Police say Chloe Stein of Jeannette was not missing or in danger, adding it was a hoax

GREENSBURG, Pa. (KDKA) — Pennsylvania State Police said Chloe Stein was not missing or in danger after her car was found abandoned in Greensburg, saying her story was an apparent hoax. 

On Tuesday night, Trooper Steve Limani said the 23-year-old woman from Jeannette was found at the home of an acquaintance in Jeannette, adding she was never pulled over. Limani said Stein ditched her car Monday night and walked to the home in Jeannette, staying there until Tuesday night. A tip came to the police that she was there. 

Stein has been charged with false alarm to agency of public safety, false reports, obstruction of administration of law and other governmental functions, and disorderly conduct. She was taken to the Westmoreland County Prison Tuesday night. 

Police said the last anyone heard from Stein was around 11 p.m. Monday when her boyfriend got a message that indicated she was being pulled over. Police issued a Missing Endangered Person Advisory for her, saying they believed she was at special risk of harm or injury. State police said Stein was last seen leaving work at 10:30 p.m. on Monday

On Tuesday afternoon, Stein's mother said her daughter had finished working at the Sonic in Hempfield Township after 10 p.m., dropped off a co-worker, came back to work to drop off a set of keys, then headed home. 

Limani confirmed she sent a message to her boyfriend that made it seem like she believed she was being pulled over "for whatever reason." 

Police said Tuesday night her story was made up. Stein's mom said she was set to graduate from Penn State Greater Allegheny this weekend, but a university official told police Stein was not in school for more than 1 1/2 years. 

"The only reason we are here before tomorrow is because the people need to know there is not somebody pulling people over this minute that is abducting people," Limani said Tuesday.

The theory for the fabrication, Limani said, was Stein thought she had no other choice.

Her inner circle, police say, was looking forward to celebrating a momentous occasion in her life this weekend, but only Stein knew that wouldn't happen.

"The situation at college was a driving force, probably the number one driving force for the whole scenario," Limani said.

Stein's boyfriend and two friends said they found her car on Radebaugh Road under Route 66 in Greensburg and called the police. She was reported missing around lunchtime Tuesday, Limani said. 

Police said she was not heard from again until she showed at a neighbor's house and produced an unbelievable story.

"She was released after being held at gunpoint and semi-assaulted, we'll call it, and bound," Limani said. "So then she was released and dropped off near an alleyway near her home. Of course, 'cause that's what someone would do." 

According to the criminal complaint, when police told Stein her story was inconsistent with the evidence, she admitted to making up the entire story.

"The way it was described to us is the garage is behind her house and that's where she was for the majority of the duration," Limani said.

Stein has retained defense attorney Phil DiLucente. In a statement to KDKA-TV, he said:

"My client and her family are grateful for the support and kindness of all concerning recent events: and to that end respectfully requests privacy at this time."

Police said they searched for six to seven hours on Tuesday, using K-9s and a helicopter. Limani said police spent "tens of thousands of dollars" looking for her. 

On Wednesday, some in the community called for accountability.

 "She wasted everybody's resources, police, rescue teams, a lot of money lost on something like that," Anthony Cox said.