New footage shows the horrifying moment an Alabama woman pulled over on the highway to see a toddler walk on her own two feet – before she disappeared.
Carlethea ‘Carly’ Nicole Russell, 25, was seen driving into the shoulder lane of Alabama Interstate 459 in her red Mercedes with flashers on Thursday.
Russell then disappeared for two days – causing a frantic search for him. He was found alive after being ‘dropped’ at his home on Saturday night.
She was on the phone with her brother-in-law the night she disappeared. She told him on the phone that she was getting out of her car to look for the child.
A family member suddenly lost contact with Russell after hearing a scream.
In the clip, his car is seen moving into the right lane. Moments later, the footage is lit up with blue light – as police arrive at the scene where his empty car was found.
Carlethea ‘Carly’ Nicole Russell, 25, was seen driving into the shoulder lane in her red Mercedes with her flashers on. He was checking on a small child he saw wandering alone along an Alabama interstate highway
Russell, 25, has been missing for two days – prompting a frantic search for her. He was found ‘skipped’ at his home on Saturday night
Moments later, the footage flashes blue – as police arrive at the scene where his empty car was found.
When officers arrived at the location, they found Russell’s car, her cell phone, purse, wig and Apple Watch in the vicinity – but Russell and the child she claimed to have seen were nowhere to be seen.
On Saturday night, officials in Hoover, Alabama received a phone call that Russell had returned to his home after knocking on the door.
Police Chief Nicholas Darzis told the New York Times that he wasn’t sure how he got there, but that no one was with Russell when he arrived.
After police and fire officials confirmed it was Russell and evaluated him at the scene, he was taken to a local hospital.
According to WBRC, a person familiar with the situation said no further information about her condition has been released other than she has been ‘removed’ from the home.
Newstimesuk.com has reached out to the Hoover Police Department for comment.
Hoover police have not received any other missing child calls. A witness may have seen a gray vehicle and a man standing outside Carly’s vehicle, but police said they did not have additional information.
He has now been found after turning up on his doorstep on Saturday night
The 25-year-old was on the phone with her brother-in-law when the family member heard screams and went to check up on the child before losing contact.
When officers arrived at the location, they found Russell’s car, along with her cell phone, purse, wig and Apple Watch in the area nearby – but Russell and the child were nowhere to be seen.
‘And then he heard our daughter Carly screaming, and from there we heard noises… background noise on her phone, which we later found out was noise from the interstate,’ said her mother, Talitha Russell (left).
His mother, Talitha Russell, said, ‘At some point during the process he got out of the car and my daughter-in-law heard him asking the baby if they were OK’. ‘The child didn’t respond, or at least he didn’t hear her respond, she responded.’
‘And then he heard our daughter Carly screaming, and from there we heard noises… background noise on her phone, which we later found out was noise from the interstate.’
Russell left work around 8:20 p.m. Thursday before stopping to pick up food for her and her mother.
She then drove to Hoover and called 911 at 9:30 p.m. to report the missing child wandering along Interstate 459.
After calling 911, Russell called her brother-in-law to tell her she was going to check on the child. At 9:36 PM, the family member cut off contact with him but the line remained open.
Responding officers found Russell’s abandoned car and her cell phone, her purse, wig and Apple Watch in a nearby area, but no sign of her or the child.
Lt. Daniel Lowe said a witness may have seen a gray vehicle and a man standing outside Curley’s car, but they did not have additional information.
Russell was described as a 5-foot-4, 150 pound black female and was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants and white Nike sneakers.
Lowe said police are investigating all possibilities in the disappearance.
‘We’re certainly not putting anything off the table,’ he said when asked if investigators believe he was abducted.
‘No information is too small in this investigation,’ Lowe said at a presser on 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 Nike sneakers.
The Hoover Police Department said it is partnering with many local, state and federal partners in the investigation and is ‘grateful for the support of the local and law enforcement community.’
Talitha Russell said she last spoke to her daughter around 9:18 p.m. Thursday when she left Tajiki’s to pick up food and head home.
Family members also organized a search in the area.
“We’re just going to rock the world,” Russell’s father, Carlos Russell, told WVTM. ‘We have no inhibitions.’
An anonymous donor has 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 it is partnering with many local, state and federal partners in the investigation and is ‘grateful for the support from the local and law enforcement community.’
Talitha Russell said the last time she spoke to her daughter was at 9:18 p.m. Thursday when she was leaving Tajiki to pick up food and heading home.
Talitha Russell told WSAZ, ‘We’re trusting God, we’re staying positive, we’re not letting any negative thoughts enter our minds, so all we’re doing is trusting God, trusting God that our daughter will be brought home safely.’
Carly’s wig was left at the scene of her disappearance. Her mother posted a picture of what her daughter looks like without the wig in braids
Russell’s parents are appealing for information to come forward
Talitha Russell said of her daughter, ‘She is known to be supportive and has a big heart.
‘And he knows not to stop for anyone… I think he let his guard down thinking they were too close. And when he got out of the car, he said to my daughter-in-law, ‘I can’t leave this little baby on the side of the road.’
According to Russell, she works part-time at The Woodhouse Day Spa and attends Jefferson State Community College, AL, where she is studying to become a registered nurse.
According to the outlet, she has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from AUM.
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