Woman, 25, disappears after calling police to report seeing toddler walking down Alabama highway
A 25-year-old woman disappeared after pulling over to check on a toddler wondering alone on an Alabama highway.
Carletia “Carlee” Nichole Russell was on the phone with her sister-in-law when she got out of her car to check on the child. The family member then heard a sudden scream and soon after lost all contact with Russell.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Russell’s car, along with her cell phone, wallet, wig and apple watch nearby – but Russell and the child were nowhere to be seen.
The Hoover Police Department has not received any other calls from a missing child. A witness reported possibly seeing a gray vehicle and a man standing outside Carlee’s vehicle, but police said they have no additional information.
“At one point during the trial, she got out of the car and my daughter-in-law overheard her asking the child if everything was okay,” said her mother, Talitha Russell. “The child didn’t respond, or at least she didn’t hear her respond, he or she responded.”
Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole, 25, disappeared after pulling over Thursday night to check on a toddler wondering alone along an Alabama highway while on the phone with her sister
The 25-year-old was on the phone with her sister-in-law when she went to check on the child before the relative heard a scream and lost contact
“And then she heard our daughter Carlee scream, and from then on all we could hear was noise… background noise in her phone, which we later found out was highway noise.”
Russell left work around 8:20 p.m. Thursday before stopping to pick up food for her and her mother.
She then traveled to Hoover and called 911 around 9:30 p.m. to report that the missing child was wandering along Interstate 459.
After calling 911, Russell reportedly called her sister-in-law to tell her she was going to check on the child. The family member lost contact with her at around 9:36 p.m., but the line remained open.
Responding officers found Russell’s abandoned car along with her cell phone, her purse, wig, and apple watch nearby, but no sign of her or a child.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Russell’s car, along with her cell phone, wallet, wig and Apple Watch nearby – but Russell and the child were nowhere to be seen.
A witness reported possibly seeing a gray vehicle and a man standing outside Carlee’s vehicle, but police said they have no additional information
“And then she heard our daughter Carlee screaming, and from then on all we could hear was sound… background noise in her phone, which we later found out was noise from the highway,” said her mother, Talitha Russell (left) ,
The Hoover Police Department has not received any other calls from anyone missing a small child.
Lieutenant Daniel Lowe said a witness reported that he may have seen a gray vehicle and a man standing outside Carlee’s vehicle, but they have no additional information.
Detectives are currently investigating this incident and are requesting the public’s help to help locate Russell.
Russell is described as a 5-foot-4, 150-pound black woman and was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants, and white Nike sneakers.
Lowe said police are investigating all possibilities for the disappearance.
“We’re certainly not leaving anything off the table,” he said when asked if investigators believe she was abducted.
“No piece of information is too small in this investigation,” Lowe said in a press release Friday.
Russell is described as a 5-foot-4, 150 pound black woman and was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants and white Nike sneakers
Family member organized a house search on Friday. Anyone with information should contact Detective Brad Fountain at 205-444-7562, Sergeant Drew Mims at 205-739-7274 or Crimestoppers of Metro Alabama at 205-254-7777
Relatives also organized a search in the area.
“We’re just going to search the Earth,” Russell’s father, Carlos Russell, told WVTM. “We’re unstoppable.”
An anonymous donor offered a $20,000 reward for Russell’s safe return, and another $5,000 reward is available through Crime Stoppers.
The Hoover Police Department said they are working with many local, state and federal partners in the investigation and are “grateful for the support of the local and law enforcement community.”
Police said they would continue to provide periodic updates on Twitter to provide immediate information to the public.
“We also want to ask our community to keep the Russell family in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time,” Lowe said.
Detectives are currently investigating this incident and are requesting the public’s help to help locate Russell. Police said an anonymous donor has offered a $20,000 reward for Russell’s safe return and another $5,000 reward is available through Crime Stoppers
The Hoover Police Department said they are working with many local, state and federal partners in the investigation and are “grateful for the support of the local and law enforcement community.”
Talitha Russell said the last time she spoke to her daughter was around 9:18 p.m. Thursday, when she left Taziki’s after picking up food and going home
Talitha Russell said the last time she spoke to her daughter was around 9:18 p.m. Thursday, when she left Taziki’s after picking up food and going home.
“We trust in God, we stay positive, we don’t allow negative thoughts, so all we do is trust in God, believe in God that our daughter will be brought home safely,” Talitha Russell told WSAZ.
She is known for being helpful and she has a big heart,” Talitha Russell said of her daughter.
“And she knows not to stop at anyone… I think she was a little wary because she thought they were so close. And when she got out of the car, she said to my daughter-in-law, “I can’t just leave this little kid on the side of the road.”