we said from the evening of july 13th our focus would be the safe return of carlee russell. aturday, july 15th, approximately 49 hours after she called 911 and disappeared. from that point, our focus has been to determine carlee's whereabouts during that time and what exactly took place. let me say up front, this investigation is not over. we're still working this case, and we're working this case until we uncover every piece of evidence that helps us account for the 49 hours that carlee russell was missing. however, through the public interest in some cases, public fear, that this story has generated, we owe it to our citizens to tell them the facts that we have uncovered. i will give you the facts that we know today. on july 13th, at approximately 8:20 p.m., carlee left work from a business at the summit. surveillance video from her place of employment shows carlee concealed a dark colored bathrobe, a roll of toilet paper and other items belonging to the business prior to her departure. she ordered food and traveled there. she then traveled to target on 280 where she purcha

alabama nursing student went missing thursday, is back home and safe with her family. 25-year-old carlee russelllking alone on an interstate. she was on the phone with a family member when she disappeared. video from the interstate where russell disappeared shows a car driving slowly with flashers on. word of her disappearance went viral on social media. on saturday, russell returned to her family home, alone and on foot. she was taken to hospital for an evaluation and released. it is still unclear what happened to russell during those 48 hours or what happened to the child she reported seeing on thursday. joining me now is nbc's priscilla thompson in hoover, alabama. i've been watching your coverage, excellent coverage of this case. i know you talked with the family before their daughter was found. have they learned or have police interviewed carlee russell and found out where she was? >> well, joy, that is the big question. we know that police have spoken with carlee russell, they spoke with her the night she returned when she was taken to the hospital. at some point, if they did speak to her

and of course, i'm thinking of angela harris who led search efforts for carlee russell and was in tears when she found out that she had returned because she talked about when her daughter aniya d because she talked about when her daughter aniya blanchard went missing years ago, and was ultimately murdered, she didn't get that moment, and she was so happy that carlee russell was back, and for her and families to know this was a hoax, police saying it was not a victimless crime and she does need to be held accountable. she was arrested, processed, and she has made bail and is out. we know that she has an attorney. he also said at this point they do not believe her parents are implicated in this, but he also said that there could be more charges to come. they are going to continue to investigate. and the other thing that he said is that these are the charges that are allowed by the current law. and the police chief said that he's going to be speaking to state legislatures about potentially changing the laws so that perhaps more charges could come out of something like this. they are seeing

listen to the police chief talking about the charges he decided to place against carlee russell. >> ipite the panic and disruption her actions caused. let me assure you, i, too, share the same frustration. but existing laws only allow the charges that were filed to be filed. i can tell you that i will be contacting our state legislators on behalf of law enforcement in montgomery and asking them to look at this law, applied to these facts, and urge them to add an enhancement to current legislation when somebody falsely reports kidnapping or another violent crime. >> reporter: those charges are false reporting to law enforcement authorities and false reporting an incident. both ended up being about a $1,000 bond. carlee russell was arrested and released. at this point there is talk about whether or not there could be more charges, but because of the way the laws are set up in alabama, that is not the case as of right now. there's also talk about the economic impact to the police departments that were involved in this. so a lot of discussion. what we do know is she was arrested, charged

brock reports. >> reporter: after days of questions, police say they're still investigating where carlee russellt over a 49-hour period >> what we can say is we've been unable to verify most of c carlee's initial statement need to investigators, and there is no risk to the public. >> what is he wearing? >> it's a white tee shirt, and it doesn't look like he has any pants on looks like a diaper. >> reporter: but the police chief said as the call was being made, data from carlee's phone spay says she drove 600 feet. >> a toddler, 3 or 4 years old would travel six football fields without getting in the highway or crying? >> reporter: law enforcement laid out a timeline which included her taking toilet paper from work and purchasing snacks which were never found she searched online, including, do you pay for an amber alert. a search for a one-way bus ticket and a search for the movie "taken." police adding that carlee told investigators that a man with orange hair came onto the roadway and made her go over a fence, pulling her into a car and then a 18 wheeler. she says she was then able to break fre

after a desperate two-day search, 25-year-old carlee russell is safe.olice say she returned home alone on foot last night. >> we got a 911 call came from her residence at -- which is her parents' house at 9:45, saying that she was home and that, of course, our folks got over there as quickly as we could. >> reporter: this morning russell's family was outside a hospital in birmingham where medical professionals evaluated her. a man who says he's a close friend of russell posted on instagram, she was literally fighting for her life for 48 hours. he goes on to characterize her disappearance as a kidnapping, adding until she is physically and mentally stable again, she's not able to give any updates on her kidnapper. shortly after russell's mother posted on facebook, thanking god for her return. police are working to determine where the nursing student has been since thursday night when she called 911 and then a relative to report seeing a child alone on the side of the dark highway. >> we're sure that she called 911 from the interstate and we're sure that

