The search is on for a 25-year-old woman who went missing Thursday night after calling 911 from a roadside in Hoover, Ala., to report seeing a small boy walking on the side of the interstate, authorities said . Now, a $50,000 reward is being offered to help locate Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell.
An anonymous source has offered $20,000 in addition to the $5,000 raised by CrimeStoppers, according to CBS affiliate WIAT in Alabama. The Keller Williams family added an additional $25,000 to the reward, WIAT reported, with the reward totaling $50,000.
The Hoover Police Department reports that Russell called 911 shortly after 9:30 p.m. Thursday and reported that he had stopped to check on a small child he had seen walking by Interstate 459.
Police said after talking to 911, Russell immediately called a family member. During that call, the family member “lost contact with” Russell, “but the line remained open,” Hoover Police Lt. Daniel Lowe said at a news conference Friday.
Hoover Police Department
Responding officers located Russell’s abandoned car along with some of her belongings nearby, Lowe said, but no sign of her or a child.
“A single witness has reported possibly seeing a gray vehicle with a man with headlights on outside of Carlee’s vehicle, but we have no further information on that individual or the vehicle at this time,” Lowe said.
Russell was on his way home from work after stopping to pick up food, police said.
Talitha Russell, Carlee’s mother, told reporters that her daughter was on the phone with her sister-in-law when her voice dropped.
“She’s known to be helpful and has a big heart,” Talitha Russell said of Carlee. “And she knows not to stop for anybody, not even a kid on the side of the road. But she did call 911. And I think she let her guard down thinking they were so close. And when she get out of the car. , he did say to my daughter-in-law, “I can’t leave this little boy on the side of the road.”
Lowe said a massive search was underway with local, state and federal agencies. A large group of volunteers organized by Russell’s parents also assisted in the search effort.
Police describe Russell as 5 feet 4 inches tall and between 150 and 160 pounds. She was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants and white Nike shoes. according to CBS affiliate WIAT in Alabama.
Hoover police said they have not received any other calls about a missing child.
Anyone with information on Russell’s whereabouts is asked to call Hoover police at 205-444-7562.
Month
Source link
