Interactive timeline: The disappearance of Carlee Russell
Video above: Police read statement from Carlee Russell's attorney
Carlee Russell went missing in Hoover following her call to 911 about a toddler along Interstate 459 on July 13 and returned home days later on foot.
Local, state and federal officials were involved in her search 鈥� and now the investigation into charges after she admitted she did not get kidnapped.
On July 24, her attorney released a statement where she admitted that she didn't see a toddler and acted alone.
The timeline of her disappearance is below.
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On Thursday, Russell stopped along the interstate to check on the child and called a family member, according to police. The family told investigators that they lost contact with her, but the phone line remained open. When police arrived, they found Carlee Russell's car and belongings, but there was no sign of her or a toddler.
A 49-hour-long search began, including local, state and federal officials, as well as people from the community.
At 10:44 p.m. Saturday, police said they received a call that Russell had returned home on foot.
Police responded to the scene to investigate, and Hoover fire medics responded to the scene to assess and transported Russell to UAB hospital for evaluation. She also gave an initial statement to the police, where she described what happened to her.
When Carlee Russell's mother was asked what happened when they first saw their daughter, she noted that they were overwhelmed, but Carlee needed medical attention.
"We tried to hug her as best we could, but I had to stand back because she was not in a good state, so I had to stand back and let medical professionals work with her," Talitha Russell said in an exclusive interview with "TODAY."
In terms of what happened to Carlee Russell during the time that she went missing, her parents said they could not speak to anything about the case itself. They do, however, believe there is an abductor out there, and police continue the search.
Police said she had a minor injury to her lip and $107 in cash in her sock. No drugs or alcohol were in her system.
On July 24, the attorney for Carlee Russell gave a statement stating that Carlee Russell was not kidnapped and never saw a toddler along I-459.
"There was no kidnapping on Thursday, July 13, 2023," the statement read. "My client did not see a baby on the side of the road."
She never left the Hoover area during the time she was allegedly missing and did not have help from anyone, according to Attorney Emory Anthony.
In the statement read by the police department, Carlee Russell apologized to the people who helped search for her as well as her friends and family.