>>> police in alabama speaking out about carlee russell, who claims she was abducted for two days sayingverify her initial statement to detectives. what her online search history revealed. >>> new insights about the u.s. soldier who ran into north korea. a member of his tour group telling our reporter how he suddenly bolted out of the demilitarized zone. what his family is telling us. plus, why he had been jailed in south korea for a month before being detained in north korea. >>> flash flood emergency in kentucky after almost a foot of record-setting rain. >>> a tornado rips through north carolina doing major damage to a pfizer facility. >>> and passengers on stretchers taken off a las vegas plane with no working ac as a brutal heat wave sets records across the planet. >>> two irs whistle-blowers telling congress why they think hunter biden got preferential treatment. demomocrats pushing back. >>> and the unlikely blockbuster double feature that's become the summer's hottest ticket. >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. >>> good evening, and welcome. we begin tonigh

. >>> officials in alabama announcing charles for carlee russell. what kind of trouble does she face for orchestrating a kidnapping host. >>> up first, it's hotter than hot in much of the country. if you've been outside at all, my gosh, including right here in new york. when can we expect relief, the question we have been asking repeatedly. we'll be right back. repeatedly we'll be right back. letting me . so, we switched to verizon business internet. they have business grade internet, nationwide. (vo) make the switch. it's your business. it's your verizon. introducing the all-new 2024 chevy trax. ♪ ♪ helps you stay connected, ♪ safe ♪ and charged. ♪ the all-new chevy trax starting at $21,495. the possibilities are endless. shingles. some describe it as an intense burning sensation or an unbearable itch. this painful, blistering rash can disrupt your life for weeks. it could make your workday feel impossible. the virus that causes shingles is likely already inside of you. if you're 50 years or older, ask your doctor or pharmacist about shingles. just

carlee russell was arrested and released.r not there could be more charges. but because of the way laws are set up in alabama, that is not the case as of right now. this is talk of the economic impact to the police departments involved in this. what we know is she was arrested, charged and bonded out. a weird ending to this entire saga. >> ryan young, thank you so much. >>> straight ahead, are you feeling lucky? the mega millions jackpot has soared to morehan $1 billion. when you'll get your next shot at the prize coming up. a quick programming note to tell you about fr love and hip-hop to america's next top model, the new episode of "see it loud" appears tomorrow at 9:00 p.m. eastern right here on cnn. and this future champ.p. and if we proffer it, we know you'll p proffer it to. he's cocky for a nineteen year old. okay everyone, our mission is complete balanced nutrition. together we provide nutrients to support immune, muscle, bone, and heart health. yaaay! woo hoo! ensure with 25 vitamins and minerals and ensure complet -

she is charged with two misdemeanors could carlee russell face additional charges?ibly not. you would have already heard of it t there aren't any charges tt come to mind but certainly those two misdemeanor charges for false reports can have consecutive terms as opposing to just have a one in less than a year because each of them is a misdemeanor. what can happen is that restitution for all of the resources that were expended in trying to locate her. in such an outrage when you think about everything that was diverted to find her, nationally it's only about a two hour window when individuals are kidnapped that they be found. that is why they're such desperation to find her and certainly find her alive. unfortunately this was all a hoax. >> it is unfortunate. so then again what kind of damages question what you touched on a second what kind of damage could she face punitive and compensatory? >> a great question, arthel could be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars we are talking about 48 hours of nonstop police work. that was being done in order to find her. that c

a stunning public confession in the mysterious disappearance of carlee russell. >> there was no kid nangding a statement provided by russell's attorney on behalf of the 25-year-old nursing student. >> my client did not see a baby on the side of the road. my client did not leave the hoover area. that was a single act done by herself. >> reporter: for days the investigation captured national attention, but skepticism quickly grew when miss were unable to verify her story. >> where do you think she went, and how would you characterize what happened here? >> that's the $100 question. >> reporter: earlier this month russell went missing for just over 48 hours after calling 911 to report a toddler walking alone on the interstate. >> hi, i am on interstate 459, and there's a kid just walking by theirself. >> reporter: in her initial statement russell claimed she was abducted by a man with orange hair and a woman who brought her to a home, forced her to undress and took nude photos of her. throughout the investigation, police say they found no evidence of an abandoned toddler, also internet sear

priscilla thompson reports from alabama >> reporter: tonight, relief for family and friends of carlee russell. >> i'm so thankful that carlee is home safe >> reporter: her safe return also prompting new questions about her disappearance. the 25-year-old, who had been missing for two days, returned to her family home on foot and alone late saturday night, police say. they provided no details about where she'd been or on her condition, but say medics responded and took russell to a hospital for evaluation you spoke to this family moments after carlee came home. >> right. >> reporter: what did they say >> it was just kind of like a very emotional phone call. >> reporter: angela harris has been leading search efforts on the ground in hoover, alabama. >> and i said is this true is carlee back home? and she said yes, yes, yes. carlee is here, she is here. >> reporter: the reunion bringing an end to the urgent search that began thursday night after police say russell called 911 to report a toddler walking on interstate 459 police telling nbc news they're analyzing this chilling video from where russ

