Woman who vanished on Alabama highway

The hunt continues for a 25-year-old woman who went missing after she pulled over on an Alabama highway to check on a child. At around 9:30 p.m., Carlethia "Carlee" Nichole Russell called 911 and spoke to a family member, informing them that she saw a child walking along the side of Interstate 459 South near Mile Market 11 in Hoover, Alabama.

FOX affiliate WBRC obtained a video from a traffic camera capturing the moment when Russell parked her vehicle on the side of the road. In the footage, her car can be seen from a distance with its hazard lights activated. Talitha Russell, Carlee's mother, stated that her daughter was speaking to a family member on the phone when she decided to pull over and check on the child.

"My daughter-in-law could hear her ask if the child was OK, and the child didn't respond - at least she didn't hear her respond," Russell said. "Then she heard our daughter Carlee scream.

 

After the family lost contact with Carlee Russell, the phone line stayed connected.

When police officers reached the spot, they discovered Russell's red Mercedes still running on the roadside. There were no indications of the woman or the child she intended to assist.

According to Talitha Russell, Carlee's mother, her daughter's car door was open. They have discovered Carlee's wig, hat, and cell phone. Carlee's purse, which had her Apple Watch and AirPods, was still inside the car.

The phone is currently being examined forensically to see if it contains any hints that could assist in locating Carlee. Investigators have stated that no missing children were reported in the vicinity.

According to the police, a witness informed them that a man was spotted standing near Russell's car shortly before the officers arrived at the location.

"A single witness has reported possibly seeing a gray vehicle with a light-complexioned male standing outside Carlee's vehicle," Hoover Police Lt. Daniel Lowe said at a press conference.

 

The officers are now exploring every possible angle to unravel the mystery surrounding Carlee's disappearance.

Who is Carlee Russell?

The last known attire of Carlee was a black shirt, black pants, and black tennis shoes.

According to investigators, Russell finished her work at around 8:20 p.m. at a business located in The Summit area of Birmingham. After that, she picked up food and headed toward Hoover, where she resides with her parents. On the day she went missing, Russell visited Harpersville, where she had a brief interaction with the local police department, as per officials.

 "We were honored to spend time with this smart, courteous and honoring young woman yesterday. She was handling some business in the Town of Harpersville yesterday and we were so impressed by her respect, poise, good attitude, and her drive to become a nursing student and help others," the Harpersville Police Department wrote on Facebook. "When this news broke, so did our hearts. This world needs many, many more young women and young men like her."

 

According to AL.com, Carlee Russell is a student at Jefferson State Community College, pursuing a career as a registered nurse.

In a Facebook post, Jefferson State expressed their prayers for her safe return and conveyed their deep concern for her well-being.

Carlee's parents are anxiously hoping that someone has information that can help locate her.

Carlee's father, Carlos Russell, urged anyone who notices anything, no matter how small, to contact 911.

In addition to the $5,000 reward offered by Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama, a private donor has stepped forward to provide an additional $25,000 as a reward.

Authorities have not disclosed any specific information about Carlee's situation but are assured that they are diligently examining every tip they receive.

"We are thoroughly exploring all possibilities," said Lowe. "We are considering every option."

If you have any information that could help in the investigation, please reach out to the following contacts: call 911, Detective Brad Fountain at (205) 444-7562, Sergeant Drew Mims at (205) 739-7274, or contact Crimestoppers of Metro Alabama at (205) 254-7777.