Police throw cold water on Carlee Russell kidnapping story – updates

On July 11, Carlee Russell used her cell phone to search for information on whether payment is required for an Amber Alert, police said yesterday.

Two days later, on July 13, Russell ran two searches related to Amber Alerts using his work computer. One of the searches was about the maximum age for an Amber Alert.

In addition, she sought details about the movie “Taken,” which revolves around a kidnapping, as well as how to commit a robbery from a cash register without getting caught, and information about Birmingham bus tickets, police said.

The Hoover police chief told reporters Wednesday that based on an investigation into the disappearance and suspected abduction of Carlee Russell, they have no reason to believe there is a danger to the safety of the public.

“What we can say is that we have not been able to verify most of Carlee’s initial statement made to investigators,” Chief Nick Derzis said.

“We have asked to interview Carlee for the second time, but we have not been granted that request. As you can see, many questions remain to be answered, but only Carlee can provide those answers.”

Alabama authorities were dispatched to the location of the vehicle of 25-year-old Carlee Russell, who was stopped on the side of an interstate highway after Ms. Russell called 911 claiming a young child was walking on the road.

Police officers arrived on the scene five minutes after Ms. Russell called to find her wig, cell phone, and purse in the driveway. Inside her bag was an Apple Watch.

Prior to her disappearance, authorities determined that Ms. Russell stopped at a store to purchase snacks, but the snacks were notably missing from her vehicle.

“These items were not located in the vehicle or with her cell phone and wig at the scene of her disappearance,” the police statement read.

The Hoover Police Department is expected to provide an update on the case at a press conference Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

In the days and hours leading up to Carlee Russell’s disappearance, the 25-year-old conducted a series of interesting internet searches that might provide some answers.

According to Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis, Ms. Russell searched for things like “Do you have to pay for an amber alert?” two days before her disappearance.

In the hours leading up to her alleged abduction on July 13, Ms. Russell searched for “How to get money from a cash register without getting caught” and “One-way bus tickets from Birmingham to Nashville.”

She also searched for the movie. Taken which deals with the kidnapping of a young woman.

Ms Russell also sought more information about Amber Alerts while at her place of work, which was the last place she was seen before going missing for 49 hours.

Rudy Farias’ mother announced that he was found alive eight years after he was reported missing as a teenager. This news took neighbors and police by surprise, who are sure that he was not missing.

Carlee Russell conducted a series of suspicious Internet searches in the days before she claimed to have been kidnapped, Alabama authorities revealed at a news conference Wednesday.

A forensic analysis of Ms. Russell’s cell phone, work and home computers found that she searched for information about the film. TakenAmber Alerts, booking a bus ticket from Birmingham to Nashville and “how to get money out of a cash register without getting caught,” Hoover Police Department Nicholas Derzis told reporters.

The searches shed light on the mindset of the 25-year-old before she claimed she was abducted after seeing a young child walking along the side of Interstate 459 on July 13, Derzis said.

Read the full Bevan Hurley story here:

Investigators in Alabama have found “no evidence” that Carlee Russell was trying to help a young boy who was walking down a road at the time of her mysterious disappearance, it has been revealed.

Nursing student, Ms. Russell, 25, disappeared without trace on the side of Interstate 459 in Hoover on the night of July 13, just moments after calling 911 saying she had seen a young child alone on the road.

The owner of the beauty spa where Carlee Russell works issued a statement about how Ms Russell’s disappearance affected employees and the business.

“Employees at Woodhouse Spa have been deeply affected by the events that transpired, but are now elated by the news of Carlee’s return home. Our employees worked extremely hard during very difficult times to keep guests happy as they deal with the fact that her co-worker was missing,” Stuart Rome told WVTM.

Ms Russell works at Woodhouse Spa located in the Summit luxury shopping center in Birmingham.

She was coming home from work the night of her disappearance before she disappeared.

Rome said they were cooperating with police to help piece together how Russell disappeared.

“We understand that the investigation is in a very delicate state and we do not want to reveal any details that could jeopardize the investigation,” Rome added.

The Hoover police chief told reporters Wednesday that based on an investigation into the disappearance and suspected abduction of Carlee Russell, they have no reason to believe there is a danger to the safety of the public.

“What we can say is that we have not been able to verify most of Carlee’s initial statement made to investigators,” Chief Nick Derzis said.

“We have asked to interview Carlee for the second time, but we have not been granted that request. As you can see, many questions remain to be answered, but only Carlee can provide those answers.”

Carlee Russell disappeared after calling 911 to report seeing a child in diapers on the side of a busy interstate highway. Two days later, she showed up at her house.