Carlee Russell timeline: What happened in the 49 hours she was missing?
Hoover police on Wednesday shared more information about what happened in the days that led up to the disappearance of Carlee Russell and what she said happened in those 49 hours.
Here is a timeline of the case:
July 11:
At 7:30 a.m. on July 11, two days before Russell disappeared, she searched the term “Do you have to pay for an amber alert.”
July 13:
At 1:03 a.m. on the day of her disappearance, Russell searched the term “How to take money from register without getting caught Reddit” was searched. At 2:13 a.m. that same day, the term “Birmingham bus station” was searched.
Then, at 2:35 a.m., a search for a one-way bus ticket from Birmingham to Nashville was conducted. At 12:10 p.m., Russell did a search for the movie ‘Taken.’
Russell left the Woodhouse Spa at the Summit, where she worked, at 8:20 p.m. Surveillance video showed that Russell “concealed a dark colored bathrobe, a roll of toilet paper, and other items belonging to the business prior to her departure.”
She ordered food from Taziki’s at the Colonnade, reportedly picking the order up as the restaurant was closing about 9 p.m.
Talitha Russell talked to her daughter at 9:19 p.m. as she was leaving Taziki’s and heading to the Hoover home she shared with her parents.
After leaving the Colonnade, police said, Russell stopped at Target on U.S. 280 and bought granola bars, Cheez-its, and a drink.
Russell remained in the parking lot of that shopping center until 9:21 p.m. when she drove to I-459.
At 9:34 p.m. Thursday, Hoover 911 received a call from Russell stating she had seen a white male child, about 3 to 4 years old, walking on I-459. She made a phone call to her brother’s girlfriend, about 9:36 p.m.
Russell, who was seen driving slowly with her flashers on for about a half mile on the shoulder of I-459, stopped at mile marker 11, between the Galleria and Alabama 150.
Her brother’s girlfriend reported hearing Russell scream. The phone line remained open, but nothing more was heard but interstate traffic.
Officers soon arrived and found Russell’s red Mercedes still running but no sign of a toddler or Russell. Police found Russell’s wig, phone and purse near her vehicle. Her Apple watch was in her purse.
The food she ordered from Taziki’s was also still in her car. The items she purchased from Target, as well as the items taken from her place of employment were not in the vehicle nor were they located at the scene.
“She told detectives that while traveling down the interstate, she saw a baby walking down the side of the road and called 911. When she got out of her vehicle to check on the child, a man came out of the trees and mumbled that he was checking on the baby,” police said.
“That man then picked her up and she screamed. He then made her go over a fence. He then forced her into a car and the next thing she remembers is being in the trailer of an 18-wheeler. She stated that the male was with a female, however she never saw the female, only hearing her voice. She also told detectives she could hear a baby crying.”
911 operators tried to call her back but got no response. A statewide lookout bulletin was then issued for a “possible abduction.”
July 14:
Family members searched for Russell in Hoover aided by police and volunteers.
July 15:
Russell’s family, shortly before 7 p.m. Saturday, reported they had received a call from her family saying she was at Red Roof Inn in Vestavia Hills. Talitha Russell later told Fox 6 news that was a “terrible hoax.”
Hours later, at 10:44 p.m., Hoover 911 received a call from Carlee’s residence that she had returned home on foot. A large crowd was in the street as first responders arrived.
Police later said Russell was alert when they arrived at her home.
At 11:02 p.m., a dispatcher noted Russell was en route to UAB Hospital.
Detectives were able to obtain a brief statement at the hospital. “During this interview, detectives noted that Carlee had a small injury to her lip and she complained of her head hurting. She also had a tear in her shirt. Detectives also noted that she had $107 in cash in her right sock.”
July 16:
She was released about 6 a.m. Sunday after being held overnight for evaluation.
At 1:05 p.m. the day after Russell arrived home, her mother released a statement on Facebook asking that people respect their privacy “to allow us to just love on our daughter and each other.”
Her mother thanked those who aided in the search.
“Just as we made a commitment to not entertain negative thoughts during the time our daughter was missing, we surely will not entertain negative thoughts/statements, unvalidated opinions, or sheer ignorance at such a joyous time,” the statement continued.
Police at 1:53 p.m. said they were still gathering and evaluating evidence.
July 17:
Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama on Monday reversed course hours after announcing that more than $60,000 raised in reward money for information that led to her safe return would be returned to donors.
At 4:01 p.m., police said they had “no evidence that she was being followed’ when she disappeared.
July 18:
The only interview Russell’s parents gave was to the Today Show on Tuesday morning.
They said speculation about what happened was upsetting Carlee, but declined to say what Russell told them when she came home, “citing the ongoing investigation.”
“Carlee has given detectives her statement so they can continue to pursue her abductor,” her mother said.
Asked if they believe there was “an abductor still out there,” Russell’s mother replied, “Absolutely.”
“There were definitely moments where she fought for her life. There were moments she had to physically fight for her life and there were moments she had to mentally fight for her life,” her mother said.
The Woodhouse Spa at the Summit shopping center in Birmingham, where she worked, said “employees have been deeply impacted by the events that transpired but are now ecstatic with the news of Carlee’s return home.”
At 9:02 p.m., police said they had learned Russell bought snacks at Target on U.S. 280 before she vanished.
July 19:
At a 4:30 p.m. press conference, police said they had no evidence of any threat to the public.