From the sounds of things. IF they did say it, but were joking, then she chose to report, just in case. Granted they shouldn't have joked/hoaxed and given her any cause for suspicion. If this is the case, then they brought this onto themselves.
However, they deny saying any of it. Her son is the only one that can confirm, and we haven't heard one thing from him. All we have is her word about what her son said, too.
This thing is looking uglier than it did before.