carlee russell called police to report she saw a toddler on the side of the road.n police showed up, she wasn't there and there was no toddler. ryan young has the breaking news. what can you tell us? >> boris this just wrapping up in the last five minutes or so. the police deciding to make the announcement that they decided to arrest carlee russell. she's been arrested and she's actually bonded out. two charges she faced is false police reporting, and false reporting of an incident, both misdemeanors. understanding why so many people across the country were interested in this case, because for 49 hours, carlee russell was missing and people wanted to know had she been abducted when she said she saw a toddler on the side of the road. she pulled over. when police arrived, all they found was a wig, cell phone and apple iphone watch and her car sitting there. for quite some time, they were looking for this window. listen to the chief talk about this moments ago. >> i know many are shocked and appalled that miss russell is only being charged with two misdemeanors. despi

hoax. >> reporter: this morning, a stunning public confession in the mysterious disappearance of carlee russell. >> there was no kidnapping. >> reporter: the police chief reading a statement provided by russell's attorney. >> our client did not see a baby on the side of the road. my client did not leave the area. this was a single act done by herself. >> reporter: for days the investigation captured national attention, but skepticism quickly grew when police were unable to verify her story. where do you think she went? and how would you characterize what happened here? >> that's the $100 question. >> reporter: earlier this month, russell went missing for just over 48 hours after calling 911 to report a toddler walking alone on the interstate. >> hi. i am on interstate 459, and there is a kid just walking by the theirself. >> reporter: in her initial statement she claimed she was abducted by a man with orange hair and a woman who brought her to a home and forced her to undress and took nude photos of her. police found no evidence of an abandoned toddler and detailing searches made by russell bef

this morning, after a frantic 48-hour search, police now say 25-year-old carlee russell has been founddepartment says carlee had been taken to the hospital for evaluation. according to reports, russell showed up at her family's front door. this news coming on the heels of an exhaustive statewide search that rocked this community. detectives in hoover, alabama, fanning out across the city. fliers on nearly every corner as her parents pleaded for the safe return of their daughter, missing since thursday night. we were able to sit down with carlee's parents before she was found where they told us about their grueling search for their missing daughter. >> it's a struggle and sometimes you're numb. sometimes the tears just flow. we probably have had two hours of sleep in the past two days. >> reporter: carlee's parents say they last spoke with her around 9:20 thursday night when she called to let them know she was headed home from work. ten minutes later, hoover police say she called around 9:30 to report seeing a toddler walking alone on the side of interstate 459. soon after carlee makes

. >>> it was a hoax, the lawyer for carlee russell reveals she was not kidnapped as she told alabamalout from the scandal and possible charges she could face. >>> and suffering in silence, a painful condition affecting more than 6 million women across america often misdiagnosed or ignored, we'll talk to a doctor about the signs and symptoms and how you can find relief. >>> we're going to start with that breaking news out of los angeles, bronny james, the son of nba legend lebron james recovering in the hospital at this hour after he collapsed during a workout and suffered a cardiac arrest. >> the james family said this incident happened on monday, but it's just been made public today. it all happened at a practice at the university of southern california where bronny is set to play college ball this upcoming season. the 18-year-old was rushed to the hospital and is in stable condition according to a family statement. >> let's get right to nbc news correspondent erin mclaughlin in los angeles, and the director of atlanta health system sports cardiology at morristown medical center in

carlee russell was arrested and released.hether there could be more charges, but because of the way the laws are set up in alabama, that's not the case right now. there's talk about the economic impact to the police departments involved in this. a lot of discussions. we do know she was arrested, charged, and bonded out. a weird ending to this saga. >>> it's a historic change to military code f. we have discussion on president biden's decision and what it means for victims. so why do we leave so much untapped potentitial on the tab? this is a next level bed, for a next l level you. my circadidian rhythm is kickig your circadian rhythms butt! it's not a competition. i know, but i'm still winning! so it is a competition. save up to $500 on the new sleep number® smart bed. plus, 60 month financing on most smart beds. shop now only at sleep number®. ♪ hit it ♪ ♪ it takes two to make a thing go right ♪ ♪ it takes two to make it outta sight ♪ ♪ne, two, get loose now ♪ ♪ it takes two to make a... ♪ stay two nights d get a $ 50 best w

carlee russell, the woman who mysteriously disappeared after that strange call to police now admitting made it all up. could she face criminal charges? >>> and later, going postal. talks resume today in a bid to avert a massive u.p.s. strike. what teamsters want and what a strike would mean for your packages. strike would mean for your packages how are folks 60 and older having fun these days? family cookouts! [blowing] [dice roll] ♪ playing games! [party chatter] dancin in the par—! power e*trade's award-winning trading app makes trading easier. with its customizable options chain, easy-to-use tools and paper trading to help sharpen your skills, you can stay on top of the market from wherever you are. e*trade from morgan stanley. power e*trade's easy-to-use tools make complex trading less complicated. custom scans help you find new trading opportunities, while an earnings tool helps you plan your trades and stay on top of the market. e*trade from morgan stanley. >>> turns out it was all a hoax. carlee russell, the alabama woman who called 911 and went missing is now admitting her whol

