A missing 25-year-old woman who disappeared after pulling over to check on a toddler wondering alone along an Alabama highway has been found alive in her home.
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.
On Saturday night, officials in Hoover, Alabama received a call that Russell had returned to her home.
After police and firefighters confirmed it was Russell and evaluated her at the scene, she was taken to a local hospital. Further information about her condition has not been made public, she said WBRC.
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
DailyMail.com has reached out to the Hoover Police Department for comment.
Hoover Police had not received any other missing child calls. A witness reported possibly seeing a gray vehicle and a man standing outside Carlee’s vehicle, but police said they had 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.”
“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.
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
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) ,
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.”
Families and teams of volunteers are scattered around the city handing out flyers
Carlee’s wig was left at the scene of her disappearance. Her mom posted a picture of what her daughter looks like in braids without her wig
Russell’s parents beg anyone with information to come forward
Russell works part-time at The Woodhouse Day Spa and attends Jefferson State Community College, according to ALREADYwhere she is studying to become a nurse.
She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from AUM, according to the outlet.
Jefferson State issued a statement Friday saying the school was “extremely concerned” about Russell’s safety.
Angela Harris, mother of Aniah Blanchard, a 19-year-old who disappeared in 2019 before being found dead, joined the search on Friday.
Harris said that despite teams of volunteers scattered around the city handing out fliers, they are limited because there is “no place to look.”
“It’s the most frustrating thing,” she told AL. “I told the family, whatever you feel, wherever you think you should go, go.”