UPDATE (7/15) : Hoover Police confirm Carlee Russell was located safe on July 15 around 10:45 p.m.
HOOVER, Ala. (WIAT) — A $25,000 reward is being offered in the efforts to locate a woman who vanished after calling 911 to report seeing a child walking alone along the interstate.
According to Hoover Police, 25-year-old Carlethia “Carlee” Russell called police to report a toddler walking on the side of I-459 around 9:30 pm on Thursday. Russell then called a family member to tell them she was stopping to check on the child between Galleria Flyover and Exit 10.
When police arrived in the area, they located Russell’s car and some of her belongings nearby but did not find her or a child. In a press conference, Lt. Daniel Lowe said there has been a report from someone that said they saw a vehicle and a man where Russell reported seeing a toddler.
Lowe said Russell got off work at the Summit around 8:20 p.m. and went to pick up food. Then, she headed to Hoover.
The mother of Aniah Blanchard, Angela Haley-Harris, has now joined the search efforts via Facebook after being tagged in a post made by Russell’s mother. One recent post asks for a “command center” in Hoover. She said in a live video at 11:30 a.m. that she will be posting more information and updates on the Aniah’s Heart Facebook page.
On Friday afternoon, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) issued a missing persons advisory for Russell.
An anonymous source has offered $20,000 for the reward, in addition to the $5,000 raised by CrimeStoppers.
Police describe Russell as 5’4″ and 150-160 pounds. She was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants and white Nike shoes.
Hoover Police said the have not received any other calls regarding a missing child.
Anyone with information regarding Russell’s whereabouts is asked to call Hoover Police at 205-444-7562.