part of our family our hearts are broken that he's gone >>> now to some new developments in the carlee russell kidnapping investigation. ten days after russell claimed she was dnapped, lawye now says ne of it actually ed and russeever even left the hoover, alabama area. the lawyer added that russell is apologizing for her actions and this statement was read from her lawyer >> my client did not see a baby on the side of the road. my client did not leave the hoover area when she was identified as a missing person my client did not have any help in this incident this was a single act done by herself. >> police say they are discussing potential criminal charges in the case. >>> a powerful storm left a trail of sdrugs destruction in wisconsin. the city of hudson east of minneapolis is cleaning up after high winds uprooted trees and damaged many homes there had not been any reports of injuries, but multiple families were forced to relocate after the roof of an apartment building was ripped off during the storms >> some storms and the heat dome is still hanging over millions of americans this morning

carlee russell vanished after making the 91 call.he said she pulled over on the highway after seeing a child wandering alone. a clip from her call. >> i am on interstate 459 and there is a kid that's walking by themselves. >> how old do they look? >> like a toddler, like maybe like 3 or 4? >> harris: police launched a nationwide effort. we covered it. they were looking for her before she returned home on foot 49 hours later. she said she had been traumatized and physically fought for her life. that was not true. police now are sharing some of the google searches that carlee russell made leading up to the hoax. do you need to pay for amber alert? how to take money from register without being caught. she googled the movie "taken." phil, your top line thoughts on this. >> those are some interesting google searches. that statement from her lawyer i think tells me they fully expect, harris, she will be charged with a crime and probably going to be something in the nature of making a false statement to law enforcement. the lawyer is essent

. >>> what happened to carlee russell? police now say they don't have evidence to back her claim that she saw a toddler on the highway before vanishing for two day, and what she searched on her phone right before. >>> new warning about crime tourism. authorities coast to coast sounding the alarm about criminals coming from other countries to target upscale neighborhoods using radios to scope out homes, even posing as delivery drivers. >>> the florida surfer bitten by a shark telling his story for the first time. the moment the shark yanked him off his board and pulled him under. ♪ celebrate good times come on ♪ >>> plus game on. overnight the women's world cup kicking off. can the u.s. women take home an unprecedented third consecutive title? and game over. one lucky winner of the billion dollar jackpot taking home the golden ticket. >> announcer: live in times square, this is good morning america. >> come on! good morning america. thanks for being with us. someone is waking up a billionaire this morning. that's a live loo

highway. >>> hi, i'm on interstate 459, and there's a kid just walking by their selves. >>> then, carlee russellefore suddenly showing up at her family's house. her mother believes that her daughter was abducted. but, since russell's return, police say they cannot verify most of her story. and internet searches on her phone before her disappearance only added to the mystery, the searches included quote do you have to pay for an amber alert. how do you take money from a register without being caught, one way bus tickets and the movie, "taken". help us understand where the investigation stands now. >> so, the police were able to interview her after she said she escaped from her captors for a second time. made it home, she was taken to a hospital, examined, and she was physically okay, she had a cut and a ripped shirt and at the hospital they found $107 hidden inside her sock, you'll note her purse, phone and a everything was left behind in the car. a lot of problems with this story which are vexing for police. her claim was that as she was going to watch the baby who was walking along the highway,

alabama nursing student carlee russell admits her disappearance was a hoax. now will she face charges? >>> deadly bear attack. >> she died doing what she loved. >> the parents of the woman killed by a grizzly while hiking near yellowstone speak only on gma. >>> facing the music. grammy winner monica jumping off stage midshow to stop a fight between fans. what she's telling gma this morning. ♪ mama mia ♪ >> and here we go again with back to school season around the corner. how to save big on supplies with sales tax holiday. and great scott, we're going back to the future. backstage at the hit musical with marty and doc. here we go again, tonight's megamillions nearing $1 billion. will we see another jack pot? >> announcer: live in times square, this is good morning america. >> you know what? i hit the jack pot being here with george and linsey. we got a busy morning ahead of us. >> we're going to have a lot coming up on that looming u.p.s. strike. if an agreement isn't reached by next week, it could cost the economy billions. more ahead. >>> first the extreme

police said today that carlee russell gave a harrowing account of being abducted by a man with orange hair, but that her internet searches before she vanished included a hollywood kidnapping thriller movie. we get more now from cbs' lilia luciano. >> reporter: tonight police provide some answers to the many questions that followed a bizarre story of abduction in birmingham when carlee russell disappeared after making an alarming call to 911. >> i am on interstate 459, and there's a kid just walking by theirselves. >> reporter: her family says she was on the phone with her sister-in-law, who says they heard her scream. >> we pretty much know exactly what took place from the time she left work until she got on the 911 call. and we can see getting out of the car on the interstate from that footage. and after that, i think she only knows. >> reporter: she told police that the orange-haired man had kept her in the back of an 18-wheeler. police say during the investigation, it was revealed that she had made questionable internet searches days and hours before vanishing, including about the

