>>> TONIGHT, THE NEW FEDERAL CHARGES DONALD TRUMP COULD FACE IN THE ELECTION INTERFERENCE CASE. WHAT THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TOLD THE FORMER PRESIDENT IN THAT TARGET LETTER THE LEGAL STATUTE THAT COULD GUIDE THE CASE TRUMP BLASTING IT AS INTERFERENCE IN THIS ELECTION, SO IS HE POISED TO BE INDICTED AGAIN? >>> POLICE IN ALABAMA SPEAKING OUT ABOUT CARLEE RUSSELL, WHO CLAIMS SHE WAS ABDUCTED FOR TWO DAYS SAYING THEY CAN'T VERIFY 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 NOW. >>> 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. ON STRETCHERS TAKEN >>> AND PASSENGERS ON STRETCHERS TAKEN OFF A LAS VEGAS PLANE WITH NO WORKING A.C. AS A BRUTAL HEAT WAVE SETS MORE RECORDS ACROSS THE PLANET >>> THE TWO IRS WHISTLE-BLOWERS TELLING CONGRESS WHY THEY THINK HUNTER BIDEN GOT PREFERENTIAL TREATMEN FEATURE THAT'S BECOM THE SUMMER'S HOTTEST TICKET. >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT >>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME. WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THE VERY SERIOUS CATEGORIES OF CRIME SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH IS FOCUSING ON AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP THAT ARE SPELLED OUT IN THAT TARGET LETTER MR. TRUMP SAYS HE RECEIVED FROM THE GOVERNMENT OVER THE WEEKEND. A GRAND JURY IS INVESTIGATING THE LENGTHS PROSECUTORS SAY THE EX-PRESIDENT WENT TO IN ORDER TO REMAIN IN POWER AFTER LOSING THE ELECTION. TWO ATTORNEYS WITH DIRECT KNOWLEDGE OF THE CASE TELLING NBC NEWS, THE SPECIAL COUNSEL IS LOOKING AT STATUTES THAT INCLUDE CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE U.S., DEPRIVATION OF RIGHTS, AND TAMPERING WITH A WITNESS. WE'LL GET A LEGAL BREAKDOWN AS TO ALL THAT IN A MOMENT, BUT AFTER FIRST JUMPING AHEAD OF PROSECUTORS BY BREAKING THE NEWS HE WAS A TARGET, MR. TRUMP CONTINUING TO TRY AND CONTROL THE MESSAGE WITH HIS MANTRA THAT THE CASE IS A DISGRACE AND THE WORK OF A DERANGED PROSECUTOR GARRETT HAAKE HAS LATE DEVELOPMENTS >> Reporter: A DEFIANT DONALD TRUMP LASHING OUT AT THE SPECIAL COUNSEL AS THE ELECTION-RELATED CHARGES THE FORMER PRESIDENT MAY SOON FACE COME INTO FOCUS >> IT'S ELECTION INTERFERENCE NEVER BEEN DONE LIKE THIS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY, AND IT'S A DISGRACE. >> Reporter: NBC NEWS LEARNING THAT A TARGET LETTER MR. TRUMP RECEIVED SUNDAY NIGHT LAYS OUT THREE FEDERAL STATUTES UNDER WHICH HE MIGHT BE CHARGED IN THE SPECIAL COUNSEL'S 2020 ELECTION PROBE. ACCORDING TO TWO ATTORNEYS WITH DIRECT KNOWLEDGE OF IT, CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE U.S., DEPRIVATION OF RIGHTS UNDER COLOR OF LAW, AND TAMPERING WITH A WITNESS, EACH BROAD CATEGORIES, NOT SPECIFIC CHARGES MR. TRUMP CLAIMING THE LETTER OFFERED HIM FOUR DAYS TO COME TO WASHINGTON AND RESPOND BEFORE THE GRAND JURY, AN OPPORTUNITY SOURCES FAMILIAR WITH HIS THINKING TELL NBC NEWS HE PLANS TO DECLINE. THE POSSIBLE PENDING INDICTMENT DIVIDING FORMER ALLIES NOW CHALLENGING