4 days ago
Show Low journalist accused of faking social media posts about missing teen, officials say
The editor of an online news outlet in northern Arizona was charged with fraud and obstructing an investigation after authorities said she made fake social media posts about a missing teenager.
Jarrett Brooks, 17, went missing from his home in Joseph City in July 2023, according to the Navajo County Sheriff's Office.
The Navajo County Attorney's Office said Molly Ottman, 50, of Show Low, made several Reddit posts posing as Brooks' father, Brian. The posts made months after the teenager's disappearance implied the man had molested his son.
Ottman later contacted investigators to report the posts, the County Attorney's Office said. Police began investigating the allegations, executing search warrants at the man's residence and the offices of a private investigator he employed.
They ultimately concluded that Ottman had made the posts herself. She works as an editor at the Mountain Daily Star, an online publication that covers Navajo and Apache counties.
"A 16-year-old boy was missing, and all of law enforcement's energy and resources should have been able to remain focused strictly on the search for that young man," Navajo County Attorney Brad Carlyon said in a statement. "Diverting attention, resources and time to fabricated evidence creates unwarranted distractions during time-sensitive investigations."
Ottman was due in court June 2. She did not respond to The Arizona Republic's request for comment on May 29, but previously told State 48 News the allegations against her were "absolutely untrue." She told the outlet she would plead not guilty in the case.
Jarrett has been missing for nearly two years.
He was first reported as a runaway July 4, 2023, according to the County Attorney's Office. The teen reportedly had an argument with his parents over being grounded before leaving, the office said.
The County Attorney's Office said various law enforcement agencies have conducted "extensive searches" for Jarrett. The Sheriff's Office said in 2024 it had investigated hundreds of tips and leads regarding Jarrett's disappearance, but none offered credible information.
Jarrett was last seen dressed in a black t-shirt with "AMERICA" across the front, blue jeans, cowboy boots and a baseball hat. He was described by law enforcement as a white male with brown eyes and blond hair. He is about 6 feet tall and weighs approximately 140 pounds.
If you have any information regarding Jarrett's whereabouts, call the Navajo County Sheriff's Office at 928-524-4050.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona news editor accused of implying dad molested missing son
