She initially alleged that she was taken by a man and woman, who forced her into a car when she approached the child and held her captive, according to Hoover police. Authorities said Russell claimed she managed to escape when her purposted kidnappers were taking her through the west Hoover area, and that she ran through the woods until finding her way back home.
However, authorities were “unable to verify” most of what Russell told them during their investigation into her disappearance, Derzis said in a July 19 press conference. But, according to Derzis, they did find internet searches made on Russell’s phone that were “very relevant” to her case, including queries about Amber Alerts and the 2008 film Taken, a Liam Neeson movie about an abduction.
“As you can see,” Derzis said at the time, “there are many questions left to be answered, but only Carlee can provide those answers.”
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