HIM FOR THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION >> HE SHOULD BE CHARGED IF, IN FACT, THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT HE'S COMMITTED A CRIME THAT'S PROVABLE BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT IN FRONT OF A JURY OF HIS PEERS. UNTIL THEN HE HAS THE PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE. HISTORY -- HISTO WILL HOLD HIM TO >> I BELIEVE THAT HISTORY -- HISTORY WILL HOLD HIM TO ACCOUNT FOR HIS ACTIONS THAT DAY, BUT WITH REGARD TO THE PROSPECT OF AN INDICTMENT, I HOPE IT DOESN'T COME TO THAT. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, THE SPECIAL COUNSEL INVESTIGATION CONTINUES IN WASHINGTON AND BEYOND. WITH TRUMP WHITE HOUSE AND CAMPAIGN AIDE WILLIAM RUSSELL EXPECTED TO TESTIFY BEFORE THE GRAND JURY TOMORROW, AND NBC NEWS LEARNING OF PROSECUTORS SUBPOENAING SURVEILLANCE VIDEO OF VOTE COUNTING IN GEORGIA, PROBING CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN MR. TRUMP AND ARIZONA'S FORMER GOVERNOR, AND INTERVIEWING ELECTION OFFICIALS IN WISCONSIN. THE FORMER PRESIDENT CALLING ALLIES ON CAPITOL HILL, URGING HIS GOP SUPPORTERS TO DEFEND HIM PUBLICLY. >> I SPOKE WITH HIM YESTERDAY, AND THIS IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE ILLEGAL WEAPONIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO GO AFTER JOE BIDEN'S TOP POLITICAL OPPONENT >> I DON'T SEE HOW HE COULD BE FOUND CRIMINALLY RESPONSIBLE. HE WOULD NOT -- >> WHY >> WELL, WHAT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY DID HE DO HE TOLD PEOPLE TO BE PEACEFUL. >> AND, GARRETT, THIS ALL PLAYING OUT AS THE FORMER PRESIDENT SUFFERED ANOTHER LEGAL SETBACK TODAY. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US >> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT, LESTER. A FEDERAL JUDGE DENIED MR. TRUMP'S EFFORT TO MOVE HIS HUSH MONEY PAYMENT TRIAL INTO A FEDERAL COURT. THE JUDGE RULING THAT THE ALLEGED CRIMES HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS JOB AS PRESIDENT AND THAT THE CASE BELONGS IN STATE COURT WHERE IT'S SLATED TO GO TO TRIAL IN MARCH LESTER. >> ALL RIGHT, GARRETT, THANK YOU. >>> SENIOR LEGAL CORRESPONDENT LAURA JARRETT JOINS ME NOW BACK TO WHAT WE LEARNED TODAY ABOUT THESE STATUTES, DOES THIS KIND OF LAY OUT A ROAD MAP OF WHERE WE GO FROM HERE? >> EXACTLY, LESTER ALL ALONG WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S EFFORTS TO BLOCK THE CERTIFICATION OF THE ELECTION ON JANUARY 6th, BUT WE NOW KNOW THERE'S ALSO A FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS CLAIM MENTIONED IN THAT TARGET LETTER MR. TRUMP RECEIVED. IT'S THE ONE ABOUT DEPRIVING SOMEONE OF THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS THAT'S CURIOUS BECAUSE IT'S TYPICALLY A CRIME THAT'S USED IN POLICE MISCONDUCT CASES SO JUST WHOSE RIGHTS DO THEY THINK MR. TRUMP VIOLATED AND HOW, THAT WE DON'T KNOW, AND THE SPECIAL COUNSEL IS NOT LIMITED TO CHARGING ONLY WHAT'S OUTLINED IN THAT TARGET LETTER HE RECEIVED, BUT IT DOES PROVIDE A SOLID