Woman Who Claimed Husband Tied Her to Tree Allegedly Admits She Did It Herself — and Reveals Why: Report

Mar. 15, 2025

Lalita Kayi Kumar.Photo:India Today/Facebook

India Today/Facebook

Indian authorities say an American woman who was foundemaciated and tied to a tree in a forestin India is now allegedly claiming she did it herself despite initially blaming her husband,the BBC reports.

She had beenbound to a tree with an iron chain,The Hindustan Timesreported at the time, citing police.

Photos of her dramatic presumed rescue published across several news outlets showed the woman in ragged clothing, emaciated and with one of her legs tied to the tree.

Next to her, police reportedly found copies of her U.S. passport, which indicated an expired Indian visa, her address in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu as well and medical prescriptions, per police, theDeccan Chronicleand theIndian Expressreported at the time.

Her allegations prompted an attempted murder investigation, police said.

Now, nearly two weeks later, police say Kumar allegedly admitted that she tied herself to the tree, according to the BBC’s reporting.

She also allegedly claimed she was suffering from hallucinations, per police. Earlier, in her note written to police, she had said she had a locked jaw from an “injection for extreme psychosis.”

U.S. Woman Found Chained to Tree in Forest

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’sfree True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Local doctors told the BBC that Kumar’s health is improving and that she is in touch with her family. It wasn’t immediately clear if there will be charges against her.

source: people.com