Update: Mobile Police Chief Paul Prine held a press conference Monday, in regards to new information regarding this case.

According to Prine, police believe the male suspect’s cousin is responsible for falsely telling police there was a kidnapping.

Initially, police say a neighbor called stating they heard gunshots at the home on Loblolly Drive.

Police came to the home, to find the cousin of Dominique Thornton on the scene.

The cousin told officers there was a domestic issue between the couple, and proceeded to tell police his cousin kidnapped Marlene French.

More than 20 Mobile Police officers, as well as the SWAT team, came out to the neighborhood to investigate after they believed the suspects may be barricaded in the home.

According to Prine, it took both French and Thorton 2 hours to surrender to the police.

“The investigation determined that she was complicit in it,” said Prine. “That she indeed was not a domestic violence victim or certainly not this day. And certainly, the investigation is ongoing but the officers had enough information to the investigation that she wasn’t a victim at all to the domestic or the kidnapping.”

The cousin who gave police false information has not yet been arrested. However, Prine says he will face
charges for filing a false report.

“Apparently the altercation was between both of the Thorton’s who are cousins,” said Prine. “It was an opportunity where I guess as a part of his previous altercation with Dominique he would give police false information as a way to retaliate against the cousin.”

Prine also states police have been called to this residence nearly 50 times in the last two years.

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — Mobile Police have confirmed a woman who initially was thought to be a kidnapping victim was not. On Sunday, April 10, MPD reported Marlene French 50, was assaulted by Dominque Thornton and then forced into a vehicle. Around 6:30 p.m. MPD said French had been found safe and Thornton was in custody.

MPD says French was aware that Dominque Thornton had several outstanding felony warrants and hindered the prosecution of his arrest by aiding him on Sunday, April 10. French was arrested and charged with Hindering Prosecution in the first degree.

Thornton was arrested on Sunday and charged with several active felony warrants.