A 25-year-old female disappeared off the side of Interstate 459 in Hoover Thursday night after informing a 911 dispatcher and her family she saw a kid roaming alone.
As of this early morning, the look for Carlethia Nichole “Carlee” Russell continues.
Here’s what we understand about the effort to bring her home securely:
Who is Carlee Russell?
Russell works part-time at The Woodhouse Day Spa at the Summit and participates in Jeff State where she is studying to end up being a signed up nurse. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from AUM.
Jefferson State said Friday it was “extremely concerned” for Russell’s safety.
The day of her disappearance, Russell remained in Harpersville, where she left policeman there with an impression of a “smart, courteous” female, the town’s authorities department said.
“We were honored to spend time with this smart, courteous and honoring young woman yesterday,” the department said on social networks.
Russell is a Black female, 5-feet, 4-inches high and weighs in between 150 and 160 pounds. She was last seen using a black t-shirt, black trousers, and white Nike shoes.
She resides in Hoover with her moms and dads and was not far from home when she disappeared.
Her mom said it’s heartbreaking that her child vanished simply minutes from the family home.
“She was so close,’’ the mother said through tears.
What happened the night she disappeared?
Thursday night, Russell stopped by Taziki’s at the Colonnade at 9 p.m. to pick up food for herself and her mother.
The search began when Hoover 911 at 9:34 p.m. received a call from Russell, said Lt. Daniel Lowe.
Russell told the dispatcher that she was near mile marker 11 when she saw a toddler walking alone on the side of I-459 between the flyover to the Galleria and Highway 150.
After calling 911, Russell stopped to check on the child and called a family member, Lowe said. The family member lost contact with her, but the line remained open.
Officers located Russell’s red Mercedes, still running but vacant. Some of her belongings nearby. They were unable to find her or a child in the area.
Hoover police have not received any other calls of someone missing a small child.
At 9:36 p.m., her mother, Talitha Russell, said her daughter was on the phone with her brother’s girlfriend. Carlee pulled over after saying she saw a child that appeared to be 3 or 4 years old.
“She probably let her guard down thinking 911 would be there in a second‚” Talitha Russell said.
“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. “All you hear on her phone is background noise from the interstate.”
“Her car door was open,” Talitha said. “They found her phone on the ground, along with her wig and her hat…Her purse was still in the car. Her Apple watch was in her purse and her Air Pods as well.”
Talitha Russell said an idea was employed from a trucker.
“He saw a gray car with a tall brown skinned man with khaki shorts on leaning over in the car,’’ Talitha Russell said.
“The police did find some tire tracks in the grass,’’ she said. “They said because it was not a muddy area, they were not able to determine what type of vehicle it could have been.”
What is the status of the search?
Rewards amounting to $25,000 are being used, according to authorities. An confidential donor has actually set up $20,000. Additionally, Crime Stoppers is providing to $5,000.
Authorities are not devoting to any one theory in Russell’s disappearance, authorities said at a Friday afternoon interview.
“We currently are investigating every possibility,’’ Lowe said. “We’re certainly leaving nothing off the table.”
Police have actually received various ideas and every one is designated to a private investigator.
“Everything we have at the Hoover Police Department, in addition to our partners, is involved in this investigation right now,” Lowe said.
Angela Harris, mom of Aniah Blanchard, signed up with the search on Friday.
Blanchard, a 19-year-old Southern Union Community College trainee from Homewood, disappeared in 2019. More than a month would pass prior to she would be discovered dead from several gunshot injuries in Macon County.
Harris said groups of volunteers expanded from Tuscaloosa to Vestavia Hills to Gardendale to give out leaflets.
After private investigators completed with their grid search of the location where Russell’s car was discovered, Harris and Russell’s friends and family performed among their own.
Harris said the volunteer searchers are minimal due to the fact that there is no location to search.
“It’s the most frustrating,’’ she said. “I told the family, whatever you feel in heart, where you think you need to go, go.”
Lowe said the details in Russell’s disappearance has actually been offered to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
If you have any details please contact Detective Brad Fountain at 205-444-7562, Sergeant Drew Mims at 205-739-7274, or Crimestoppers of Metro Alabama at 205-254-7777.