REFERENCE POINT OF WHAT'S MOST LIKELY COMING. >> LAURA, THANK YOU FOR THAT. >>> HERE AT HOME THE RECORD-BREAKING HEAT WAVE GOES ON IN MUCH OF THE COUNTRY WHILE SUDDEN HISTORIC RAINS HAVE ADDED INSULT TO INJURY IN MAYFIELD, KENTUCKY MAGGIE VESPA IS THERE FOR US MAGGIE, WHAT'S THE SITUATION THERE THIS EVENING? >> Reporter: SO, LESTER, PEOPLE HERE ARE ABSOLUTELY IN SHOCK. RAGING FLOODWATERS SWEPT IN BEFORE DAWN, AND THEY CONTINUED RISING ALL MORNING AT THE SAME TIME, THAT SAME SYSTEM SLAMMING NORTH CAROLINA WHERE A VIOLENT TORNADO SENT FOUR TO THE HOSPITAL, AND TOMORROW ANOTHER SYSTEM IS HEADED THIS WAY. TONIGHT, DUELING HALLMARKS OF THIS SUMMER'S SEVERE WEATHER STRETCH. >> TREES ARE DOWN ALL OVER >> Reporter: IN NORTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON, A CONFIRMED EF-3 TORNADO NEAR ROCKY MOUNT. WIND SPEEDS UP TO 150 MILES PER HOUR WREAKING HAVOC ON A HIGHWAY, AND DESTROYING PART OF THIS MANUFACTURING FACILITY OWNED BY THE DRUGMAKER PFIZER >> WE REALLY DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE AMOUNT OF INJURIES OR IF THERE'S ANY DEATHS AT THIS TIME. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, FARTHER WEST, MORE DEVASTATION. KENTUCKY TONIGHT THE LATEST STATE TO GET SLAMMED WITH VIOLENT FLASH FLOODS IN HARD-HIT MAYFIELD INITIAL REPORTS SHOW NEARLY A FOOT OF RAIN FALLING SINCE MIDNIGHT IF VERIFIED, IT WOULD SMASH THE STATE'S DECADE-OLD RECORD FOR THE MOST RAIN IN 24 HOURS. WATER SWALLOWING NEIGHBORHOODS AND SUBMERGING CARS. >> IT STARTED COMING THROUGH THE SIDEWALLS AND OPENED UP THE BACK DOOR, AND IT STARTED GUSHING INSIDE THE HOUSE. >> Reporter: JEREMY MARTIN SCRAMBLED TO GET HIS FIANCEE AND THEIR FIVE KIDS OUT. >> ALL OF OUR STUFF GOT TAKEN, LIKE, IT'S RUINED WE DON'T HAVE RENTER'S INSURANCE. YOU KNOW, IT SUCKS. >> Reporter: AUTHORITIES SAY NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED KENTUCKY'S GOVERNOR TONIGHT DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY URGING PEOPLE TO HEED EVACUATION WARNINGS. >> REMEMBER, WE CAN REPLACE STUFF, AND WE CAN REBUILD HOMES. WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANY LIVES. >> Reporter: THESE FLOODS, FRESH TRAUMA FOR MAYFIELD, A COMMUNITY STILL HEALING FROM 2021'S MONSTER EF-4 TORNADO THAT KILLED CLOSE TO 60 PEOPLE JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS. TONIGHT, WITH ANOTHER SEVERE SYSTEM BARRELING EAST, WEATHER-RAVAGED COMMUNITIES BRACE ONCE AGAIN AS VIOLENT SIGNS OF OUR CLIMATE CRISIS INTENSIFY. MAGGIE VESPA, NBC NEWS, MAYFIELD, KENTUCKY >>> I'M ERIN McLAUGHLIN THE DEADLY HEAT DOME CREATING CHAOS AT HARRY REID INTERNATIONAL IN LAS VEGAS. SEVERAL PASSENGERS AND A FLIGHT ATTENDANT EXITING A DELTA FLIGHT BY STRETCHER AFTERR BEING STUCK ON THE TARMAC IN TRIPLE-DIGIT HEAT FOR HOURS >> VISIBLY SHAKING LIKE, SHAKING. >> Reporter: THE ROBINSON FAMILY WAS ON THE FLIGHT WITH THEIR 1-YEAR-OLD BABY WHEN THEY SAW FELLOW PASSENGERS BECOME ILL. >> IT LOOKED LIKE THEIR COGNITIVE SKILLS WERE IN DECLINE, EYES ROLLING IN THE BACK