An Alabama woman has gone missing after telling a 911 dispatcher that she saw a toddler walking alone on the side of an interstate, according to local police.
The woman, 25-year-old Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell, called 911 around 9:34 p.m. local time on Thursday, according to a Facebook post from the Hoover Police Department.
Russell told the dispatcher that she saw a toddler walking on the side of I-459 South. After calling 911, she stopped to check on the child and called a family member who lost contact with her, though the line remained open, according to the Facebook post.
When officers, who were already en route from the initial 911 call, arrived at the scene, they found Russell’s vehicle and some of her belongings, including her phone, but no sign of her or the child. Police have not received any reports or calls for a missing child, according to the Facebook post.
In a press conference on Friday, police said the case remains open and active and a reward of up to $25,000 has been offered.
Carlethia "Carlee" Nichole Russell is seen in an image released by the Hoover, Alabama police department. Hoover Police Department
Russell’s mother, Talitha Russell, told CNN affiliate WBRC that she was working to stay positive during the search for her daughter.
“We are trusting God, we are staying positive, we are not allowing any negative thoughts to enter our minds,” she told WBRC. “So all that we are doing is trusting God, believe in God that our daughter will be brought home safely.”
Russell is 5 feet 4 inches tall and was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, black pants, and white Nike shoes, according to the Hoover police Facebook post. Police urged anyone who may have seen Russell or who has any information about the case to contact the department.
Hoover, the sixth largest city in Alabama, is located around 10 miles south of Birmingham.
Bluejay_Holiday on July 15th, 2023 at 11:57 UTC »
“My son’s girlfriend heard her asking the child, ‘Are you Ok? She never heard the child say anything but then she heard our daughter scream,’’ Talitha Russell said. “From there all you hear on her phone is background noise from the interstate.”
A Hoover police officer dispatched Carlee Russell’s report of a child alone on I-459 arrived within three minutes, Talitha Russell said.
“Her car door was open, the engine was running, and they found her phone on the ground, along with her wig and her hat,’’ Talitha Russell said. “Her purse was still in the car. Her Apple watch was in her purse and her Air Pods as well.”
ginniper on July 15th, 2023 at 09:22 UTC »
There is traffic camera footage and from what I can see she exits the car walks around the back and then the passenger door opens. There is very little time in between when she stops and the cops arrive.
sicariobrothers on July 15th, 2023 at 03:22 UTC »
The family heard her screaming then just the sound of traffic afterwards on the phone