Carlee Russell Fired from Spa Job as Co-Workers Raise Doubts Over Kidnapping Story
Carlee Russell Fired from Spa Job as Co-Workers Raise Doubts Over Kidnapping Story
Carlee Russell, the woman who disappeared after calling 911 to report a toddler on a highway, has been officially wiped from the payroll of her workplace, Woodhouse Spa.
The Alabama spa owner, Stuart Rome, confirmed to Radar Online that Russell had been fired. Her former co-workers were left shocked after the 25-year-old nursing student disappeared and later returned with a dramatic kidnapping story. The Woodward Spa staff was devastated to hear the news and searched for their colleague while managing work responsibilities, according to to Rome.
“It was really devastating for them thinking a co-worker was abducted,” Rome said.
Skepticism over the circumstances surrounding the alleged kidnapping began to grow after police revealed that Russell had searched for bus ticket prices and movies with abduction subject matter on the day she vanished.
As more details began to emerge, Russell’s co-workers’ concern turned to anger.
Rome explained — “As the information came out that there were some questionable things, we’ve been a little pissed off, mainly because so many people took so much time out to search.”
Woodhouse Spa has been hit with a flood of negative comments and one star reviews due to the company’s ties to Russell. Rome told the outlet that he was working to get negative comments and reviews deleted and had shut down both of the spa’s Instagram and Facebook comment sections. The business is reportedly battling to stay up and running amid the controversy.
Russell disappeared on July 13 after she called 911 at 9:34 pm, alleging that she had spotted a small child walking alone on a highway.
“She went missing during that conversation sometime after 9:36 PM,” police wrote on Facebook, referring to Russell’s subsequent call to a family member.
She returned home two days later, claiming that she was kidnapped and held against her will after initially promising to wait at the scene until authorities arrived. Police found no evidence to support her story and Police Chief Nick Derzis was not able to verify her statement.
Russell alleged that she was grabbed by a man and forced inside a vehicle before being transferred to an 18-wheeler truck while blindfolded. She told police that she escaped but was recaptured and taken to a residence where she was was undressed. Russell said that a female captor gave her cheese crackers and played with her hair, the next day.
Meanwhile a massive search was underway involving local, state and federal agencies, according to police.
Russell claimed that she was able to escape and run through the woods to her home after she was moved to a vehicle, about 49 hours after she disappeared. Police were notified about 10:45 pm that Russell had returned.
“This investigation is not over,” Derzis said. “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.”
Russell’s mother, Talitha Russell, backed her daughter’s story, claiming that the student escaped alleged abductors while fighting for her life.
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