As people rejoice about the safe return of a Black woman who went missing for two days in Alabama, a larger debate has broken out on social media over whether the public is entitled to know exactly what happened to her.

What we know

In an exclusive sit down with @NBCNews, the parents of 25-year-old Carlee Russell, Alabama woman who had been missing for two days, are speaking out. @PriscillaWT shares the details. pic.twitter.com/s6z5e3maO4

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) July 18, 2023

Carlee Russell called 911 on Thursday night to report she saw a toddler walking alongside a busy highway in the city of Hoover before informing her family she was stopping to secure the child’s safety. But as the 25-year-old aspiring nurse was on the phone with her family, they say the last thing they heard was a shriek before she disappeared for 48 hours.

MORE: Carlee Russell’s Disappearance Draws Attention To Disturbing Rates Of Missing Black Women

When the police showed up within minutes, all they found was Russell’s car idling on the side of Interstate 459 South with its door open and her personal belongings inside.

what mfs do to carlee mfs do to all black women. they want every detail of what you been through to decide if you worthy of support and protection. fuck yall

— . (@NoEmmeG) July 16, 2023

In that time span, a social media campaign raising awareness of Russell’s disappearance quickly mobilized, as did a multi-law enforcement search effort, all while generating a significant amount of coverage in the mainstream and niche presses to keep her name a trending topic over the weekend. The effort was thanks in no small part to calls from Russell’s family as well as the Hoover Police Department to not rest until their loved one was located.

Police audio released from the night Alabama nursing student Carlee Russell mysteriously disappeared for 48 hours. @janai has more details. pic.twitter.com/8uznxloFmY

— Good Morning America (@GMA) July 18, 2023

In particular, Russell’s family suggested that she may have been lured by a toddler that was used as “bait.”

But just like that, late Saturday night, Russell found her way to the home of her parents, who called 911 to report her safe return.

The questions

Everyone seemingly breathed a collective sigh of relief. But for some, that relief quickly turned to curiosity as there were several questions that were raised during Russell’s disappearance that remain unanswered. Chief among them seemingly is what exactly happened to Russell? Similarly urgent was the question of whether there is a toddler missing.

But when Russell’s boyfriend posted on his social media that she “was literally fighting for her life for 48 hours” and referenced “her kidnapper,” the allegation of a criminal effort was made.

All of a sudden the aforementioned questions were joined by one more: Is there a threat to the public?

Only take I have on this Carlee situation:

IF it is found that it was not a kidnapping, & that it was a mental health related issue, I think there is a demographic of people that understands how much this sets back the support needed to find black women when they are kidnapped

— Killmonger’s Rage (@drewcorleone86) July 18, 2023

Is the public entitled to know more?

Russell’s family has said they would offer an update when the time is right for them, and the Hoover Police Department urged the public in a Facebook post “for their wishes to be respected regarding their privacy.”

Notably, HPD added: “As we continue to investigate we will release information that is determined to be factual and pertinent to the public.”

The police also said, “Carlee’s 911 call remains the only timely report of a child on the interstate.”

Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis suggested his department will get around to interviewing Russell when they get around to doing it, and not a moment sooner.

Nick Derzis, Hoover police chief speaking on the phone about Carlee Russell#CarleeRussell #CarleeRussellFound pic.twitter.com/1GB1Ca6su5

— Crime With Bobby (@crimewithbobby) July 17, 2023

 

Absent from HPD’s most recent update from Sunday is any reference to any potential criminal activity as alleged by Russell’s boyfriend. Because the police’s main job is public safety, there were rumblings on social media about what appeared to be a lackadaisical response to the allegation that Russell was kidnapped and the suggestion by her family that a toddler was used as “bait.”

What about them, people asked on social media.

The quick flip of concern to skepticism in regards to Carlee Russell is beyond frustrating to see.
Even while not at all surprising.

— Portia J. (@PortiaNoir) July 16, 2023

Social media debate ensues

Reesie Colbert, founder of Black Women Views Media and a social media influencer, encouraged anyone with inquiring minds to contact the police department to satisfy their curiosity. But, she urged, leave Russell’s family alone.

“It’s nasty work to believe that because your thirst for entertainment has not been quenched by Carlee Russell and her family that something is off,” Colbert tweeted. “They are entitled to privacy, period.”