carlee russell disappeared on july 13th. mysteriously returned home two days later.ot of peop ccerned about future missing persons cases. according to the fbi's national crime information center, more than 30,000 black people remain missing at the end of 2022. joining me to discuss is cnn's senior race and equality writer, nickel terry ellis. this is a difficult conversation for a lot of people who were immediately so passionate about find carlee russell, bring her home, and now these inconsistencies in the stories, these families that you speak of who have family members who are missing, what are their concerns? what are their fears? >> good morning, victor. thank you for having me. so i start with the black and missing foundation. they say they have more than 6,000 cases of missing black people that their date base. for them, this is very serious. black families already have a hard time getting police to take their cases seriously when they report a loved one missing. they struggle to get police to fully investigate their cases. so for them it's very frustrating to

that call coming from interstate 459 south, russell telling a dispatcher a toddler was walking alone on the side of the road. police would arrive to find carlee'shone, but no sign of her or the toddler. >> she's not at her vehicle. >> nicole russell out of birmingham, we're not getting the female to answer. we're trying to call her back, she's not answering. >> just being honest, her vehicle's unlocked, running, all her personal belongings except for her phone. >> reporter: police say on saturday night, russell showed up at her parents' home. listen to what she told detectives. >> when she got out of her vehicle to check on the child, a man came out of the trees and mumbled that he was checking on the baby. she claimed that the man then pek picked her up and she screamed. the next thing she remembers is being this the trailer of an 18-wheeler. >> reporter: hoover detectives describe what surveillance video at her job showed before russell called 911 that thursday. >> surveillance video from her place of employment shows carlee concealed, a dark colored bathrobe, a roll of toilet paper. >> reporter: the 25-year-old also stopped at a target where

molly: carlee russell, who admitted to staging her own kidnapping, is now facing charges for the hoaxference highlighting the panic and the alarm that she caused across the nation. senior corps correspondent steve harrigan has the latest. >> reporter: carlee russell, 25-year-old nursing student, now faces two misdemeanor charges both for giving false reports, one false report to law enforcement, and that could bring her up to a year in prison for each one. the police chief of hoover, alabama, was visibly angry at the press conference. he said he would have hit her with more charges if the law allowed him to do so. >> her decisions that night created panic for the citizens of our city and even across the nation as a concern grew that a kidnapper was on the loose using a small child as bait. >> reporter: russell's attorney says she admitted that the entire story was made up, that there was no toddler by the side of the highway, no abduction, and she actually never left the city of hoover, alabama, during the 49 hours she was missing. the everyone to general says the manhunt caused heavy

police said today that carlee russell gave a harrowing account of being abducted by a man with oranges before she vanished including a hollywood kidnapping thriller movie. we hear more now from cbs's lilia luciano. >> reporter: tonight, police provide some answers to the many questions that followed aabduction in birmingham, when carlee russell disappeared after making an alarming call to 911. >> i am on interstate 459, and there is a kid that is walking by their self. >> reporter: her family says she was on the phone with her sister-in-law, who said they heard her scream. >> we pretty much know exactly what took place from the time she left work until she got on the 911 call, and we can see, getting out of the car, on the interstate, from that footage, and after that, i think she only knows. >> reporter: she told police that the orange-haired man had kept her in the back of an 18-wheeler. police say during the investigation it was revealed that she had made questionable internet searches days and hours before vanishing. including about the hollywood kidnapping thriller "taken." >> i

home on foot.alabama case of carlee russell who went missing for two days before returning home on foote says she was kidnapped after stopping on a busy highway to help a toddler on the road. police say there are no reports of a child missing or wandering by a highway. the local police chief say they are still looking for answers. >> when someone says something like this, we put every available resource, everybody comes together from state, local, federal. it is a lot of work. it is a little frustrating to think all of this has been done and we can't find anything out. >> authorities say despite the unsettling case, they don't believe that there is a threat to the public. >>> the wife of the gilgo beach murder suspect has filed for divorce her attorney tells cnn. this comes as new information is coming to light about the serial killings in long island, new york. jean casarez has the latest. >> reporter: as the investigation into the gilgo beach serial killing suspect continues, more people coming forward to talk about their interactions with rex heuermann. >> i had a really, really bad

