Photo: Hoover Police
Carlee Russell, the 25-year-old Alabama woman who mysteriously disappeared after calling 911 to report a child alone on the highway, returned home on Saturday (July 15) "unresponsive but breathing."
According to Hoover Police, Russell initially went missing on Thursday (July 13) after she told a 911 dispatcher that she spotted a toddler walking alone on the side of Interstate 459 South, per Daily Mail. Following the 911 call, Russell got out of her vehicle to check on the child and called a family member, who said they lost contact with her.
Authorities previously said they found Russell's wig, hat, and phone but weren't able to locate her or the child at the scene. On Saturday, police said they received a 911 call that Russell had returned home on foot. According to newly-released police dispatch audio, Russell was "unresponsive but breathing" upon her return and was taken to UAB Hospital for treatment.
Police said they took "an initial statement" from Russell regarding her disappearance but didn't provide further details due to an ongoing investigation. Authorities have revealed that Russell was driving home after picking up food from Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe on the night of her disappearance.
Video shows a shadowing figure appear the moment Russell moved into the right lane and slowed down on the highway.
"We have looked at the video. It's not the greatest," Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis said. "It proves that Carlee's car was there, and we know that when the officers responded after the 911 call that she was not."
Still, authorities say they are "confident" that they will be able to piece together what happened when Russell went missing.
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