Germantown abduction victim found alive, suspect arrested
GERMANTOWN, Pa. -- A woman abducted on the streets of Philadelphia has been found alive and police have her suspected abductor in custody.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey alongside Special Agent Ed Hanko, fellow law enforcement officials, and the victim's family made the announcement Wednesday night.
"Tonight, the FBI and Philadelphia Police Department have great news that Carlesha Freeland has been rescued, her abductor has been arrested in Maryland," Special Agent Hanko said.
The suspect is identified as 37-year-old Delvin Barnes.
Barnes is currently being held on a warrant based out of Charles City County, Virginia sheriff's office for attempted capital murder, assault, malicious injury with acid, explosive, or fire.
Hanko says he will then be charged federally with crimes in Philadelphia.
VIDEO: Germantown abduction caught on video
Hanko says with the help of the media and tips, they were able to identify Barnes as the suspect in the November 2nd abduction of 22-year-old Carlesha Freeland-Gaither.
Officials tracked his car to Maryland.
On Wednesday night, a task force from the Baltimore FBI office consisting of U.S. Marshals, ATF agents, and FBI agents, located the car in the area of Jessup, Maryland.
Hanko says when the suspect exited the vehicle, he was apprehended and Carlesha Freeland-Gaither was recovered.
"She's in good shape, has some injuries, was taken to the hospital. She is talking to the agents," Hanko said.
Carlesha's mother Keisha Gaither thanked the Philadelphia police, the FBI, the public, and her family and friends for finding her daughter.
"Thank you so much for having us in your prayers. Thank you for keeping me up. Thanking for being there for us. I'm taking my baby home. Thank you. Thank you so much." Keisha Gaither said.
Ramsey made sure to point out Detective James Sloan who made a promise to Keisha Gaither.
"He said in my kitchen in front of me, 'I'm bringing your daughter home' and he brought my daughter home," Keisha said and then gave the detective a hug.
"So this is very important this has a happy ending. We all need to celebrate but also understand that this young woman has gone through a lot of trauma over the last few days, psychological trauma, and we need to respect her privacy," Ramsey said.
It is not clear at this time if the suspect arrested is the same man described as a person of interest who was seen in various surveillance videos released by police.
Earlier Wednesday, Philadelphia police released the latest in a series of surveillance videos showing a person of interest in the abduction.
It shows the person of interest walking into an ACME supermarket in Fox Chase. The date stamped on the video is November 2nd, the same day as the abduction.
In the video, the man is wearing a dark colored knit cap, dark pants, multi-colored tennis shoes (possibly black and red) and possible chain for a wallet hanging from the right pants pocket.
The abduction took place around 9:40 p.m. Sunday.
Police found Carlesha's glasses and mobile phone lying on the road where the abduction occurred.
On Monday, authorities also picked up a glove at the scene as possible evidence.
Police say she kicked out both rear windows just before the car sped away.
Carlesha's family says she worked as a nurse and had spent the evening visiting with her godson before heading home.
They say she had just gotten of a bus and was just blocks from her home when she was abducted.
Surveillance video shows the first moments when Carlesha Freeland-Gaither came in contact with the large man who took her.
The man is seen reaching his hand out to her on the 5400 block of Greene Street and Freeland-Gaither slowly backing away.
She tries to get around the man again, and that's when he lunges and grabs her. The two then disappear from view.
Surveillance video from another camera shows Freeland-Gaither being dragged down the 100 block of West Coulter Street then shoved into a car, believed to be a 2000-2002 dark gray metallic 4-door Ford Taurus with Maryland tags.
VIDEO: See the video released by Philadelphia Police
That car was just one of a handful of Maryland connections in this case.
Carlesha was raised in Maryland and returned to Philadelphia two years ago.
Police released surveillance images from a Maryland ATM where Carlesha's ATM card was used.
The images were taken at an ATM at a PNC Bank just off Interstate 95 in Aberdeen at 6:01 a.m. Monday morning.
Another surveillance video shows the person of interest inside an Aberdeen, Maryland gas station mini-mart.
The time stamp on the video reads 6:04 a.m. on November 3, 2014, which would be minutes after the ATM card was used at the bank.
The FBI also posted messages on billboards to help with the search.
A total of $47,000 in reward money was being offered in this case. Some of the money was being offered for both an arrest and conviction, some for an arrest only.
