Carlee Russell’s Family Speaks Out In New Interview

It’s been an emotional time for the Russell family following their daughter Carlee’s return after her 48-hour disappearance.

The parents of the 25-year-old who vanished after calling the police to report a toddler walking alone down a highway, are speaking out exclusively to NBC News about how they’ve been dealing with this traumatizing experience.

While speaking to NBC’s Priscilla Thompson, the family recalled the dreading moments of not knowing where their beloved Carlee was after her voice suddenly dropped from a phone call last week. Russell’s parents said they received several phony messages from people claiming to have information about what happened. “There were actually just so many calls and texts from people who maliciously lied to us,” Talitha Russell said. “I just didn’t know people could be so evil.” After waiting in agony, police said Russell returned home on Saturday, alone and on foot around 10:45 p.m. — a little over 48 hours after she disappeared. Describing the moment their daughter showed up on their doorstep, Talitha said, “To me? I mean, just so much joy,” Talitha Russell said. “We tried to hug as best we could, but I had to stand back because she was not in a good state. So we had to stand back and let medical professionals work with her.”

From there, Russell was taken to a local hospital to be evaluated and was later released. So far, Hoover Police Department Chief Nicholas C. Derzis has said investigators are following up on all information Russell provided as Caralee is sticking to her story that she was abducted.