this morning as questions swirl about carlee russell's disappearance, her boyfriend speaking out, defendingi want everyone to stop bullying her. i know what it seems like, what she did. just stop bullying on social media adding, think about her mental health. nobody deserves to be cyber bullied. simmons had recently removed all traces of russell from his social media pages including a since deleted facebook post that said she was literally fighting for her life. russell told authorities she saw a child walking alone on the side of the interstate on her way home on the evening of july 13th. >> okay. >> what is he wearing? >> it's a white t-shirt and doesn't look like he has any pants on. looks like a diaper. >> reporter: the 25-year-old nursing student saying a man and woman forced her into multiple vehicles, blindfolded but eventually she was able to escape through some woods. but hoover city authorities saying investigators could not corroborate any of her dramatic story of survival. >> we've been unable to verify most of carlee's initial statement made to investigators. >> reporter: accor

police are talking about what carlee russell was searching for online before she vanished.next. i can be free to d do the thins that i love to do. i hope when i retire someday,, they say, that guy made this place a speciaial place to come to schol and gave as much as he could to help the community. this is spring semester at over 13,000 us school districts, which have become top targets for ransomware attacks. but there's never been a reported ransomware attack on a chromebook. which is why thousands of schools like the fairfield-suisun unified school district switched to google tools for education. so they can focus on teaching and 22,000 students can focus on learning, knowing that their data is secure. ( ♪ ) >>> police in alabama are expressing their doubts will carlee russell, she's the person who called 911 saying that she saw a toddler walking object the highway or near the highway and that she was going to stop and check on them. then, she went missing. and then she turned up two days later saying that she had been kid napped according to family members. now, police

the chief says only carlee russell can tell the truth about what, indeed, happened to her.tonight with alison camerota starts right now. hey, alison. >> great to see you. >> nice to see you! >> good evening, everyone, i am alisyn camerota. welcome to cnn tonight. the special counsel's grand jury is expected to meet tomorrow to continue their work investigating donald trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election. legal experts are keeping their eyes peeled fo

. >> this morning what carlee russell's own internet searches from before she vanished are revealing. >>> all of that, plus, sharing the wealth. netflix winning big after that risky gamble to crack down on password shaharing. how its success and attracting new users could impact your other streaming accounts. >>> and kicking it. the women's world cup getting underway overnight. all eyes on team usa trying to become the first to win three straight. we are live in new zealand with the stars of the show. >> good morning, "today" show. hi, hoda, hi, savannah. >> today, thursday, july 20th, 2023. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with savannah guthrie, and hoda kotb, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >>> well, good morning. welcome to "today." thank you for joining us on a thursday morning. good morning from alex morgan. >> she took time out. the u.s. team getting ready to play. world cup has started already down under. we will have much more on that in just a little bit. also this morning, once again, have got to keep an eye on this extreme weather coast-to-coast. stop

carlee russell disappeared after calling 911 to tell police she saw a toddler she thought was walking when police arrived there was no sign of a baby and no sign of russell herself. today investigators say they want to talk to russell hoping to get a more detailed sequence of events about the night her family says she was abducted. there is also brand-new dispatch audio that has come to us. cnn's ryan young has been following this story from the start. ryan, what can you tell us about this audio and what it reveals? >> reporter: sara, we are going to share that with everyone in just a second but to say the internet has been interested in this story would be an understatement. people have been trying to figure out what happened to this young woman. she's been found and of course she's with her family. we have to listen to this audio beuse this is what police have put out anthe will be a news confen later this afternoon. let's take a lin to the dispatch audio. >> south, mile marker 10, going to be a child walking the -- 3 or 4-year-old child walking on the side of the internet next to h

carlee russell was found safe and sound when she showed up back at her parent's home.te wondering what happened to this young lady. you think about a frantic call to 911, saying a toddler was on the side of the road, and they did find some of her belongings in that car, and for hours there were search efforts, people were trying to find her. and on saturday, she showed up at her parent's home. they released a statement that in part says, look, my husband and i want to make this statement again, as we did last night. it's nothing more to add or take away from how we're feeling right now. god is faithful and he answered our prayers. we are so grateful to each of you for all of the acts of kindness, generosity, and compassion you have shown. you understand the family is just so excited about the fact that she has returned home, but there are other questions. and the police department did say they're waiting for her to go to the hospital and get evaluated. at some point, they'll try to sit down and interview her and figure out exactly what happened. a lot of people have qu

carlee russell on july 13th, two weeks ago, there was an abduction reported along a highway. 911 wasabout a toddler wandering in the road. two days later at the same time russell was reported missing. two days later she shows up at her parents' door, saturday, july 15th. investigators revealed her search. a one way bus ticket to nashville. how do get -- the movie taken. her boyfriend also erases all traces of her and that brings us now to today, actually yesterday where she has admitted it was all a hoax. jonathan serrie picks up the story live in the southeast bureau. what's up with this? hello. >> police trying to figure out a motive. they say carlee russell admitted to fabricating her kidnapping and that she did this through a statement delivered to them by her attorney. the lawyer says there was no kidnapping on july 13th and his client did not see a toddler walking on the side of interstate 459 as she initially told a 911 operator. additionally the attorney says the 25-year-old woman acted alone and she apologizes to the community, police and volunteers who searched for her. the

