Updated: July 16th at 7:50 a.m. ET
a A young black woman who went missing in Alabama last week has been found safe, according to reports.
Carly Russell mysteriously reappeared at her family’s home late Saturday night, about 48 hours after she was reported missing late Thursday night.
Details about her disappearance were not immediately reported, and it was unclear where she had been.
Original story:
TThe parents of a young Black woman who went missing in Alabama this week are speaking out as a statewide manhunt appears to leave authorities with more questions than answers.
Lost contact with family and friends Carlesia Nicole “Carly” Russell Local police said the 25-year-old aspiring nurse had intended to check on an unaccompanied toddler she had seen walking along a major Hoover road late Thursday night. .
Police said Russell called 911 around 9:30 p.m. that night to report the toddler, then told the family that he was going to check on the child himself. However, this was the last known contact with Russell.
When police responded to the call, they found Russell’s red Mercedes parked on the south side of Interstate 459, idling with the driver’s side door open. Neither the toddler nor Russell was there. Notably, police announced Friday that there were no reports of the toddler missing.
Russell’s parents said they were alerted by a truck driver who said a car may have rammed into the front of the Mercedes, blocking its progress and forcing it to the side of the road, where it was later found. According to Birmingham-based local NBC affiliate WVTM 13, Talitha and Carlos Russell may have been used as “bait” in a sinister attempt to lure her daughter out of the car, citing the report. He suggested it.
The report sparked concern on social media that Mr Russell may be a victim of human trafficking.
Talitha Russell told AL.com. what happened:
At 9:36 p.m., her mother, Talitha Russell, said her daughter was on the phone with her brother’s girlfriend. Curley said she saw a child she believed to be 3 or 4 years old, then she pulled over.
“She probably let her guard down because she thought 911 was going to come soon,” Talitha Russell said.
“My son’s girlfriend heard her asking the child, ‘Are you okay?’ She never heard the child say anything, but then she heard her daughter scream.” said Talitha Russell. “The only noise coming from her phone is the noise from the interstate.”
“Her car door was open,” Talitha said. “They found her cell phone on the ground, along with her wig and her hat… Her wallet was still in the car. Her Apple Watch was in the bag. It was inside, and it also had Air Pods inside.”
Talitha Russell said a truck driver called her.
“He saw a tall man with dark skin, wearing khaki shorts, leaning over in a gray car,” Talitha Russell said.
Two separate rewards totaling $25,000 are available for information leading to Russell’s safety. Police say they have no solid leads and have not ruled out the possibility.
Research conducted National Institute for Black Women’s Justice states that “Black women, girls, and gender nonconforming people are disproportionately represented as victims/survivors of human trafficking,” and that “40% of survivors of sex trafficking are Black women.” ” indicates that.
NewsOne wishes Carly Russell a safe return.
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