Granny’s Pregnancy Premature

SYLVESTER, Ga. — A 59-year-old great-grandmother who claimed in an Associated Press story last year that she was pregnant with twins admitted Tuesday that she was not.

Frances Harris’ claim gained widespread attention after the rural Sylvester, Ga., woman and her family told her story the same week that a 56-year-old woman gave birth to twins in New York.

“To the surprise of even her family, it was recently discovered that Harris is not pregnant with twins,” Harris said in a statement distributed Tuesday by her 39-year-old son, Fred Jackson. “Due to some personal issues that are still being evaluated, Mrs. Harris believed that she was pregnant with twins and was able to convince her family and friends that she was expecting as well.”

It was unclear from the statement whether Harris was pregnant at all. When asked, her son said, “I don’t know.”

Harris did not answer the door or phone at her rural home Tuesday. She has not responded to questions from AP for weeks.

“The family of Mrs. Frances Harris regrets that this situation has occurred and apologizes for any inconvenience that may have caused,” said the statement, signed by Harris and Jackson.

“At this time, the family wishes to put this situation behind them and will not be making any more statements.”