Boyfriend of woman who went missing after being 'lured by toddler' claims she was kidnapped

The boyfriend of an American woman who went missing after being 'lured by toddler' has claimed she was kidnapped.

Carlethia ‘Carlee’ Nichola Russell, 25, called 911 last Thursday night (13 July) to tell them she’d spotted a small child on the side of Interstate 459 South in Alabama. However, this was followed by her going missing.

She left her car to check on the child and called a family member while she was doing so, keeping the phone line open with them. But despite this, they lost contact with Carlee.

Arriving at the scene, police found the young woman’s car and phone but there were no signs of her of the toddler she had called about.

Carlee was missing all of Friday afterwards and then at 10:45pm on Saturday 15 July, the Hoover 911 centre (in Alabama) received a call to say she had made it back home on foot.

There hasn’t been any more details from police about this ordeal, but the woman’s boyfriend, Thomar Latrell Simmons, is claiming she was kidnapped.

Hoover Police Dept

Thomar made a post on Facebook thanking those who helped in the search for Carlee and who had prayed for her to return safely, writing: “I have been going nonstop since I received the call that she was missing on Thursday night. I know she would’ve done the same for me, so I wasn’t going to give up until I saw her face again!"

He didn’t give deep details about what his girlfriend had been through after vanishing from the highway but did claim she had been ‘literally fighting for her life for 48 hours’.

Thomar added: “Until she’s physically [and] mentally stable again she is not able to give any updates or whereabouts on her kidnapper at this very moment.”

After being told Carlee had returned home, police and fire department officers responded to the scene and she was transported to a local hospital where she was treated before being release.

Facebook/Thomar Latrell Simmons

Police have conifmred an ‘initial statement’ was taken from Carlee and the details of which are ‘part of the ongoing investigation which is expected to continue over the next few days.

Hoover Police Chief Nicholas Derzis told CNN affiliate WBRC the police department is 'very happy' with Russell's safe return, saying: "We wanted her to come home safe and sound - and we’ll hope that’s what happened here. And I couldn’t be more excited, and I hope the community feels the same way.

“The first thing is to give Carlee and family a little time to get themselves back together," Derzis continued.

“I know it’s been a tough experience for them. When we think it’s time to sit down and have a conversation with Carlee and try to get some facts, we’ll do that.”

Tyla has contacted Hoover police department for comment.