by Van Buren, Arkansas — An Arkansas mother, identified as 59-year-old Tammi Hamby, has been arrested after allegedly staging an elaborate fake kidnapping to frighten her developmentally delayed 22-year-old daughter away from an online predator pretending to be country star Luke Bryan, according to Crawford County authorities.
Hamby, a former member of the Crawford County Library Board, was taken into custody on Wednesday and is now facing felony charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and endangering the welfare of an incompetent person.
Daughter Found Tied to a Tree, Terrified and Injured
Deputies responded to a reported kidnapping on November 17, and what they discovered was shocking: the young woman was reportedly tied to a tree in a field, with her hands zip-tied, marks on her wrists, and visibly “in fear for her life” while clutching her teddy bear, according to arrest affidavits.
Authorities say the daughter believed she was meeting representatives of Luke Bryan, whom she had been communicating with online and sending money to for months.
Father Claims Daughter Is Victim of a Predator
Her father, Dr. Jeffrey Hamby, who faces no charges, says their daughter has the mental capacity of an 11-year-old and had formed a trauma bond with the scammer.
“For six months, my special-needs daughter has been controlled by an online predator,” he said. “She believes it’s Luke Bryan, and we cannot talk her out of it.”
Dr. Hamby insists he did not know about the staged kidnapping beforehand but defended the intent, saying the couple was desperate: “We’re trying to teach her that dangerous people exist. Instead of helping, they arrest my wife.”
Three Others Allegedly Helped Stage the Kidnapping
According to affidavits cited by 40/29 News, certified nursing assistant Shannon Childers, along with David Quach and Nico Austria, helped execute the fake abduction.
The plan unfolded when two men approached the young woman and claimed they were sent by Luke Bryan:
Her father says the first thing she told the men was: “I thought you were supposed to be here tomorrow.”
They allegedly replied: “Sorry, but Luke sent us today. It’s now or never.”
Believing she was truly being picked up by the singer’s team, the woman willingly got into the vehicle with her guitar and teddy bear.
Ruse Turns Dangerous
Affidavits state the group drove to the wrong field, where the men began demanding money from her. When she said she didn’t have any, they zip-tied her wrists, tied her to a tree, and allegedly threatened her if she tried to escape.
Though Dr. Hamby later claimed reports of her being tied to a tree were “exaggerated,” investigators maintain that is exactly how they found her.
Authorities Question Mother’s Judgment
Crawford County Chief Deputy Brad Wiley strongly criticized the method: “I don’t understand how you teach anyone through trauma — especially a crime like kidnapping. How would she distinguish reality from a staged event?”
The 22-year-old woman has since been placed in state protective custody.
Bail Set for All Four Defendants
- Tammi Hamby: $125,000 bond
- Childers, Quach, Austria: $25,000 each
Hamby has also resigned from the Crawford County Library Board, citing that she moved out of the district.
Parents Say They Tried Everything Else
Dr. Hamby insists the family had already reached out to three different law-enforcement agencies for help, claiming they received none.
He argued they felt they had no alternative left: “A caring parent would protect their daughter in the safest and most controlled way possible.”
The case now raises intense debate about parental desperation, the dangers of online predators, and the complex realities of caring for vulnerable adults.
What Are Your Thoughts?
Was this a desperate mother trying to protect her child — or a dangerous decision that put her daughter at even greater risk? Share your thoughts and reactions in the comments below.