OF THEIR HEAD. >> Reporter: AND DOCTORS SAY THAT'S THE SIGN OF POTENTIALLY DEADLY DANGER. >> WHEN YOU'RE CONFUSED, WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE HAVING HEATSTROKE. >> Reporter: DELTA HAS APOLOGIZED FOR THE INCIDENT AND SAYS IT'S INVESTIGATING THE MATTER THIS AS THE VALLEY OF THE SUN BREAKS YET ANOTHER ALL-TIME RECORD WITH AN OVERNIGHT LOW OF 97 DEGREES. THE HOTTEST IT'S EVER BEEN WHEN THE SUN IS DOWN PHOENIX GOING ON THREE WEEKS OF TEMPS 110 PLUS. EXPERTS SAY THE CITY'S SPRAWLING CONCRETE IS PARTLY TO BLAME AS IT STOPS URBAN AREAS FROM COOLING DOWN TONIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, 77 MILLION PEOPLE ARE UNDER HEAT ALERTS, AND IT'S NOT JUST HUMANS WHO ARE SUFFERING. AT THE PHOENIX ZOO, IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK TO MAKE SURE THE ANIMALS ARE COMFORTABLE AND COOL >> THEY'RE NOT QUITE USED TO THESE TEMPERATURES, AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY MONITORING THEM. >> Reporter: TONIGHT IT'S THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER WITH NO END IN SIGHT. ERIN McLAUGHLIN, NBC NEWS, PHOENIX. >>> THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THE U.S. IS WORKING WITH SWEDEN AND SOUTH KOREA TO SECURE THE RELEASE OF THAT U.S. SOLDIER WHO RAN FROM A TOUR GROUP INTO NORTH KOREA THIS COMES AS MATT BRADLEY LEARNS MORE ABOUT THE SOLDIER'S RECENT LEGAL TROUBLES. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, A PICTURE OF TRAVIS KING COMING INTO SHARPER FOCUS. THE U.S. ARMY PRIVATE SET OFF A DIPLOMATIC CRISIS WHEN HE DASHED ACROSS SOUTH KOREA'S BORDER WITH NORTH KOREA TUESDAY. >> I NOTICED THIS GUY RUNNING VERY -- SORT OF IN A LINE TO WHAT'S THE NORTH KOREAN SIDE. >> Reporter: SARA LESLIE FROM NEW ZEALAND SAID SHE WAS ON A GUIDED TOUR OF THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE THAT KING JOINED. >> MY INITIAL THOUGHT WAS, LIKE, OH, MY GOD, HE'S OBVIOUSLY DOING THAT AS A TIKTOK STUNT, AND THAT'S THE STUPIDEST THING YOU COULD EVER DO. >> Reporter: SARA SHOWED US THIS PICTURE SHE SAID SHE TOOK MINUTES BEFORE KING DASHED ACROSS THE DMZ EVADING MORE THAN A DOZEN SOUTH KOREAN AND AMERICAN SOLDIERS, SHE SAID KING CAN BE SEEN HERE, SHE SAID IN THE BLACK HAT AND SHIRT. SO WERE YOU AFRAID DID YOU THINK THEY WERE GOING TO START SHOOTING >> I WAS AFRAID, YES >> Reporter: WHILE SERVING IN SOUTH KOREA, KING HAD MULTIPLE RUN-INS WITH THE LAW ACCORDING TO LOCAL LEGAL DOCUMENTS. LAST SEPTEMBER HE WAS ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING A MAN AT A NIGHTCLUB, AND IN A SEPARATE INCIDENT IN OCTOBER, POLICE ARRESTED HIM FOR ASSAULT. WHILE SITTING IN A POLICE CAR, KING SHOUTING INSULTS AT KOREANS AND KOREAN POLICE ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS. HE ALSO KICKED THE CAR CAUSING NEARLY $500 IN DAMAGE, AND HE WAS JUST RELEASED AFTER NEARLY TWO MONTHS IN A SOUTH KOREAN PRISON ACCORDING TO AMERICAN OFFICIALS WHO SPOKE ANONYMOUSLY TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HIS FAMILY BACK