Alabama police search for missing woman who said she saw a child walking along the highway

Police in Hoover, Alabama, are seeking the public’s assistance in finding Carlethia “Carlee”  Nichole Russell, a 25-year-old female who is 5 feet, 4 inches tall, 150-160 lbs.  She was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants and white Nike shoes and her last known location was on I-459 South near mile marker 11.

Police in Hoover, Alabama, are seeking the public’s assistance in finding Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell, a 25-year-old female who is 5 feet, 4 inches tall, 150-160 lbs. She was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants and white Nike shoes and her last known location was on I-459 South near mile marker 11.

Police are searching for a 25-year-old woman after she disappeared when she stopped looking for a child she saw walking along an Alabama interstate highway.

Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell called 911 about 9:30 pm on Thursday in Hoover, Alabama, and reported seeing a toddler walking along the side of the interstate, the Hoover (Ala.) Police Department said in a press release. After calling 911, Russell stopped checking on the toddler and also called a family member to tell them about the situation.

“The family member lost contact with her, but the line remained open,” police said. “Officers who were already en route to the location of the initial 911 call located the female’s vehicle and some of her belongings nearby, but were unable to find her or a child in the area.”

Police said they had not gotten any other calls about a missing child. Russell was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants and white Nike brand shoes. She is 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 150-160 pounds, police said.

Missing Alabama woman: Police are looking for a woman who vanished after reporting a child on the side of the Alabama interstate

Russell was traveling home from work in Birmingham, Alabama, and is believed to have picked up food on her way back before heading toward Hoover on I-459. She stopped to look for the child “near mile marker 11 between the Galleria flyover and Exit 10 for Highway 150,” the police said.

“A single witness reported possibly seeing a gray vehicle with a light complexed male standing outside of [Russell’s] vehicle. We have no further information about that individual or vehicle at this time,” police said.

In a press conference Friday, Hoover Police Department Lieutenant Daniel Lowe said they are looking into all possibilities regarding the situation.

“We are currently investigating every possibility in this case,” Lowe said. “We’re certainly leaving nothing off the table.”

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Lowe said the police department is receiving “a lot” of tips and are assigning investigators to them as they come in. Any person with any information is asked to contact Detective Brad Fountain at 205-444-7562, Sergeant Drew Mims at 205-739-7274, or Crimestoppers of Metro Alabama at 205-254-7777 if they wish to remain anonymous.

Additionally, an anonymous donor offered $20,000 for Russell’s return, and Crimestoppers is also offering an additional $5,000.

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Kate Perez covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @katecperez_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Police: Missing Ala. woman called 911 for a child walking along the highway