Toddler reported strolling alone on interstate used as ‘bait’ to lure Alabama girl, her mother and father declare

The mother and father of the Alabama woman who vanished after she stopped to assist a stranded toddler on a busy freeway believed the kid was getting used as “bait” to lure their daughter out of her automotive — earlier than she was mysteriously returned house alive.

Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell, 25, went lacking Thursday night time when she pulled over to assist a wandering toddler on I-459, the Hoover Police Division mentioned.

The nursing pupil known as 911 earlier than dialing her sister-in-law.

“My daughter-in-law might hear her ask if the kid was OK, and the kid didn’t reply — at the very least she didn’t hear her or him reply,” her mom, Talitha Robinson-Russell, told WVTM-TV on Sunday.

“Then she heard our daughter scream.”

The mother and father imagine the toddler Russell noticed on the facet of the street could have been used as “bait” to lure her out of her automotive, they advised the native outlet.

Russell was dropped off at her house in Hoover, Ala. two days in a while Saturday and “appeared to be in shock,” in accordance with police and native studies.

Simply earlier than 11 p.m. Saturday, the Hoover 911 name middle obtained phrase that Russell had returned house, police mentioned.

She was transported to an area hospital for analysis, in accordance with police.

It’s unclear the place Russell had been since Thursday.

When officers had arrived to the placement off I-459 the place Russell had reported the wandering toddler round 9:30 p.m. Thursday, they discovered her automobile and a few of her belongings, together with her cellphone, however not her or the kid, cops mentioned.

Police mentioned they had been going to present her time to get well earlier than interviewing her.