$63k Raised To Help Search For Carlee Russell May Not Be Returned To Donors

Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russel

$63k Raised To Help Search For Carlee Russell May Not Be Returned To Donors

Donors may not be able to get their money back even if an investigation determines Carlee Russell staged her own kidnapping.

According to reports, Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama raised $63,378 to help find previously missing Alabama resident Carlee Russell.

Carlee Russell

As you may already know, the 25-year-old went missing on July 13 in Alabama after she called 911 claiming to have seen a toddler walking on the side of the interstate. She allegedly spotted the young child on her way home from her job at a spa in Birmingham and pulled over to help, but soon disappeared. Amid an intense search and nationwide coverage of the situation, authorities shared that Carlee Russell reappeared at her home two days later and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. She was later released.

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Following her return, many have questioned if Carlee Russell was actually kidnapped or if she staged her own disappearance. According to reports, Crime Stoppers initially said since Russell returned home safely refunds would be given to those who donated.

However, a new statement from the organization hints that may no longer be the case. The statement reads,

“This investigation is still ongoing, and accordingly, there is no basis to refund any contributions at this time. Furthermore, the Hoover Police Department has not requested for any donor contributions to be released or refunded.”

Despite this, the organization’s executive director Bob Copus recently revealed that some of the larger contributions were returned after Russell found her way back home. Reportedly, $25,000 donated by the Birmingham Board of Realtors and a $20,000 donation offered by an anonymous donor were refunded. It’s reported that about 60 other donors pledged around $13,400, much of it through a PayPal account provided by Crime Stoppers.

As previously reported, new information on the case has many questioning Russell’s claims. During a news conference that took place last week, Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis said a child wasn’t reported missing and there hasn’t been any evidence of one being seen on the interstate. Once Russell emerged at her home, she claimed she was abducted and held captive by a man who had orange hair with a bald spot. She was allegedly blindfolded and placed in the trailer of an 18-wheeler. She noted that after being taken she could hear a woman’s voice but she never saw who it was.

As far as how she managed to escape, Russell claimed she was eventually able to get away and ran through the woods to her home.

Additionally, more details were shared at the conference such as Russell’s search history before going missing. Reportedly, she researched many questionable topics including, one-way bus tickets, “Do you have to pay for an amber alert?” and “How to take money from a register without being caught.”

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What are your thoughts on this entire situation? Tell us in the comments below!

[Sources: 1, 2]