there are growing questions today surrounding the disappearance of a young woman in alabama, carlee russellr she's come back home, she's safe with her family. nbc news correspondent priscilla thompson has been following this story all weekend. lot of questions and confusion. >> reporter: kate, we know that police have now been able to account for all of carlee russell's movement up until she made that 911 call and vanished off the interstate for more than 48 hours, she returned on saturday night on foot and alone showing up on the doorstep of her family home, but there's still no answers about what happened during that more than 48 hours that she was missing. today her family and the community grateful to have her back here. i spoke with angela harris who led the search efforts on the ground here about her reaction the all of this. i want to play a bit of what she shared with me. >> i'm so thankful that she's home safe. >> you spoke to this family, what did they say. >> et was kind of a very emotional phone call. i just broke down and i said, is she okay? she said, i don't know, she seems t

still a mystery we don't know what happened to carlee russell over that 48-hour period. the joy, the relief the gratitude when they heard sounds from outside and carlee was walking back toward her house. her mom said it was very brief because she was, quote, not in a good state. carlee had to be taken to an local hospital for evaluation, police also interviewed her at that point and she was later released. police so far only interviewed carlee one time. they've not provided any details on who they're looking for. her parents said there's no doubt that there was an abduction and that she was fighting for her life. police aren't raising alarm belles. something doesn't line up here as they spoke with priscilla thompson. here's a portion of that interview and specifically what their daughter was facing she definitely fought for her life and she fought in different ways, moment where she physically had to fight for her life and ways she mentally had to fight for her life. she's having to deem with the trauma with people just making completely false allegations about her. and s

. >> janai: carlee russell charged. alabama nursing student facing two misdemeanors after admitting her role in that kidnapping hoax. this morning, the sentence she could face if convicted. >> gio: ozempic and wegovy back in the headlines. some patients speaking out about the side effects they say they're experiencing as the uk probes whether the blockbuster drug poses an increase in suicide risk. >> whit: gen-z making major money moves. >> i have no idea if you're running numbers. >> whit: meet the two influencers who retired from 9 to 5 life in their 20s, sharing the wealth on claiming their financial freedom. >> janai: "gma's" great new zealand adventure. kicking off all the sights, sips and zips that make the home of the 2023 women's world cup pitch perfect. ♪ i'm back, back in the new york groove ♪ >> gio: and our 7th inning snacks series slides into home plate. "gma's" week-long cross-country celebration of the best ballparks in america. sampling stadium snacks all in a league of their own, and this morning we're

police a 25-year-old carlee russell returned home on foot saturday two days after her disappearance triggered a massive search. she's being treated at a hospital in birmingham. police are trying to determine where the nursing student had been since thursday night when she called 911 and then a relative to report seeing a toddler alone on the side of a highway. russell's car and some of her belongings were found at the scene, but no sign of a child. >>> signs of trouble for the ron desantis campaign. the republican presidential contender has cut his campaign staff. fewer than ten staffers were let go last week. the move comes as the florida governor struggles to appeal to voters as the gop's strongest alternative to former president trump who remains party's frontrunner. the staffing shakeup comes less than two months after desantis launched his presidential bid. >>> and the deadline looms on a deal that has allowed ukraine to export its grain during the russian invasion. the deal that helped stabilize global food prices now needs russia's consent to continue. russia has complained that while

carlee russell is back home. she's safe.s not clear what happened to her or the child she claimed to see after that strange call. nbc's priscilla thompson is in hoover, alabama, this morning. priscilla, we also heard there was screaming when she was on the phone with somebody. do we know what happened to her? >> reporter: ana, we know she's safe and surrounded by family. right now there are a lot of questions about what exactly happened, where she was and a lot of questions about the 911 call that started it all. >> i'm so thankful that carlee is home safe, so thankful. >> this morning the search for carlee russell is over. the missing 25-year-old nursing student returned to her family home saturday night. police say she arrived alone and on foot. angela harris helped lead the community search for her. >> you spoke to this family moments after carlee came home. >> right. >> what did they say? >> it was just kind of like a very emotional phone call. i just broke down. i said, is she okay? she said, i don't know, she seems to

police say they received a letter from carlee russell's lawyer saying she lied to 911 dispatchers.ould be facing charges for that hoax. cnn's ryan young is live in atlanta this morning. there was so much concern and confusion when this initial story came out. and now she made it all up according to police? >> reporter: that's the claim right now. you look at all police did to try to find this woman. you understand why so many in the community and across this country wondering why this happened. they saw the flashing lights using the surveillance camera. they were trying to figure out whether or not there was a toddler missing and the chief talked the car moved 600 yards down that road. they were able to track that gps to see exactly how far it went after that 911 call saying a toddler could never have crossed that much road while she was driving and calling 911. so much went into this. the community, the other police departments, the federal law enforcement. all been looking for carlee russell and put out the search history where she googled the movie "taken" and also tried to see

