25-Year-Old Woman Disappears After Reporting Toddler on Alabama Interstate
A 25-year-old woman from Alabama, Carlee Russell, has gone missing after informing a 911 dispatcher that she saw a toddler walking along the side of an interstate and would pull over to offer assistance. Her disappearance has sparked a massive search operation as investigators race to uncover clues about her whereabouts.
According to the Hoover Police Department, Russell contacted the emergency dispatcher around 9:34 p.m. on Thursday, sharing the details of the child’s presence near mile marker 11 on I-459 South. She then reached out to a family member with the same information before pulling over to investigate. Unfortunately, contact with Russell was lost during this time, although the call remained open.
When officers arrived at the scene in Hoover, a suburb of Birmingham, they located Russell’s vehicle and some of her belongings nearby. However, they were unable to find her or any sign of the child she initially reported, as stated in a police statement.
Notably, the police department has not received any reports of a missing child, raising uncertainty about the circumstances surrounding Russell’s disappearance. Authorities are diligently working to gather more information to piece together the events leading up to her vanishing.
Officials disclosed that Russell had left work in Birmingham’s Summit shopping area at approximately 8:20 p.m. on the fateful evening. She had also made a stop to pick up food before encountering the toddler and subsequently disappearing.
Eyewitnesses have come forward with limited information, reporting the sighting of a gray vehicle with a man standing outside Russell’s car. However, the exact time and location of this encounter remain unclear. Authorities have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding this lead.
Described as a 5 feet 4 inches tall woman weighing at least 150 pounds, Russell was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants, and white Nike shoes. She is a nursing student and had reportedly been in Harpersville, a town approximately 30 miles east of Hoover, the previous day.
The Harpersville Police Department took to Facebook to express their concern, remarking on Russell’s admirable qualities and her dedication to becoming a nursing student to assist others. They clarified in a subsequent post that she had not visited their department and emphasized their sole interest in her safe return to her family.
The search for Carlee Russell continues, with authorities urging anyone with relevant information to come forward. The community anxiously awaits news of her well-being, hoping for a swift resolution to this distressing situation.