HOME IN WISCONSIN DISTRAUGHT. >> HE HAD A FATHER, BUT HIS DAD WAS NEVER AROUND, SO MY SISTER TOOK CARE OF HIM AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME,HIM AND TIME, HE HAD TO MAN UP YOU KNOW, HE HAD TO MAN UP, SO HE WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF HIS MOMMA AND TAKE CARE OF HIS FAMILY THAT'S HOW I VIEW MY NEPHEW. >> THE FAMILY IS HURT BECAUSE HIS MOTHER IS VERY UPSET YOU KNOW, SHE TALKED TO SOMEBODY YESTERDAY AND JUST ASKED HIM, COULD THEY JUST GET HER SON OUT OF THERE. >> Reporter: KING WAS SUPPOSED TO BOARD A FLIGHT TO THE STATES FOR MORE MILITARY DISCIPLINE AMERICAN SOLDIERS EVEN ESCORTED KING TO THE AIRPORT, BUT LEFT HIM AT HIS GATE. ACCORDING TO KOREAN MEDIA, KING WAS ABLE TO LEAVE THE AIRPORT AFTER HE SAID HE HAD LOST HIS PASSPORT, AND THAT'S WHEN PRIVATE KING MANAGED TO JOIN A GUIDED TOUR TO THE NORTH KOREAN BORDER AND RAN HEAD-LONG INTO ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST TOTALITARIAN REGIMES. LESTER >> ALL RIGHT, MATT BRADLEY TONIGHT, THANK YOU. >>> NOW, TO THE REVEALING NEW TESTIMONY IN CONGRESS TODAY ABOUT THE IRS INVESTIGATION INTO HUNTER BIDEN'S FINANCES TWO IRS WHISTLE-BLOWERS TOLD A HOUSE COMMITTEE THEY BELIEVE OFFICIALS SLOW-WALKED THEIR PROBE. HERE'S RYAN NOBLES >> Reporter: TONIGHT, UNDER OATH, A PAIR OF CAREER IRS INVESTIGATORS TESTIFYING TO CONGRESS THAT THEY BELIEVE THEIR SUPERIORS AND OFFICIALS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WORKED TO SUPPRESS A PROBE INTO THE FINANCES OF THE PRESIDENT'S SON, HUNTER BIDEN >> IN COMING FORWARD, I BELIEVE I'M RISKING MY CAREER, MY REPUTATION. >> Reporter: JOSEPH ZIEGLER, WHO CAME FORWARD PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND GARY SHAPLEY POINTED TO THE EVIDENCE THEY SAY THEY COLLECTED, WHICH THEY VIEWED AS DAMNING AND THE SKEPTICAL RESPONSE THEY SAY THEY RECEIVED FROM THE PROSECUTORS INVOLVED. >> I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THE DELAWARE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HANDLING THE HUNTER BIDEN TAX INVESTIGATION WAS VERY DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER CASE IN MY 14 YEARS AT THE IRS AT EVERY STAGE DECISIONS WERE MADE THAT BENEFITED THE SUBJECT OF THIS INVESTIGATION. >> Reporter: BUT DEMOCRATS ON THE PANEL WERE QUICK TO PUSH BACK, POINTING OUT, IT IS THE JOB OF PROSECUTORS TO MAKE THE CALL TO HAND DOWN INDICTMENTS, NOT INVESTIGATORS. >> WELL, THAT'S STANDARD INVESTIGATORS AND PROSECUTORS DO THIS ALL THE TIME, RIGHT? I MEAN, AND SO THE PROSECUTORS ARE THE ONES THAT MAKE THE DECISION >> Reporter: SHAPLEY ALSO TESTIFIED THAT DAVID WEISS, THE FEDERAL PROSECUTOR IN DELAWARE WHO HANDLED THE INVESTIGATION, SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DECIDE WHETHER THE CHARGES WERE FILED. >> THE STORY HAS BEEN CHANGING FROM DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND U.S. ATTORNEY WEISS. >> Reporter: WEISS, A TRUMP APPOINTEE, HAS SENT MULTIPLE LETTERS TO CONGRESS DISPUTING THAT TONIGHT, THE WHITE HOUSE REITERATING