Days before Carlee Russell vanished, searches about the film ‘Taken’ and Amber Alerts were discovered on her devices.

A ‍Sensational Case: Carlee ⁤Russell’s Disappearance

A press conference on ⁣Wednesday revealed new details in⁣ the‍ sensational case of Carlee Russell, the 25-year-old nursing student from Alabama who went missing for 48 hours before returning home this weekend, claiming she had been abducted⁢ and held captive.

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The⁢ Hoover Police ​Department revealed that Russell —⁣ who claims she⁢ was taken after⁤ checking on a toddler on the side of the road ‌—⁣ conducted searches online about Amber alerts and ‍the film “Taken,” which features an⁢ abduction, in the⁤ days ‌and ⁤hours⁤ leading up to her disappearance on⁤ Thursday.

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“You⁣ have ‍to pay for ⁣an amber ⁢alert or ‍search,” was one such search, according to authorities. Russell⁤ also⁢ searched,⁢ “how⁢ to⁤ take ⁣money ⁢from a register​ without​ being caught,” “Birmingham⁢ bus station,”‌ “one way bus⁣ ticket from ‍Birmingham to‌ Nashville,” ⁤and “Taken.”

Authorities ‍also revealed that Russell ⁢took a‌ “dark bathrobe,”​ a roll ⁢of ⁣toilet paper, and other items ‌from ⁤her place ⁤of work ⁤hours before she vanished. She ​also stopped at a Target⁤ store to purchase some‍ granola bars and other ‌snacks ‍after picking ⁣up takeout food. Hoover PD revealed that ‌when they arrived⁢ on⁣ scene following Russell’s ⁤911 call, the ⁣items from work and⁣ Target ‍were missing, though her ‌takeout food‌ was still⁣ in the‍ vehicle.

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The ​department also emphasized ‍that Russell ‍drove 600 yards on ⁣the ‌interstate while allegedly following the toddler she spotted‍ on the side ‌of ‍the ‍road. The‌ department ‍has ‌no‍ evidence that there was ⁢a child, and expressed disbelief ⁣that⁢ a toddler⁣ could move⁢ so quickly on the ‌side of the ⁣interstate without incident. ⁢

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“To ​think that a⁣ toddler, ​barefoot, [who] can be 3 or⁣ 4 years old, ⁤is gonna travel six ⁣football ​fields is –without⁣ getting ⁢in the ‍roadway, without⁤ crying ​– it’s just very hard for me to understand,” ‍authorities said at the ​presser.

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Russell has claimed ⁢she⁢ was taken ⁣by ⁣a man ​with‍ orange hair‌ and a bald spot‌ after she ⁤left her vehicle⁣ to check ‍on the‍ toddler. She says she was then forced into⁤ a vehicle and eventually‍ taken‌ into‍ a‌ home ⁢with the man, along⁤ with⁢ a woman, ​whom Russell never got​ a look at. The 25-year-old then​ claims she was‌ told to undress ‌and believes ‌the man and woman took ⁢photos of her.‍

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Russell‍ says ⁣she‍ was eventually put⁤ inside another vehicle,​ and was somehow able to escape.‌ She ran through “lots ⁢of‍ woods” ‌and made​ it to her ⁣parents’ home, where she⁤ resides, too.

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Detectives say⁢ Russell had $107 cash in her ⁣right sock, a ⁤ripped shirt, and ⁤a cut lip ​when ⁢they⁤ arrived​ at‍ her⁤ parents’⁤ house.

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“She’s⁤ having to deal with the trauma of ⁤people ‍just ‍making completely false​ allegations⁢ about ⁢her,” Russell’s parents told NBC on Tuesday. “She found ⁣her way back to us. However, we ⁢can’t discuss ⁢the details of ‌that.” 

Related: Police‍ Share New⁢ Details In Carlee Russell​ Disappearance, From‌ Missing Snacks To⁣ Spotted Toddler

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