Carlee Russell

That moment you all first laid eyes on her again what was it like to me I mean just so much joy this morning and an exclusive sit down with NBC News the parents of 25 year old Carly Russell are speaking out describing the moment their daughter appeared on their doorstep after being missing for more than 48 hours what did you do when you saw her we tried to hover as best we could but I had to stand back because she was not in a good state so we had to stand back and let medical professionals work with her um but it's okay last Thursday police say Carly called 9-1-1 to report a toddler walking alone on the interstate she pulled over while on the phone with a family member who described hearing Carly scream her vehicle is unlocked running all our personal belonging you can sit for her phone on the scene police found no sign of Carly or a child and they say no children were reported as missing during that time period the Russells waited in agony until Saturday night there were actual actually just so many calls and texts from people who maliciously lied to us I just didn't know people could be so evil authorities have not indicated where Carly was during the 48 Hours she was missing or what happened her parents declined to share what their daughter told them citing the ongoing investigation and can you tell me what happened Saturday night did you just get a knock at the door anything leading to to the chase itself we we can't discuss that but they say speculation about the circumstances surrounding Carly's disappearance or only making things worse she's having to deal with the trauma of people just making completely false allegations about her her family now urging the public to let the investigation play out but mentioning an abductor her mother asking to read a brief message to the public Carly has given detectives her statement so that they can continue to pursue her abductor do you believe that there's an abductor still out there absolutely absolutely NBC News has reached out to the Hoover Police Department to ask whether they're looking for an individual involved police have just said they're following up on all information provided by Carly and when I talk to you all on Saturday you also said your daughter is a fighter and she would find a way back to you I felt that in my heart is that what happened she did she found her way back to us however we can't discuss the details of that but they say one thing is clear do you believe she was fighting for her life she definitely there were moments when she physically had to fight for her life and there were moments when she had to mentally fight for her life but she made it back to you she made it back yeah she did make it back all right Priscilla so investigators are obviously busy on this case what are they looking into going forward yeah Hoda right now they're analyzing that initial 9-1-1 call and also that traffic cam video showing that car driving on the interstate very slowly with its flashers on believed to be Carly's car and of course they're looking at the evidence from the crime scene including the car and her cell phone which was found on the roadway nearby police say that they have been able to account for all of her steps leading up to her disappearance but those 48 Hours when she was gone still remain a mystery Hoda yeah leaving behind her phone her pocketbook and all those things a lot of things that investigators are looking into Priscilla thank you hey thanks for watching don't miss the Today show every weekday at 11 A.M Eastern 8 Pacific on our streaming Channel today all day to watch head to today.com all day or click the link right here