THE PRESIDENT WAS NOT INVOLVED IN HIS SON'S BUSINESS DEALINGS AND BLASTING THE HEARING >> THEIR FOCUS IS CONTINUING TO DO POLITICAL STUNTS THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS FOCUSING ON. >> Reporter: AND HUNTER BIDEN IS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR BEFORE A JUDGE NEXT WEEK TO DEAL WITH A PLEA ARRANGEMENT ON THE TAX CHARGES THAT HE'S FACING. THE U.S. ATTORNEY IN THE CASE SAYS THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. LESTER >> RYAN NOBLES, THANK YOU. >>> IN 60 SECONDS, LATE DETAILS IN THE CASE OF A MISSING ALABAMA WOMAN. WHY POLICE ARE CASTING DOUBT ON HER STORY, AND THE NEW CLUES HER INTERNET SEARCHES REVEALED >>> WE'RE BACK WITH DETAILS ABOUT AN ALABAMA WOMAN WHO WENT MISSING. SO MANY HAVE WONDERED WHAT HAPPENED TO CARLEE RUSSELL, WHO SAID SHE WAS ABDUCTED AT NIGHT ON A STRETCH OF HIGHWAY IN ALABAMA, BUT NOW POLICE SAY THEY CAN'T VERIFY MOST OF WHAT SHE SAID. SAM BROCK JOINS US NOW WITH LATE DETAILS. SAM. >> Reporter: YEAH, LESTER, INVESTIGATORS SAY IT'S STILL A MYSTERY TO THEM WHAT HAPPENED, AND THEY'RE STILL DECIDING AND HAVEN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE WILL BE CHARGES AGAINST RUSSELL, WHO HAD A CUT ON HER LIP AND $107 IN HER SOCK WHEN SHE RETURNED HOME SATURDAY EVENING. AFTER DAYS OF QUESTIONS, POLICE SAY THEY'RE STILL INVESTIGATING WHERE CARLEE RUSSELL WENT OVER A 49-HOUR PERIOD. >> WHAT WE CAN SAY IS WE'VE BEEN UNABLE TO VERIFY MOST OF CARLEE'S INITIAL STATEMENT MADE TO INVESTIGATORS, AND WE HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A THREAT FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY. >> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS PLAYING PART OF HER 911 CALL REPORTING A MISSING TODDLER. >> WHAT IS HE WEARING? >> UM, IT'S A WHITE T-SHIRT AND DOESN'T LOOK LIKE HE HAS ANY PANTS ON. LOOKS LIKE A DIAPER. >> Reporter: BUT THE POLICE CHIEF SAID AS THAT CALL WAS BEING MADE, DATA SHOWS SHE DROVE 600 YARDS. SHE WAS TRAVELING SIX FOOTBALL FIELDS, WHICH TELLS YOU WHAT? >> WHICH TELLS ME THAT -- I'VE HAD KIDS. TO THINK THAT A TODDLER BAREFOOT THAT COULD BE 3 OR 4 YEARS OLD IS GOING TO TRAVEL SIX FOOTBALL FIELDS WITHOUT GETTING IN THE ROADWAY WITHOUT CRYING, IT'S JUST HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND. >> Reporter: LAW ENFORCEMENT LAID OUT A TIME LINE, WHICH INCLUDED HER TAKING A BATHROBE AND TOILET PAPER FROM HER PLACE OF WORK AND PURCHASING SNACKS, WHICH WERE NEVER FOUND. IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO HER DISAPPEARANCE RUSSELL SEARCHED ONLINE INCLUDING, DO YOU PAY FOR AN AMBER ALERT? A SEARCH FOR A ONE-WAY BUS TICKET FROM BIRMINGHAM TO NASHVILLE AND A SEARCH FOR THE MOVIE "TAKEN." POLICE ADDING THAT CARLEE TOLD INVESTIGATORS IN HER INITIAL AND ONLY STATEMENT THAT A MAN WITH ORANGE HAIR CAME ONTO THE ROADWAY AND MADE HER GO OVER A FENCE BEFORE PULLING HER INTO A CAR AND THEN AN 18-WHEELER AND SAID SHE WAS LATER ABLE TO BREAK FREE ONLY TO BE ABDUCTED AGAIN WITH A MAN AND WOMAN