Carlee Russell kidnap hoax: 911’d an invisible toddler

We all want special attention from time to time, but would you fake your own kidnapping?

Would you spin a tale that puts you as a hero for possibly saving a half-dressed toddler from the busy I-459 Birmingham traffic in the dark of the night?

Would your tale include leaving your bright red luxury car still running on the side of the road with all your belongings still inside?

Well, this is only a small part of Ms. Carlethia "Carlee" Nichole Russell did as a cry for attention or perhaps an attempt to get help for her mental health.

This self-made "Gone Girl" had even watched "Taken" a movie about kidnapping, internet searched the questions "how much does an Amber alert cost?" and "how much is a one way bus ticket?"

Hoover Police were there within five mintues after she called 9-1-1 call and said she saw a toddler toddling toward traffic. So the journey begins!

Carlee was gone and stayed that way for two days. 

When she finally emerged, she popped up from the woods right near her home. 

Her story of what happened was even wilder than her fake report of the imagined toddler and the details are still murky of how she spent those 49 hours.   

Join us for the latest episode of the Gulf Coast Confidential podcast, "Carlee Russell kidnap hoax: 911’d an invisible toddler."