Police said the case of a possible abduction stemming out of Bellaire Tuesday turned out to be a hoax.

Belmont County Sheriff Fred Thompson told NEWS9 the 14-year-old girl they believed had been abducted earlier in the week is now safe, but could be facing criminal charges for lying.

Thompson said when the girl went missing early Tuesday she texted a friend and told her that she was being held against her will.

Thompson said the text messages sent by the teen to her friend led officers to believe that she was in real danger.

According to police, the girl made up a story of being held by two black males and one asian Male.

Police said the teen texted her friend that she was trapped inside a black Cadillac with the males and couldn't get away.

Thompson said the girl's story exhausted the efforts of several area departments that searched for her, and said the case has now been forwarded to the prosecutor's office.

Police told NEWS9 the cost of the operation is also being assessed.