Update 2: Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama has reversed its decision to return about $18,000 in funds donated to the Carlee Russell search.
Crime Stoppers previously announced it would return $63,378 in donations on Monday.
Bob Copus, executive director of Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama, told AL.com on Monday morning that Hoover police asked him not to pay out any reward money.
“Hoover PD has informed us that they’re not requesting any payouts on this case,” Copus said.
He said $25,000 was returned to the Birmingham Board of Realtors and $20,000 was returned to an anonymous donor, AL.com reported.
The remaining $18,378 was supposed to be returned to about 60 donors, according to AL.com.
However, Crime Stoppers reversed its decision to return the donations in a statement on Monday.
“This investigation is still ongoing, and accordingly, there is no basis to refund any contributions at this time. Furthermore, the Hoover Police Department has not requested for any donor contributions to be released or refunded,” the statement read.
Update: Money raised to fund search efforts for Carlee Russell is being returned to donors, according to AL.com.
Over $63,000 was donated to Crime Stoppers to help find the 25-year-old nursing student who went missing on July 13 in Hoover, Alabama.
Russell vanished after calling 911 to report a child wandering on the side of Interstate 459 in Hoover. Police arrived minutes later, but they did not find Russell or the child.
Police found Russell’s wig, cell phone and purse on the road near her vehicle. Her Apple watch and AirPods were in her purse.
Bob Copus, executive director of Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama, told AL.com that Hoover police asked him not to pay out any reward money.
“Hoover PD has informed us that they’re not requesting any payouts on this case,” Copus said.
$25,000 was returned to the Birmingham Board of Realtors and $20,000 was returned to an anonymous donor, AL.com reports. The remaining money was returned to about 60 donors, according to AL.com.
Hoover Police Department has not issued any updates on the case. Russell was hospitalized for evaluation after returning home on Saturday around 10:45 p.m. She was discharged on Sunday.
Police took an initial statement from Russell in the hospital. Police previously said they are not searching for a suspect or an endangered child.
Police did not mention a kidnapper or a child in an official statement to the news media on Sunday.
“Carlee’s call remains the only timely report of a child on the Interstate,” police said.
Watch enhanced traffic cam video below.
Originally published on: July 16, 2023 at 5:27 PM:
Hoover, Alabama police took a statement from Carlethia “Carlee” Russell before she was discharged from a hospital on Sunday morning.
Police did not disclose what Russell said in her statement.
“The details of that statement are a part of the ongoing investigation which is expected to continue over the next few days,” police said on Sunday.
The 25-year-old nursing student went missing on Thursday (July 13) after she reported seeing a child wandering on the side of a highway.
Video traffic cam footage shows Russell leave her red Mercedes Benz and run into the woods that border the southbound lane of Interstate 459. The video does not show a child.
With half the police force searching for her, Russell showed up at her parents’ home and knocked on the front door late Saturday night.
Police and Hoover Fire rescue responded to the address and transported Russell to the hospital for evaluation.
The Hoover police said investigators were able to retrace Russell’s steps from the time she left work until she called 911 Thursday night.
“Since the time of the 911 call at 9:34 p.m. July 13, the Hoover Police Department has expended every available resource into locating Carlee, and we celebrate with the Russell family on her safe return at approximately 10:44 p.m. on July 15,” police said in a statement on Sunday.
The police also mentioned that “no one was with Carlee” from the time she left work until she went missing.
Police initially believed Russell and the child were located when a 911 caller (later revealed to be Russell’s sister-in-law) said a female was “screaming with a child” on Atkins Trimm Lane – a short distance from where Russell’s car was abandoned.
At the 18:57 mark of Hoover 911 dispatch audio, an officer asks, “Where exactly is that call coming from?” Another officer responded that the 911 caller’s cell phone “is pinging in that location” on Atkins Trimm Lane.
Police previously said they are not searching for a suspect or an endangered child. “Carlee’s call remains the only timely report of a child on the Interstate,” police said in a statement.
In an Instagram post on Sunday, Russell’s boyfriend Thomar Simmons said she is not “physically & mentally stable” enough to give information on her kidnapper’s whereabouts.
He said Russell “was literally fighting for her life for 48 hours, so until she’s physically & mentally stable again she is not able to give any updates or whereabouts on her kidnapper at this very moment.”
Russell’s family lashed out at online reports that claim Russell fabricated her story about seeing a child wandering alone.
Promising to release a “general statement in the near future,” Russell’s mother Talitha Russell said the family will not “entertain negative thoughts” about their daughter.
“Just as we made a commitment to not entertain negative thoughts during the time our daughter was missing, we surely will not entertain negative thoughts/statements, unvalidated opinions, or sheer ignorance at such a joyous time,” she said in a statement on Facebook.
Talitha asked for privacy and to “allow us to just love on our daughter and each other.”
“Also, please consider the fact that we have not slept for 3 nights and we are mentally and physically exhausted,” the statement said.
Alabama residents are frustrated over the lack of information from police about the case. They are demanding answers.
One Reddit.com user wrote: “The taxpayers of Alabama spent quite a pretty penny looking for Carlee and they deserve answers.”
