Abducted Woman From Philadelphia Found Alive In Jessup
PHILADELPHIA (WJZ) -- The woman who was taken by force from Philadelphia is safe---thanks to quick-acting agents in Maryland. Police say the man under arrest is a vicious criminal who's already wanted for attempted murder.
Christie Ileto has the dramatic end to this three-day search.
Carlisha Freeland Gaither reportedly has minor injuries.
She's in good shape," said an agent with the FBI.
The suspect is named Delvin Barnes. He's being investigated for a previous case and faces attempted capital murder, assault and malicious injury with acid, explosives or fire. He will face federal charges in this case. He is 37.
"She was crying and she was asking for me. She wanted me to come get her," said her mother, Keisha Gaither.
We've learned some details of the previous case. On October 1, a 16-year-old girl was reported missing by her parents. On October 3, she showed up at a Charles City County business naked, bleeding and burned. She smelled of bleach and gasoline.
That victim wasn't able to describe her attacker, but DNA linked her to Barnes. She was also found two miles from his home.
He already had an extensive criminal history in the area.
Barnes and Gaither were found inside of a vehicle in Jessup. An officer said he believes it was a stranger abduction and there's no indication that they knew each other. Police say a family member of Barnes recognized him.
"I saw the car being opened and everything else and I saw him being arrested," said witness Meredith Waye.
Officers stress this is an active criminal investigation.
"We got a very dangerous predator off the street," Police Chief Charles Ramsey said. "He's a thug and this is what he does, apparently."
ATF agents say that she was hysterical when Barnes was arrested.
A three minute video shows the moment the suspect parks his car, gets out and starts stalking his victim. She turns to face him and he grabs her and drags her down the street. They continue to struggle after she falls to the ground.
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Witnesses who didn't want to be identified describe the chaotic scene.
"`Help me, help me!' I turned around and I just started running up here and I called the cops, screaming `Stop, stop, stop,'" said one.
On Tuesday morning the suspect was seen 72 miles south of Philadelphia in Aberdeen, using his victim's ATM card at PNC Bank. The suspect was then caught on surveillance video buying snacks at a nearby mini-mart. WJZ went to a Shell gas station and spoke to the employees, who did not want to go on camera but say that is where he came.
Gaither lived in California, Maryland, for some time before moving to Pennsylvania. Her picture is now plastered everywhere from Philadelphia to Maryland as her mother begs for her daughter.
Keisha Gaither thanked everyone for praying for her daughter.
"I'm taking my baby home. Thank you. Thank you so much."
Gaither relayed a story during the conference of how a detective came to her home and promised that he would find her daughter and bring her home.
Police say Carlisha put up a fight and kicked out the window of the suspect's car. The vehicle is described as a Ford Taurus, possibly gray, and that shattered window is a key detail in this crime.
The reward for tips leading to the suspect is now $47,000. It's not known if someone will be claiming that reward.
Freeland was taken to Howard County General for treatment and evaluation. Officials there say she is doing well.
Barnes is in FBI custody.
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