Local authorities have reported that an Alabama mother has vanished after calling 911 to report seeing a young child walking by himself alongside a highway.
According to a Facebook post from the Hoover Police Department, the woman, 25-year-old Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell, dialled 911 at 9:34 p.m. local time on Thursday.
Russell reported seeing a young child strolling along the side of I-459 South. According to the Facebook post, after dialling 911, she paused to check on the youngster and spoke with a relative who had lost touch with her, but the connection remained open.
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Officers were already on the way from the initial 911 call when they arrived at the area and discovered Russell’s car and several of her stuff, including her phone, but neither she nor the child were anywhere to be seen. According to the Facebook post, no calls or complaints of a missing youngster have been made to the police.
Police stated the case is still open and ongoing and that a reward of up to $25,000 has been offered during a press briefing. Talitha Russell, Russell’s mother, told CNN station WBRC that she was trying to remain optimistic throughout the hunt for her daughter.
We are trusting God, we are staying positive, we are not allowing any negative thoughts to enter our minds,” she told WBRC. “So all that we are doing is trusting God, believe in God that our daughter will be brought home safely.”
According to the Hoover police Facebook post, Russell is 5 feet 4 inches tall and was last seen sporting a black t-shirt, black trousers and white Nike sneakers. Anyone who may have seen Russell or who knows anything about the case is urged to contact the police.
Hoover, Alabama’s sixth-largest city, is about 10 miles south of Birmingham.