In a scenario that gripped the Hoover community, 25-year-old Alabama resident Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell, reported missing after a concerning 911 call, was safely located this past Saturday night, as confirmed by the Hoover Police Department.
The local law enforcement received a relieving call close to 10:45 p.m. indicating Russell’s safe return home, with both police and fire department personnel promptly responding.
Russell was carefully evaluated at her residence and then transported to a nearby hospital for a comprehensive examination.
This unusual situation unraveled on Thursday evening when Russell, displaying a laudable sense of civic responsibility, reported a toddler walking alone on Interstate 459 South near Birmingham. After making the call to the local emergency services, Russell personally approached the child to ensure the child’s safety.
In a follow-up phone conversation with a family member, she suddenly ceased speaking, yet the line remained ominously active.
Upon arrival at the scene, police found Russell’s car and certain personal effects, including her cell phone, but no sign of Russell herself, nor the child.
According to official accounts, Russell had left her workplace at The Summit in Birmingham at about 8:20 p.m., possibly stopping at a restaurant to pick up a meal.
The mysterious 911 call was placed at 9:34 p.m. near mile marker 11 on I-459, heading in the direction of Hoover.
Adding another layer of complexity to the case, a witness reported a potential sighting of a light-complected male near Russell’s vehicle. However, police stressed that no reports of missing children had been received in the vicinity.
In a heart-wrenching statement, Talitha Russell, Carlee’s mother, shared that her daughter had been heard screaming during the phone call just before the line abruptly went silent.
“She got out of the car. My daughter-in-law could hear her ask if the child was OK, and she didn’t hear anything,” the worried mother told Fox 5 Atlanta. “Then she heard our daughter Carlee scream.”
The mystery surrounding this case remains undisclosed. Thankfully Carlee Russell is home safely.