A frantic search is on for a missing nursing student in Alabama who stopped her car to help a child in need.
The mystery unfolded on Thursday when 25-year-old Carlee Russell was traveling along a bustling highway in Hoover, Alabama, after completing her work shift and grabbing a bite to eat. En route to her home, Russell phoned 911 around 9:30 p.m. to report that she’d witnessed a small child walking on the side of Interstate 459 South near Mile Market 11. Once getting off the phone with the emergency operator, she phoned a relative to inform them that she was pulling over to check on the toddler. While still on the phone with them, Russell was heard asking the child if they were okay. Screams followed, and the loved one, identified as her brother’s girlfriend, did not hear another word from her. Instead, they could only hear the background noises of traveling cars. Police arrived within minutes, but the young woman was nowhere to be found. Neither was a child.
Officers did stumble upon an even more disturbing scene. According to her parents, Talitha Russell and Carlos Russell, police found their daughter’s car door open with the engine still running. Her cell phone, wig, and hat she was wearing that day were on the ground, indicating that a struggle of some kind had ensued. Her purse was still inside her vehicle. And despite her disappearance occurring on the busy stretch of road, only one eyewitness has come forward so far. That person claims they saw a tall, light-complexioned male leaning on a grey car that had stopped in front of Russell’s red vehicle. Investigators did observe tire tracks in the grass near Russell’s abandoned car but have yet to identify the man.
What makes this case peculiar is the fact that no other calls came in about a wandering kid. This has left theories to run wild on social media. Many have voiced that kidnappers may have used a child as bait to lure in an unsuspecting traveler. Some have questioned whether it was a kid, not a doll or a mannequin. However, authorities are not commenting on any one scenario. Instead, they are looking into every possibility.
A search was conducted on Friday, organized by the family, who have now made a command post. Angela Harris, the mother of abducted and murdered teen Aniah Blanchard, assisted with the efforts. A $25,000 reward is being offered for any information leading to Russell.
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