Police in Alabama are investigating the case of Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell, who went missing for 49 hours after calling 911 to report a toddler walking alone on the side of the highway. Authorities are “unable to verify” most of Russell’s initial statement and do not believe there is a threat to the community. According to Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis, investigators have found no evidence of a missing child and no one has reported a missing child. He also stated that Russell took items from work, stopped at a restaurant, and bought snacks before she went missing.
Russell’s mother believes her daughter was abducted, and Russell has given a statement to detectives. She claims that a man picked her up after she got out of her vehicle to check on the child. The man then forced her over a fence and into a car. Russell says she was taken to the trailer of an 18-wheeler and heard a woman’s voice and a baby crying. She was then forced into a house, undressed, and believes pictures were taken of her. She escaped the next day and ran through the woods before coming home.
Russell’s phone was found with web searches about amber alerts, taking money from a register without getting caught, and the movie “Taken.” Police also found her wig and cell phone near her vehicle, but no sign of Russell or the child she reported. Investigators have not found any evidence of a toddler walking down the interstate and the video footage only shows Russell getting out of her car. Russell’s 911 call remains the only report of a child on the interstate and no one has reported a missing child.
Russell’s family appeared on NBC’s “Today” and stated that she fought for her life during the ordeal. Police have not been able to speak to Russell since she returned home and her family believes she is not ready to talk due to trauma. The investigation is ongoing, and detectives want to speak to Russell again to gather more information.
Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-07-20 03:10:00
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