Family Pleads For Safe Return Of Woman Kidnapped In Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (CBSNewYork) -- A woman's brutal kidnapping on the streets of Philadelphia was caught on video this past weekend, and on Tuesday, there was a new clue having to do with her credit card.
As CBS2's Emily Smith reported, surveillance video showed a knife-wielding man abducting a woman on West Coulter Street in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. The woman kicks and screams, but cannot get away as he wrests her into his car.
As of Tuesday, family members had no idea about the whereabouts of the victim – Carlesha Freeland-Gaither, 22. Late Tuesday afternoon, her parents begged for her safe return.
"Please just give me back my baby," said her mother, Keisha Gaither. "Please give me my child."
"She has a job. She has family. She has brothers and sisters that she needs to see also," said her father, Carl Freeland. "So again, whatever you guys are looking for, just get in contact with my family."
Authorities said witnesses last saw Freeland-Gaither on Sunday, walking home from a party around 10 p.m. Freeland-Gaither, according to police, kicked out the driver-side rear window as the abductor's car sped off.
WATCH: Surveillance Video
An eyewitness who did not want to show his face called 911, police said. He had been walking on the opposite side of the street when he heard her scream.
"(She said) 'Help, help me,' and I turned around. I just started running up," he said. "I called the cops as I'm like, 'Yo,' screaming, 'Stop! Stop! Stop!' He's dragging her to the car."
He said her abductor had a large knife. Investigators said as she was forced into the car, her glasses and cellphone were dropped onto the road.
And on Tuesday, investigators were working on a new lead. At 6:01 a.m., surveillance video showed a man using her ATM card in Aberdeen, Maryland – possibly at a PNC Bank, authorities said.
Philadelphia Police late Tuesday released a new video showing a person of interest who allegedly used her ATM card.
Freeland-Gaither is described as a black female standing 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 125 pounds, with brown eyes. Police said she has braided hair and has a tattoo on her lower back, and was last seen wearing a light blue jean jacket, a gray and white sweater, carrying a black backpack.
The suspect is described by police as a black male, 5 feet 10 inches tall, medium-heavy build, 25-30 years-of-age, medium brown complexion, wearing a dark colored jacket with a dark-colored hood with possibly a hooded sweatshirt underneath, a dark-colored hat, and dark-colored pants.
The vehicle is described by police as a 2000-2002 dark gray metallic four-door Ford Taurus with an unknown Pennsylvania license, an unknown plate on the front bumper, rear spoiler, and both driver and passenger side rear windows broken out. Police said the vehicle is missing inspection stickers and has an unknown item in the center bottom of the front windshield.
A total reward of $47,000 is now being offered in the case. A $10,000 reward is being offered by the City of Philadelphia, a $5,000 reward from the Fraternal Order of Police, a $5,000 reward from the Philadelphia Federal Credit Union, a $2,000 reward from the Citizen Crime Commission and the FBI is offering a $25,000 reward for an arrest and conviction in the case.
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