Missing Alabama woman returns home unharmed after telling police she saw unattended child

A 25-year-old woman who sparked a police search and national media headlines when she disappeared from an Alabama highway Thursday has turned up unharmed at her nearby home, police said Sunday.

Carlee Russell was reported missing Thursday after she called police and her family to report a claim that she saw a toddler walking along the interstate in Hoover, about eight miles south of Birmingham. Shortly after making the calls, Russell’s whereabouts were uncertain.

Police have been unable to confirm whether there was a child on the highway. “Carlee’s 911 call remains the only timely report of a child on the interstate,” Hoover police said in a statement.

At 10:44 p.m. local time Saturday, the Hoover Police Department’s 911 center received a call saying Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell had returned home on foot, according to police.

Hoover Fire Department medics checked on Russell before taking her to UAB Hospital for evaluation, Hoover police said. She was later released.

“Detectives responded to the residence and to UAB to take an initial statement from Carlee,” Hoover police said in the statement. “The details of that statement are a part of the ongoing investigation which is expected to continue over the next few days.”

Carlee Russell called 911 after she claimed to see a toddler walking along the interstate

Russell called 911 at about 9:30 p.m. local time Thursday after she said she saw a toddler walking along Interstate 459 South, Hoover police said in a news release. After calling 911, Russell said she was stopping to check on the child and called a family member to tell them about the situation.

“The family member lost contact with her, but the line remained open,” Hoover police said. “Officers who were already enroute to the location of the initial 911 call located the female’s vehicle and some of her belongings nearby, but were unable to find her or a child in the area.”

Hoover police said they didn’t get any calls about a missing child.

Traffic camera footage has been obtained and is being analyzed

Police have obtained traffic camera footage, which is being analyzed, Hoover police said.

“The footage is still being analyzed as part of the investigation in conjunction with the 911 call to accurately determine the timeframe,” Hoover police said.

Witness says they saw a man standing outside of Russell’s vehicle

Police said Russell got off work at around 8:20 p.m. Thursday and stopped to pick up food before traveling toward Hoover on I-459 where she stopped after seeing the toddler, police said.

“A single witness reported possibly seeing a gray vehicle with a light complected male standing outside of (Russell’s) vehicle. We have no further information about that individual or vehicle at this time,” police said.

Talitha Russell told AL.com that her daughter was headed home when the incident occurred. She was on the phone with her brother’s girlfriend when she said she saw a child on the roadside, Talitha said.

“My son’s girlfriend heard her asking the child, ‘Are you OK?’ She never heard the child say anything but then she heard our daughter scream,’’ Talitha said. “From there, all you hear on her phone is background noise from the interstate.”

Hoover police arrived within 5 minutes of being dispatched, police say

Officers arrived at the scene within “five minutes of being dispatched,” Hoover police said.

Officers found Russell’s wig, cell phone, purse and Apple Watch, which was in her purse, on the roadway near her vehicle, police said.

“Investigators with the Crimes Against Persons Unit were notified and the investigation immediately began in earnest with numerous leads being followed,” Hoover police said. “As we continue to investigate we will release information that is determined to be factual and pertinent to the public.”