Missing Alabama woman who reported toddler walking on the highway is found safe

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Police confirm that a woman who went missing in Hoover, Alabama on Wednesday after reporting to police she saw a child walking on the highway returned home late Saturday and was transported to a hospital for evaluation.

The Hoover Police Department said on Friday that Carlethia “Carlee” Russell, 25, made a 911 call to report a toddler walking alongside of Interstate 459 at around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Russell reportedly stopped her vehicle to help the toddler along and then called a family member. When police arrived, she was gone, but her car and belongings were left behind. Responding officers also were unable to find a child in the area and have not received any calls about someone missing a small child; meanwhile, Russell remained missing until Saturday.

Hoover Police Captain Keith Czeskleba said it received a phone call about Russell returning home at about 10:45 p.m. Police traveled to her location, and then paramedics, who transported her to a local hospital. Captain Czeskleba said that more information was not “available for release at this time,” and declined to go into details on who informed them about Russell’s return and why there was a need for an evaluation. He said that the investigation into the case is ongoing.

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