Nursing Student Missing after Toddler Sighting Returns Home

Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell, a 25-year-old nursing student from Alabama who had gone missing on Thursday night after calling 911 to report seeing a male toddler walking along the side of the highway, has been found and has returned home. The Hoover Police received a call at around 10:45 p.m. on Saturday, notifying them of Russell’s return. She was taken to a hospital for evaluation and police have spoken to her to gather information.

Officials have not yet disclosed where Russell was during her disappearance, which sparked a search effort. Russell had called 911 while driving home from work and reported seeing a young child walking on the side of Interstate 459. After the call, Russell contacted a family member, but they lost contact with her. Later, responding officers found Russell’s abandoned car, wig, and cellphone at the scene, but there were no signs of Russell or the child she had reported.

During the investigation, officers analyzed Russell’s phone and obtained traffic camera footage, which is currently being analyzed. The police have been working with state and federal agencies, as well as a group of volunteers organized by Russell’s parents, to search for her. Russell’s mother, Talitha Russell, shared that her daughter was on the phone with her sister-in-law when her voice suddenly stopped. Talitha Russell described her daughter as helpful and compassionate, explaining that Carlee did not normally stop for strangers but felt compelled to help the child she saw.

While officials have not provided specific details about the ongoing investigation, they are confident that they will be able to retrace Carlee Russell’s steps leading up to her disappearance. The police emphasized that Russell’s 911 call remains the only timely report of a child on the highway. Further updates on the investigation are expected in the coming days.

In conclusion, nursing student Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell, who went missing after reporting a toddler sighting on an Alabama highway, has returned home. The investigation is ongoing, and the police are working to gather more information about Russell’s disappearance.