Aftab Aslam failed his English class twice at Georgia Gwinnett College and believed the relief of him being 'returned' would soften the blow to his parents when they discovered his disappointing grades, the Daily Mail reports.
The 19-year-old purchased a mobile phone from Target on April 24, texting his parents three days later claiming to be a kidnapper who had their son.
The text stated that their son would be killed if the police were called. His parents contacted the authorities anyway, and the FBI was contacted to launch an "intensive investigation".
Appeals were made but they were unable to locate the so-called kidnapper or victim. Aslam is said to have lived in a tent in an open field for eight days as part of the stunt.
He returned home when the weather became cold and wet, telling his parents he had been drugged and held captive, before admitting he was responsible for the whole incident days later under cross-examination.
He has been charged with three felony counts each of false statements, tampering with evidence and terroristic threats.
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http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/odd/news/a482711/student-fakes-kidnapping-to-distract-parents-from-bad-grades.html
