A 25-year-old woman went missing after stopping to check on a toddler who was walking alone on an Alabama interstate highway.
Carlethia ‘Carlee’ Nichole Russell was on the phone with her sister-in-law when she got out of her car to check on the girl. 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 his cell phone, purse, wig, and Apple Watch in the nearby area, but Russell and the boy were nowhere to be seen.
Hoover police have not received any other calls from a missing child. A witness reported that he possibly saw a gray vehicle and a man standing outside Carlee’s vehicle, but police said they have no additional information.
“In the process, at some point, she got out of the car and my daughter-in-law could hear her asking the boy if he was okay,” said his mother, Talitha Russell. ‘The child did not respond, or at least he did not hear her respond, he or she did respond.’
Carlethia ‘Carlee’ Nichole, 25, disappeared after stopping to check on a little girl who was walking alone on an Alabama interstate highway Thursday night while talking 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 boy before the family member heard a scream and lost contact.
“And then he heard our daughter Carlee scream, and from there all we could hear was noise… background noise on her phone, which we later found out was noise from the interstate.”
Russel left work around 8:20 p.m. Thursday before stopping to pick up food for herself and her mom.
He then traveled to Hoover and called 911 around 9:30 p.m. to report that the missing girl was wandering on the side of Interstate 459.
After calling 911, Russell reportedly called his sister-in-law to say he was going to check on the girl. Her relative lost contact with her around 9:36 pm, but the line remained open.
Responding officers located Russell’s abandoned car along with her cell phone, purse, wig and Apple Watch in the nearby area, but no sign of her or a child.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Russell’s car, along with his cell phone, purse, wig, and Apple Watch in the nearby area, but Russell and the boy 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 scream, and from there all we could hear was noise … background noise on her phone, which we later found out was interstate noise,” said her mother, Talitha Russell (left). ).
Hoover police have not received any other calls from someone missing a young child.
Lt. Daniel Lowe said a witness reported possibly seeing a gray vehicle and a man standing outside Carlee’s vehicle, but they have no additional information.
Detectives are investigating this incident and are asking for the public’s help in helping to locate Russell.
Russell is described as a 5-foot-4, 150-pound black female and was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants and white Nikes.
Lowe said police are looking at all possibilities in the disappearance.
“We certainly won’t leave anything off the table,” she said when asked if investigators believe she was abducted.
“No piece of information is too small in this investigation,” Lowe said in a news release Friday.
Russell is described as a 5-foot-4, 150-pound black female and was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants and white Nikes.
A family member organized a search on Friday. Anyone with information is asked to 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 explore the land,” Russell’s father, Carlos Russell, told WVTM. Nobody stops us.
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 partnering with many local, state and federal partners in the investigation and are “grateful for the tremendous amount of support from the local and law enforcement community.”
Police said they would continue to provide regular updates on Twitter to relay any immediate information to the public.
“We would also ask our community to keep the Russell family in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” Lowe said.
Detectives are investigating this incident and are asking for the public’s help in helping to locate Russell. Police said a $20,000 reward was offered by an anonymous donor for Russell’s safe return and another $5,000 reward is available through Crime Stoppers.
The Hoover Police Department said they are partnering with many local, state and federal partners in the investigation and are “grateful for the tremendous amount of support from 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 was on her way 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 was on her way home.
“We trust in God, we stay positive, we don’t let any negative thoughts enter our minds, so all we’re doing is trusting in God, believing in God that our daughter will come home safely,” Talitha Russell told WSAZ. . .
He is known to be helpful and has a big heart,” Talitha Russell said of her daughter.
‘And she knows not to stop for anyone… I think she let her guard down at the thought of them being so close. And when she got out of the car, she said to my daughter-in-law, ‘I can’t leave this little boy on the side of the road.’
