Carlee Russell, a woman who went missing for two days after stopping at the side of the highway to help a lone child, reportedly "returned home on foot" with injuries.
As per the New York Post, Russell went missing last Thursday (July 13) at around 09:35PM on the side of a busy highway in Alabama.
The 25-year-old told police that she had spotted a toddler "on the side of I-459" and went over to help it - but disappeared shortly after, with her sister-in-law claiming to have heard her scream on a phone call from the scene.
Russell had phoned 911 to report seeing "a toddler walking on the side of the interstate," who she estimated to be around three to four years old.
She then hung up the phone and called her boyfriend's sister while she went over to help the child, and that's when things took a turn.
Talitha Robinson-Russell told AL.com: "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."
She explained that following this, all that could be heard was background noise from the interstate. Police arrived at the scene and were unable to locate Russell, but found her car open with her belongings inside.
"The engine was running, and they found her phone on the ground, along with her wig and her hat," Robinson-Russell went on. "Her purse was still in the car. Her Apple Watch was in her purse and her AirPods as well."
The anxious mother told WVTM-TV that she believed the young boy had been placed there as "bait" to lure a good samaritan out of their vehicle.
Just over 48 hours later at 10:45PM on Saturday (July 15), Russell returned home and the police were informed that "she had returned home on foot."
The police and fire department attended the home and transported the 25-year-old to a hospital, where she was treated and later released. Reports stated that she had been "dropped off" at the home and "appeared to be in shock".
No new information has come to light about what transpired over the 48-hour period, but Russell gave a full statement to investigators which is "part of the ongoing investigation which is expected to continue over the next few days."
Thomar Latrell Simmons, Russell's boyfriend, took to Facebook to express his delight that she had returned but also expressed concerns about her condition.
"She was literally fighting for her life for 48 hours, so until she’s physically & mentally stable again she is not able to give any updates or whereabouts on her kidnapper at this very moment," Simmons said.
Simmons has come under a line of fire from social media users who have accused him of being involved in Russell's disappearance, but he completely denies these allegations.
He added: "I just want to thank all of my family, friends, former teammates, & church members who called or texted me just to let me know that they’re praying & here for me; you guys don’t know how much that meant to me."
Simmons also claimed that Russell had "fought for her life" to survive the two days she was missing.
We wish Russell all the best as she continues her recovery from the terrifying ordeal.
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