As police continue to investigate the return of a 25-year-old Alabama woman who was reported missing over the weekend, a timeline of events gives a closer look at the investigation.
Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell returned home on foot Saturday night after she was reported missing off a highway in a Birmingham suburb Thursday night. Prior to her disappearance, Russell called 911 to report a toddler walking along the interstate, the Hoover Police Department said in a statement.
However, Hoover 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 the statement.
On Tuesday, Hoover police told USA TODAY they spoke to Russell but weren’t able to “publicly share the details” from the interview, Hoover police said in a statement sent to USA TODAY. Russell’s parents, in an appearance on NBC’s “Today” show also urged the public not to speculate about her disappearance.
The case sparked national media attention as people wondered what happened to Carlee Russell? Here’s a timeline, according to Hoover police.
Here’s what we know:An Alabama woman has returned safe after disappearing for days
Thursday 8:20 p.m.: Russell leaves work, picks up food and stops at Target
Hoover police said Russell left work at around 8:20 p.m. local time Thursday and ordered food from The Colonnade, a nearby business.
“We have worked to retrace all of her actions from the time she left The Colonnade until she called 911 and are well on our way to completing that task,” police said.
Police said they have not been able to locate if anyone was with Russell from the time she left the business until she called 911.
In a Tuesday night update, police said Russell went to Target after leaving The Colonnade and bought snacks.
“These items were not located in the vehicle or with her cell phone and wig at the scene of her disappearance,” police said in a statement sent to USA TODAY.
Thursday around 9:30 p.m.: Russell calls 911 after claiming to see a child walking along the interstate
Russell called 911 at 9:34 p.m. Thursday after she claimed to see “a male toddler in a diaper” on the side of Interstate 459 South and was “stopping to check on him,” police said.
“Traffic camera footage was obtained which depicted this portion of the incident, and that footage is still being analyzed as part of the investigation,” police said.
After calling 911, Russell called her brother’s girlfriend to tell her about the situation. Russell stayed on the phone with the girlfriend as Russell got out of her and said she was checking on the child, AL.com reported.
“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,’’ her mother, Talitha Russell, told AL.com. “From there, all you hear on her phone is background noise from the interstate.”
Hoover police said the family member lost contact with Russell, but the line remained open.
Thursday around 9:40 p.m.: Hoover police arrive to the scene
Police officers arrived at the scene within “five minutes of being dispatched” and found her car abandoned on the side of the interstate, Hoover police said. They also found Russell’s wig, cell phone and purse with an Apple Watch inside, on the roadway near her vehicle.
Police were “unable to find her or a child in the area,” police said. They also didn’t receive any calls about a missing child.
The next 48 hours
Hoover police partnered with local, state and federal authorities during the search. Russell’s whereabouts over the next 48 hours are still unclear.
Saturday 10:44 p.m.: Russell returns home
At 10:44 p.m. Saturday, the Hoover police received a 911 call saying Russell had returned home on foot, according to police.
When first responders arrived, they found Russell conscious and speaking, police said in the statement sent to USA TODAY.
Russell was taken to an area hospital where she was evaluated and has since been treated and released, police said.
Detectives obtained surveillance video from Russell’s neighborhood which showed her walking down the sidewalk alone prior to returning to her home, police said in the statement.
“Fire department radio traffic obtained by several media outlets shows that medics were dispatched to her residence on an ‘unresponsive but breathing’ person. That was the term used in the initial dispatch of the Hoover Fire Department to the residence, and the information about her condition was simply a dispatcher relaying information from what a 911 caller told the emergency communicator,” police said in the statement.
Tuesday: Russell’s parents mention ‘abductor’ in ‘Today’ interview
In an interview with NBC News, Russell’s parents urged the public not to speculate on their daughter’s case.
“Carlee has given detectives her statement so that they can continue to pursue her abductor,” Talitha read from a written statement.
Hoover police said they will follow up with Russell again to “attempt to get a better understanding of her movements during the time she was missing,” Hoover police told USA TODAY.
“Numerous evidentiary items are still being evaluated, and those items are key in the process of determining exactly what took place in the approximately 49 hours Carlee was missing, but also what took place prior to her disappearance,” police said in the statement sent to USA TODAY.