. >> we want everybody, across the world, to be on the lookout for carlee russell >> reporter: in oneord, what has the past few days been like? >> horrific. >> reporter: as volunteers and law enforcement scour the hoover, alabama, area for any sign of the 25-year-old who went missing thursday night after police say she called 911 to report seeing a toddler walking alone on the side of interstate 459. authorities say russell stopped to check on the child and called a family member. the last person to speak with her before she disappeared >> she heard a scream and then some type of running type shuffle. >> reporter: police say when they arrived, they found russell's vehicle, but no sign of russell or the child. police say they have not received any reports of a missing child. a witness reported possibly seeing a gray vehicle with a light complexion man standing outside russell's car. >> we have no further information on that individual or the vehicle at this time. >> reporter: russell was last seen wearing a black shirt and pants with nike shoes, police say. her mom says her hair may be

ten days after carlee russell claimed she saw a young child on a highway and was then kidnapped her lawyer today said in a statement read by police that none of it happened and that russell did not leave the hoover, alabama area the lawyer said russell apologizes for her actions. the police chief says potential criminal charges are being discussed. >>> in israel tonight growing protests after lawmakers passed a controversial bill backed by prime minister benjamin netanyahu that makes major changes to the court system raf sanchez is there with late developments >> reporter: today the streets of israel erupting into chaos. protesters blocking major roads, chaining themselves together in front of the country's parliament a last-ditch effort by opponents of the government's controversial plan to weaken the supreme court. but it wasn't enough israeli police are using water cannons to try to clear the roads. they're cracking down hard, but the protesters say they'll stay on the street a car appearing to ram protesters police say three injured. the first part of prime minister netanyahu's judicia

story >> reporter: tonight the demand for answers surrounding the mysterious disappearance of carlee russell is growing. the 25-year-old nursing student returned home saturday night after she was reported missing for more than 48 hours her mom sharing on social media, "god is faithful and he has answered our prayers." thanking the public for their support and vowing to ignore negative opinions. it comes as there are mounting questions about the circumstances of russell's disappearance. late thursday hoover police say russell called 911 to report a toddler walking alone on the interstate. police now analyzing this surveillance video which they believe shows russell's car. they say she pulled over to check on the child while on the phone with a family member, who heard the unimaginable >> she heard a scream and then some type of running type shuffle >> reporter: within minutes police say they were on the scene. >> her vehicle is unlocked, running. all her personal belongings except for her phone. >> reporter: police arrived and said they found russell's car, cell phone and purse but no sign of

carlee russell disappeared after calling 911 on july 13th, claiming to see a toddler walking along theve search effort for her, russell walked into her home two days later and told police she had been abducted. in a statement to the police russell said she made up the entire story, adding there was never a child on the road. >>> the body of a paddleboarder missing off the waters of martha's vineyard has been identified as the personal chef to the obama family. authorities were called to the obama resident sunday evening after somebody reported a possible drowning nearby. 45-year-old tafari campbell was visiting the island. the obamas were not staying at their island at the time. campbell was last seen by another paddleboarder in the water. the obama family said he was a beloved part of their family and our hearts are broken that he's gone. >>> and harry styles got emotion after after wrapping up his final tour. dropping to his knees in italy, styles thanked the crowd for their support. he went through 170 shows to become one of the top ten highest grossing tourists of all time, accordi

lester >> all right, gabe gutierrez, thank you >>> in alabama charges announced today against carlee russell, who admitted she made up that story about being kidnapped and seeing a child on a highway. russell was charged with two misdemeanors for falsely reporting those claims she was arrested and freed on bond. she faces up to a year in jail and a $6,000 fine. >>> now to the record-breaking heat nearly 150 million under alert from coast to coast with many in the midwest and northeast experiencing their hottest days of the year miguel almaguer now with more on what researchers are learning to combat the heat >> reporter: tonight as the northeast swelters through its hottest days of the year -- >> i don't like this weather. >> reporter: -- the heat index in cities like new york, washington, d.c., and philadelphia have all soared into the triple digits >> i feel like my skin is sticky. >> reporter: with july expected to become the hottest month in history, today 35 states and d.c. are under heat alerts. climate change helping to push temperatures up to 20 degrees above average. as phoenix appr

hoover police say 25-year-old carlee russell disappeared for two days after calling 911 to report a toddler wandering on the highway, triggering a massive search. when officers arrived at the location, though, they found her car, her cell phone, and a wig. police say russell told investigators that she was forced into a car and held captive but managed to escape on saturday. in the days leading up to her disappearance, police say internet searches revealed that she had looked for information on amber alerts, the kidnapping movie "taken," and one-way bus tickets. police said she stopped for snacks on the day that she went missing, but none of the food was found in her car. she has not spoken to investigators for a second time, and her family says she's traumatized and not ready to talk again. >>> there will be increased security at today's opening match of the women's world cup in new zealand after a deadly shooting nearby. police in auckland say a man opened fire earlier today at a downtown construction site killing two people and injuring five others including a police officer. the suspect