UPDATE:
Alice Pike, the woman who gained national attention with her fake $1 million bill, says it\'s all a big misunderstanding.
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In an interview Wednesday from the Newton County Jail, Pike said she never intended to use the fake money to try to buy $1,671.55 in clothes from a Covington Wal-Mart.
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But she did think the bill was real.
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"You can\'t keep up with the U.S. Treasury [Department]," said Pike, 35, of Porterdale.
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When she was arrested Friday, Pike told police she got the money — which turned out to be a novelty bill that can be bought at a gag shop — from her estranged husband, a coin collector.
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Pike said she tried to buy the clothes — T-shirts, shoes, beachwear, beach bags and other items — with two Wal-Mart cards.
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But the cashier told Pike she had only a total of $2.32 credit available.
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That\'s when Pike says she pulled a bill from her purse with the image of the Statue of Liberty in the center and "1,000,000" on each corner.
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"All I\'ve got is this," Pike recalled telling the cashier.
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"I wasn\'t trying to pass off the bill," said Pike. "That\'s ridiculous."
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Wal-Mart, however, offered a different version.
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Store management said Pike tried to pay for the items with the fake money and even asked for change, according to a Covington Police Department report.
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Police will pass along their findings to District Attorney Ken Wynne, who said he is waiting to see the Police Department\'s final report before deciding whether to prosecute Pike on charges of first-degree forgery.
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Pike, who says she collects disability because of a mental disorder, is being represented by a public defender.
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John Strauss, Newton\'s public defender, did not return calls Wednesday.
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In the meantime, Pike says she\'s aware of all of the jokes and media attention (the incident was mentioned on the "Today" show) that have come her way.
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She appeared unfazed.
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"It\'s the irony of life," she said. "Something to write about."
Topic: Ever tried to pay for your groceries with a $1m bill? (Read 2133 times)