MAKING HER UNDRESS AND BLINDFOLDING HER. RUSSELL'S PARENTS STANDING BY THEIR DAUGHTER EARLIER THIS WEEK. >> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE'S AN ABDUCTOR STILL OUT THERE? >> ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THERE WASN'T OR ISN'T. >> Reporter: NBC NEWS REACHED OUT TO THE RUSSELL FAMILY FOLLOWING TODAY'S POLICE PRESS CONFERENCE BUT THEY DECLINED TO COMMENT. DID YOU SPEAK WITH CARLEE'S PARENTS AND WHY DO YOU THINK THEY WERE SO ADAMANT THERE WAS AN ABDUCTOR? >> I THINK THE PARENTS BELIEVE WHAT THEIR DAUGHTER IS SAYING. WE MET WITH THEM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. >> HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE WHAT HAPPENED HERE? >> THAT'S THE $100 QUESTION. >> Reporter: SAM BROCK, NBC NEWS, HOOVER. >>> STILL AHEAD FOR US TONIGHT, OUR NBC NEWS INVESTIGATION. THE VIOLATION OF CHILD LABOR LAWS RESULTING >>> WE'RE BACK WITH AN NBC NEWS INVESTIGATION ON CHILD LABOR IN THE U.S. AND THE YOUNG MIGRANT WHO HAS BECOME THE LATEST FATALITY INSIDE A MISSISSIPPI POULTRY PLANT. JULIA AINSLEY REPORTS, AND A WARNING, SOME OF THE DETAILS YOU'RE ABOUT TO HEAR ARE DISTURBING. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, THE FAMILY OF DUVAN TOMAS PEREZ SHARING HORRIFIC DETAILS ABOUT HIS DEATH DESCRIBING HOW THE GUATEMALAN TEENAGER WAS KILLED WHILE CLEANING MACHINERY AT A POULTRY PLANT IN MISSISSIPPI. THE FAMILY DEVASTATED. DUVAN'S UNCLE SAYING, HE PUT HIS HAND ON A MACHINE, AND HIS WHOLE BODY WAS PULLED IN WHERE HE COULDN'T STOP HIMSELF, AND NOBODY COULD HELP HIM. FAMILY MEMBERS AND A LOCAL CORONER SAY DUVAN WAS JUST 16. HE WAS WORKING AT MAR-JAC POULTRY IN HATTIESBURG. POLICE CONFIRM HIS BODY WAS FOUND TRAPPED IN A CONVEYER BELT. THE COMPANY SAYS IT RELIES ON STAFFING AGENCIES AND WAS UNAWARE A MINOR WAS WORKING AT THE FACILITY, ADDING, MAR-JAC WOULD NEVER KNOWINGLY PUT ANY EMPLOYEE, AND CERTAINLY NOT A MINOR, IN HARM'S WAY, BUT IT APPEARS AT THIS POINT IN THE INVESTIGATION THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL'S AGE AND IDENTITY WERE MISREPRESENTED ON THE PAPERWORK. UNDER U.S. LAW, NO ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 IS ALLOWED TO WORK DANGEROUS JOBS IN MEAT PROCESSING PLANTS. A RECENT LABOR DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION FOUND MORE THAN 100 CHILDREN CLEANING SLAUGHTERHOUSE FLOORS IN THE MIDWEST OVERNIGHT. LABOR DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY CHILD LABOR VIOLATIONS ARE UP BY 69% SINCE 2018. THE AGENCY NOW INVESTIGATING DUVAN'S DEATH AND POSSIBLE CHILD LABOR VIOLATIONS BY MAR-JAC. THE COMPANY SAYS IT'S COOPERATING. TONIGHT, FAMILY AND FRIENDS REMEMBERING DUVAN. ONE SAYING HE SAID GOOD-BYE TO HIS GRANDMOTHER, HIS FAMILY MEMBERS, AND SADLY HE'S RETURNING IN A BOX. JULIA AINSLEY, NBC NEWS, WASHINGTON. >> YOU CAN READ MORE OFFICE. >> WE WERE NEVER THIS BIG. >> Reporter: SAVANNAH SELLERS, NBC NEWS, NEW YORK. >>> THAT IS "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR THIS WEDNESDAY.