Gone Without a Trace: The Puzzling Disappearance of Carlee Russell

On July 13, Carlee went missing, but thankfully, she returned to her parents’ home in Alabama on July 15.

According to the latest police report on July 18, Carlee left the Colonnade shopping center on July 13 and made a stop at a Target store on Highway 280, where she purchased some snacks. However, it’s noteworthy that none of the bought items were found in her abandoned car on the side of Interstate 459.

The police statement explicitly stated, “These items were not located in the vehicle or with her cellphone and wig at the scene of her disappearance.”

Furthermore, there is no evidence to suggest that a toddler was walking along the interstate.

“The Hoover police department has not found any evidence of a toddler walking down the interstate, and we did not receive any additional calls about such an incident, despite the presence of numerous vehicles passing through the area as shown by the traffic-camera surveillance video,” the police said in their statement.

Carlee’s mother, Talitha Robinson-Russell, released a statement on Tuesday, addressing several important topics, including the status of CrimeStoppers donations for Carlee’s case and expressing gratitude for the support and prayers from people.

In an interview with NBC News, Talitha stated that she was “absolutely” certain that Carlee’s abductor was still at large.

She also elaborated on the hoaxes the family had to endure concerning Carlee’s case.

“We received numerous calls and texts from people who maliciously lied to us,” Talitha Russell said. “I never imagined that people could be so evil.”

Both in the NBC News interview and the updated statement released on Tuesday, Carlee’s mother emphasized that they couldn’t share too many details due to the ongoing investigation.