A woman in Alabama who vanished after she called 911 to report a toddler walking on an interstate last week showed up at her home Saturday night, police in Hoover said.
Carlee Russell, 25, was found about 10:45 p.m. Saturday when someone called 911 to report her return home after nearly two days of headlines about her whereabouts, they said.
Russell was checked by city fire medics, who took her to a hospital for a more comprehensive evaluation, Hoover Police Capt. Keith Czeskleba said in a statement Saturday night. Russell also provided a statement to police.
"The details of that statement are a part of the ongoing investigation which is expected to continue over the next few days," the police department said in a news release Sunday.
Russell had been treated and released by Sunday afternoon.
Police provided no further information about her condition or where she has been since Thursday night.
Authorities found a vehicle belonging to Russell and some of her possessions shortly after 9:30 p.m. Thursday, police said, but they could find neither her nor any child after the call to 911. She also called a family member to report that she had seen a toddler on the interstate.
“A single witness has reported possibly seeing a gray vehicle with a light-complected male standing outside of Carlee’s vehicle, but we have no further information on that individual or the vehicle at this time,” Lt. Daniel Lowe said.
Police had asked for tips.
Russell left work in Birmingham around 8:20 p.m., and she stopped to pick up some food before she made the call about the child, police said.
She disappeared sometime after 9:36 p.m., when she called 911 and her family about the toddler. Investigators found Russell's wig, cellphone and purse on the roadway near her vehicle. Her Apple Watch was in her purse, police said.
Investigators were analyzing her cellphone, Lowe said.
A $20,000 reward was offered by a donor who wished to remain anonymous, and Crime Stoppers offered a $5,000 reward, Lowe said.
Russell called and reported seeing a toddler walking on I-459 South and stopped by mile marker 11, police said.
Jefferson State Community College said that Russell is a student and that the entire community was praying for her.
Hoover is a city of around 92,000 south of Birmingham.
