Business where Carlee Russell worked before disappearance releases statement
The Woodhouse Spa Birmingham released a statement regarding the safe return and the investigation into the disappearance of Carlee Russell.
The spa is one of the last known locations where Russell was before she went missing, having just finished work.
Carlee Russell reported a toddler walking alongside the roadway before going missing along I-459 in Hoover Thursday night and returned home on foot Saturday night. When police arrived, they found her car and belongings, but there was no sign of her or a toddler.
On Tuesday, the Woodhouse Spa Birmingham's owner C. Stuart Rome released the following statement:
"In response to the many inquiries Woodhouse Spa Birmingham has received over the past several days regarding the Carlee Russel case, we offer the following:
Our greatest concern has always been the well-being of Carlee and her safe return. Woodhouse Spa employees have been deeply impacted by the events that transpired but are now ecstatic with the news of Carlee鈥檚 return home. Our employees worked extremely hard through very tough times keeping guests happy while dealing with the fact that their co-worker was missing.
We鈥檝e been working with the Hoover Police Department since Friday morning, the morning following Carlee鈥檚 disappearance, in order to come up with any information that would help the investigation. Everything we uncovered is in the position of the Hoover Police Department. We understand the investigation is in a very sensitive state and do not want to release any details that could jeopardize the investigation. Leaks, both true and untrue, can have a devastating impact on any investigation.
We understand there are many posts on social media claiming certain information to be true. Some items are factual while others are not.
Please rest assured that the Hoover Police Department is working around the clock to bring this case to conclusion. We have great confidence in the investigators and expect a resolution soon."
In terms of what happened during the time that she went missing, Russell's parents said in an exclusive interview with TODAY that they cannot speak to anything about the case itself. They do, however, believe there is an abductor out there.
Hoover police are still "combing through numerous pieces of evidence" in her disappearance; they say that while this may be a "tedious process," it is imperative that each piece of evidence is thoroughly evaluated in order to better reconstruct the chain of events.