HOOVER, UNITED STATES: Mystery deepens as a new report about the disappearance and reappearance of an Alabama nursing student, 25, who called 911 about a toddler, raises questions about whether or not she was being followed when she vanished. According to reports on Monday, July 17, Hoover police are still looking into Carlee Russell's disappearance and safe return while examining a large amount of evidence that was gathered during that period.
After a frantic two-day search spanning multiple states, Russell was discovered to be alive on Saturday night when she arrived on foot at her parents' house. Her boyfriend, Thomar Latrell Simmons, alleges that throughout that time, she was 'fighting for her life' after being kidnapped. Police said that Russell was on her way home from Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe in the Colonnade when she stopped on Alabama Interstate 459 to assist a young child she claimed to have seen.
Was Carlee Russell being followed when she went missing?
Police authorities said on Sunday, July 16 evening, "At this point in the investigation, we have not been able to locate anyone with Carlee from the time she left The Colonnade until the 911 call was made." She vanished shortly after getting out of the car, leaving behind nothing but her wig, pocketbook, and Apple watch—not to mention her phone.
Hoover police Lt Keith Czeskleba said, “Each piece of information is helping investigators reconstruct Carlee’s movements during the time she was missing. This is a tedious process, but it is important to make sure everything is methodically evaluated so that we have the clearest possible picture of what took place from the time Carlee called 911 until she returned home Saturday (July 15) night."
“It appears she was alone during this time, and we have no evidence that she was being followed,’’ he continued. Czeskleba further informed, “Traffic camera footage was obtained which depicted this portion of the incident, and that footage is still being analyzed as part of the investigation in conjunction with the 911 call to accurately determine the time frame."
What happened to Carlee Russell?
On July 13, Russell communicated on her cell phone with individuals known to her while on her path of travel up to the point of calling 911 at 9.34 pm, Czeskleba said. Following her chat with the 911 operator, Russell made contact with a family member—her brother's girlfriend. After informing the 911 operator and the relative that she had observed a toddler in a diaper on the side of I-459 and was stopping to check on him, Russell vanished during that discussion sometime after 9.36 pm. Hoover police officers arrived on the scene within five minutes of being dispatched, and several other officers arrived shortly behind. Czeskleba said, “Carlee’s 911 call remains the only timely report of a child on the interstate,’’ he said, “and no one has called to report that a child is missing.”
Latest developments to the events
Detectives from the Hoover Police Department and other local and federal organizations started looking into potential leads and gathering information on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday, July 15, at 10.44 pm, the Hoover 911 center received a call from Carlee's residence, reporting that she had returned home on foot.
In response to the call, both Hoover police and fire departments rushed to Carlee's location. She was promptly taken to UAB Hospital by the Hoover Fire Department for evaluation and treatment, ultimately being released after receiving medical attention.
Detectives promptly visited Carlee at her residence and at UAB to gather her initial statement. The contents of this statement are currently part of the ongoing investigation, which is expected to continue in the coming days.