It’s one thing to be nosey (human nature), but it’s nasty work to believe that because your thirst for entertainment has not been quenched by Carlee Russell and her family that something is off. They are entitled to privacy, period. If you’re THAT concerned for safety reasons… pic.twitter.com/7pwcof2I2o

— Reecie @BlackWomenViews (@ReecieColbert) July 17, 2023

 

Cornell William Brooks, the former NAACP president, echoed that sentiment.

“The public’s “right to know”, however, does not include a right to know about any trauma she may have endured,” Brooks tweeted. “She & her family deserve privacy, time, & healing.”

But there have been others on social media suggesting that having questions about public safety and the toddler along with being happy Russell is safe and having curiosity about the entire incident “can all be valid at the same time.”

#CarleeRussell
These can all be valid at the same time.

1 being concerned about her and the abduction
2 being worried about the toddler
3 being elated she is home safe
4 wondering what happened to the toddler
5 confused by the whole event and silence

— BeAmy (@beamy40) July 17, 2023

 

Some even went so far as to suggest Russell’s family is guilty of hypocrisy after pleading with the public for help and then just as quickly demanding privacy once she was found safe.

Family: We want everyone to share her story. We need endless coverage. Share Share Share!

Carlee comes home.

Family/Some of yall: Mind your business. Don’t ask questions. You’re not entitled to know anything. #CarleeRussell pic.twitter.com/9hQlvtnpjo

— BXBella (@NYCgirl_InFL) July 17, 2023

And no story is complete in 2023 without a conspiracy theory, with rumors and unverified reports also running rampant on social media.

They saying the whole city is mad at Carlee Russell for lying chileeee pic.twitter.com/x6EcxZvn72

— ❦ (@JAESREVENGE) July 18, 2023

Soon, the social media conversation surrounding Russell became one of misogynoir, with tweets claiming people seemed disappointed that a Black woman who went missing wasn’t found dead.

The “discourse” makes it sound like a lot of you didn’t want Carlee Russell to make it home alive…

— @ImaniBarbarin@disabled.social (@Imani_Barbarin) July 16, 2023

The disappointment that Carlee Russell wasn’t found dead is palpable. This is a sick country with too many suffering from a lack of empathy for other human beings.This woman went through god knows what to survive. Her survivorship is looked at as an indictment on her truthfulness

— America The Ghetto (@LizzMurr56) July 16, 2023

Y’all wanted Carlee to make it back home safe. By the grace of God, she did & now y’all saying she made everything up? Lol, y’all are sick. It’s always our own people. Y’all weird for assuming without even knowing the story yet. But I digress.

— Spotlight Shanell (@TheRealShanelll) July 16, 2023

Those asking more questions were quickly criticized for being too nosey and not minding their own business.

Carlee Russell family asking for privacy to heal and people’s response being “well you weren’t asking for privacy when she went missing” really show how fucked up people really are.

— Mama Dot (PARODY!) (@Fedupmomz) July 17, 2023

 

Lost in the mix of the social media debate over who is entitled to know what is the fact that no matter what happened, Russell defied the odds as millions of other Black women who have disappeared in recent years remain missing.

“I will say this… I am happy to hear that #CarleeRussell is home safe and receiving care. People need to wait to hear all the facts prior to continuing this online discourse about what happened,” an attorney and former Georgia NAACP president Gerald Griggs tweeted. “I am also glad that her case got this much attention as so many missing black women and girls don’t. Let’s normalize this response in more cases.”

What’s the right answer?

Because this is such a unique situation, who is to say who is entitled to know what? With that said, it’s seemingly natural to want to know more after becoming invested in a story based on horrific circumstances – a young Black woman went missing and is likely traumatized by her experience regardless of what exactly happened. Her mental and physical health should be prioritized above all else.

Typically, though, once the police become involved, any ensuing investigation becomes public information. That means at some point, the public will be informed as to what happened, where Russell was during those 48 hours she was missing, how she managed to return home as well as the status of any alleged toddler and kidnapper.

Until then, there’s rarely much use for speculation and innuendo, as shown by the social media debate above.

SEE ALSO:

Gabrielle Petito And Mainstream Media Coverage Of Missing Black Women And Girls

Family Intensifies Search For Missing Buffalo State Honor Student Saniyya Dennis

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