Carlee Russell, the 26-year-old Alabama woman believed to have gone missing while driving home from work, has officially shared her side of the story.
Russell’s attorney Emory Anthony provided a statement on her behalf to Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis to read during a July 24 press conference.
“There was no kidnapping on Thursday, July 13, 2023,” the lawyer said. “My client did not see a baby on the side of the road. My client did not leave the Hoover area when she was identified as a missing person.”
Russell’s attorney also clarified that she didn’t have “any help” during the incident.
“This was a single act done by herself,” the statement continued. “My client was not with anyone or any hotel with anyone from the time she was missing. My client apologizes for her actions to this community, the volunteers who were searching for her, to the Hoover Police department and other agencies as well, [and] to her friends and family.”
“We ask for your prayers for Carlee as she addresses her issues and attempts to move forward, understanding that she made a mistake in this matter. Carlee again asks for your forgiveness and prayers,” the attorney’s note concluded.
As Parade previously reported, Russell called 911 on July 13, alleging that she’d seen a toddler walking on the highway. The woman then called a family member to share the same encounter. When police arrived, they found Russell’s car and belongings but no trace of her or the child. Russell returned home on foot around 10:45 p.m. on July 15 following a 49-hour search into her disappearance, per police.
In an earlier press conference held on Thursday, July 19, Hoover Police Department chief Nicholas Derzis revealed that Russell’s search history on her cell phone included queries like “do