photo courtesy of NBC News
Talitha and Carlos Russell, the parents of the Alabama woman who went missing for two days before returning home, have opened up about the harrowing experiences. In an exclusive July 18 interview with NBC News, the pair affirmed that their daughter was kidnapped, and her abductor is still out there unfound.
Carlee Russell’s parents shared their thoughts in an interview, conveying the message of an emotional written statement. Talitha began, “Carlee has given detectives her statement so that they can continue to pursue her abductor,” Talitha Russell read. She continued to say that she “absolutely” believes that Carlee’s abductor is still at large.
According to NBC News, Hoover, Alabama, Police Chief Nicholas C Derzis said that the department is following up on the statement that Carlee gave them and several tips from people claiming to have information about the kidnapping.
Talitha talked about getting misleading calls regarding Carlee’s whereabouts. “There were actually just so many calls and texts from people who maliciously lied to us,” she said. “I just didn’t know people could be so evil.”
As previously reported, Carlee is a 25-year-old Alabama nursing student. She disappeared on July 13 after reporting seeing a young child walking alone on the side of I-459. Carlee was heard screaming after pulling over and checking on the child, and then everyone lost contact with her. The Hoover Police Department reported that arriving officers found her car running, her belongings and cell phone left at the scene, and no child. After over 48 hours of agonizing waiting for Carlee’s parents, the missing woman returned home on July 15. She was completely alone on foot and arrived at around 11 p.m. Talitha described when she and her husband saw her daughter again. She said, “To me? I mean, just so much joy. We tried to hug as best we could, but I had to stand back because she was not in a good state. So we had to stand back and let medical professionals work with her.”
Carlee was quickly taken to a local hospital for care. Both Carlee’s parents and authorities have declined to share explicit details of the woman’s whereabouts while missing. Talitha explained that there was an ongoing investigation. However, “Anything leading to the case itself, we can’t discuss that,” Talitha Russell said.
“There were moments when she physically had to fight for her life, and there were moments when she had to mentally fight for her life. She made it back.”
The Russells requested that the public give their daughter grace and not to try and speculate on what happened to Carlee during her kidnapping.
“She’s having to deal with the trauma of people just making completely false allegations about her,” Talitha finished. She said that the family just wants to be able to focus on their daughter’s recovery right now.