied her again. Investigators say Hamby watched from a distance as her daughter struggled and panicked.
The victim escaped a second time and called 911.
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Victim Found Terrified and Injured
Deputies described the woman as shaking and terrified, noting she “was in fear for her life and clung tightly to a teddy bear” throughout her interview. Her wrists were bruised from tightened zip ties, an issue her father later said resulted from her struggling harder than anticipated.
All four individuals allegedly involved in the staged kidnapping were arrested in connection with the incident.
Hamby Faces Multiple Felony Charges
Hamby has been charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment, battery, abuse of an endangered adult or impaired person, and terroristic threatening. The three other participants — Quach, Austria, and Childers — were also arrested on related charges.
County jail records indicate that none of the four remain in custody. Hamby resigned from her position on the library board on November 24, citing plans to move out of the district. She is scheduled to return to court this Wednesday.
Share Your Thoughts
What safeguards should be in place to protect vulnerable adults from online predators — and how should families address such concerns without resorting to dangerous actions? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
