Twist in case of Caleb Mills, 25, accused of catfishing Georgia man with fake sheriff deputy fiancée

A 25-year-old South Carolina man used photos stolen from a deputy to convince a Georgia resident that a fake woman was his fiancée, police said.

Caleb Jonquay Mills, 25, of South Carolina, was arrested and charged following the alleged catfishing scheme, according to authorities.

The Georgia victim reportedly believed he had found the woman he wanted to marry, police said.

Authorities allege that Hailey Morello never existed, according to investigators.

Officials accuse Mills of constructing an elaborate fake identity to trick the victim into a romantic relationship, police said.

The relationship allegedly became so serious that the victim believed Hailey was his fiancée, authorities said. But the two had supposedly never met face to face.

The victim allegedly trusted his supposed fiancée enough to allow her to use his vehicle, police said.

The case also allegedly involved an exchange of vehicles with Mills, according to investigators.

The victim’s family was not convinced by the arrangement, authorities said.

Relatives repeatedly warned the man that they believed he was being catfished, police said. But the victim reportedly continued believing Hailey was real.

The disagreement allegedly created ongoing tension between the victim and his family, according to authorities.

Mills went to remarkable lengths to maintain the deception, police said.

The suspect allegedly took photographs directly from the Facebook page of an actual Florida sheriff’s deputy, investigators said.

He then used those stolen images to construct the woman’s identity, according to police.

Investigators said the suspect created fake social media accounts and operated multiple telephone numbers to keep the illusion alive.

He also employed voice-changing technology to sound like a woman during telephone conversations, police said.

The alleged scheme began unraveling after Athens Clarke County Police responded to a family dispute at the victim’s apartment, authorities said.

During that incident, Hailey allegedly joined the conversation over speakerphone, police said.

She claimed during the call that she was a law enforcement officer, according to investigators.

The communications received by the police department allegedly became even stranger in the days that followed, authorities said.

The following day, someone purporting to be the victim called a police supervisor, investigators said. The caller complained that the victim’s family was harassing him.

Four days later, another call allegedly came in asking what police had done about the complaint, authorities said.

Officers became suspicious about the repeated inquiries, according to investigators.

The incoming calls reportedly originated from a South Carolina telephone number that did not match the victim’s actual number, police said.

The victim’s mother then told police she believed her son was being catfished, authorities said.

She provided investigators with background information the family had gathered regarding Mills, according to police.

On July 20, an investigating officer went to the victim’s apartment complex to follow up on the case, authorities said.

The officer arrived and observed the victim’s vehicle pull up to the building, police said.

The driver allegedly stayed inside momentarily before pulling away and driving farther into the complex, investigators said.

When the driver eventually stepped out, the officer recognized him as Mills, authorities said. But the suspect allegedly had another identity ready.

He reportedly told the officer that his name was Alex Morello, according to police.

The suspect claimed that Caleb Mills was his brother, investigators said. He also told the officer that the victim was dating one of his friends.

He allegedly refused to provide the officer with his date of birth, police said.

Police detained Mills for allegedly providing a false name and immediately contacted the victim, authorities said.

Officers asked the victim a simple question about who currently had his car, investigators said.

The victim reportedly answered that his fiancée had the vehicle, according to police.

The victim then called the telephone number he believed belonged to Hailey, authorities said.

The phone in the suspect’s possession allegedly rang right in front of the officer, according to investigators.

The victim’s photograph allegedly appeared on the screen of the device under the contact name “hubbs,” police said.

Officers then told the victim that the woman he believed was his fiancée was allegedly Mills, authorities said. The victim was reportedly “in shock.”

Investigators are also examining whether Mills may allegedly have been staying inside the victim’s apartment without his knowledge while the victim was away at work, police said.

The case report does not establish how the relationship began, how the pair became engaged, or how much money was transferred during the alleged scheme, according to investigators.

Police believe the deception may have lasted months or even years, authorities said. But its exact duration remains unclear.

Mills was arrested and charged with identity fraud involving fictitious identifying information, impersonating a public officer, giving a false name to law enforcement, and two counts of making false statements in a government matter, police said.