Police: Woman locked in car made up Beverly kidnapping story

WENHAM, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) — A 24-year-old woman who said she was kidnapped in Beverly and locked in the back of her car is accused of making the story up.

Authorities said Maria Brayfield was found locked in the trunk of her own car on Route 128 in Wenham at about 3:30 a.m. Monday. Brayfield was found by passing motorists who stopped because they thought there had been an accident. Instead, they helped free the woman from her car. She was out by the time police arrived.

Brayfield told police she'd been abducted from her own home in Beverly by two men. She said they ordered her to drive her own car until she was forced to pull over on the highway.

According to police, Brayfield drove herself to the location and got in the back.

Brayfield eventually broke down and told police she was drunk and was afraid of getting arrested.

Brayfield was arrested and charged with filing a false police report. She will be summoned to court.

The woman told detectives she is from "all over." She has only been in Beverly for three months and last lived in Danvers.


The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group