Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell, a 25-year-old Alabama woman who went missing on Thursday and sparked a police search, was found safe and living when she went back to her home on Saturday night, police say.
The update came after a traffic video from Thursday showed that Russell stopped her car to report a child walking along the side of an Alabama highway. Later, when police got to the scene, they said they found Russell’s empty car with some of her things inside and her phone, wig, and purse nearby. Both she and the child could not be found in the area.
The Hoover Police Department says Russell called 911 on Thursday night to say she saw a boy in a diaper on the side of I-495 and would stop to check on him.
After talking to 911, Russell called a family member to tell them the same thing. During that talk, she went missing about two minutes after calling 911.
According to AL.com, the relative was on the phone with Russell when she heard Russell scream, followed by “the noise of interstate traffic.”
Authorities say that on Saturday night, someone from Russell’s house called the Hoover Police Department’s 911 office and said she had walked home alone. Russell was taken by paramedics to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, where she was checked out, treated, and sent home.
To get a first statement from Russell, detectives went to both his home and UAB. Police said that the details of the statement “are part of the ongoing investigation, which is expected to continue over the next few days.”
“The Hoover Police Department continues to be extremely grateful for the outpouring of support from the Hoover community and beyond, and all of the assistance provided by our law enforcement partners, which are too numerous to name,” the department said in a statement on Sunday.
“We rejoice with the Russell family as they continue to rest and recover from this situation and ask for their wishes to be respected regarding their privacy.”
Russell’s mother, Talitha Robinson Russell, wrote early Sunday morning on Facebook about how happy she was that her daughter was home. The post doesn’t say anything about why the 25-year-old went missing for a short time.
“God is faithful, and He has answered our prayers,” Robinson Russell wrote. “We are so grateful to each of you for all the acts of kindness, generosity, and compassion you have shown. Our baby is safe!!!!!!!!!! Thank you, Father God.”
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