July 18th 2023.
The parents of Carlethia “Carlee” Russell, the 25-year-old woman who went missing last week before returning 48 hours later, recently spoke out about the “fight” their daughter put up for her life. Talitha and Carlos Russell sat down with Today on Tuesday, July 18 to give the first statement since Carlee's abduction by a suspect the family believes is still at large.
The Russells could not discuss the details of Carlee's return due to the ongoing investigation, but they did share that their daughter put up both a physical and mental fight for her life. The case gained national attention when surveillance footage of Carlee's car stopping on the highway was posted online.
Carlee had stepped out of her car to check on a child she had seen walking on I-459 South, according to police. She was on the phone with a family member when she was heard screaming. When officers arrived, they found Carlee's car running with many of her personal belongings inside.
The Russell family received many phone calls and texts from people claiming to have information about Carlee's whereabouts, but Talitha noted that many of those were malicious lies. Now that Carlee is home safe, the family is overjoyed but urging the public to stop making assumptions and accusing Carlee of faking her abduction.
"She's having to deal with the trauma of people just making completely false allegations about her," Talithia said. "We are beyond happy to have our daughter back, but the trauma she has experienced is something she will have to process for a long time."
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