Philadelphia police released surveillance video of a 22-year-old woman’s abduction Sunday night in Germantown, hoping the public can help find Carlesha Freeland-Gaither.
UPDATE: Detectives are investigating new clues in the abduction of this woman and have released new photos of a person of interest. READ THE LATEST STORY WITH THE MOST UPDATED INFORMATION & VIDEO HERE.
Detectives are hoping newly released surveillance video showing a woman being abducted off of a Philadelphia street Sunday night and a $10,000 reward will lead them to her kidnapper.
The three-minute clip released Monday afternoon shows Carlesha Freeland-Gaither struggling to fight off a man who grabbed her from the corner of W. Coulter and Greene Streets around 9:40 p.m. Sunday. The nursing aide, who family members call a sweet child, was in the neighborhood visiting her godson.
"If anybody knows anything, please, just bring my daughter home," her father, Carl Freeland, begged. "I'll give it to you. Anything you want, I'll give it to you, just bring my daughter home."
The suspect, described by police as a 25 to 30-year-old man who is 5-foot-10-inches tall with a heavy build, pushes the 22-year-old woman down the 100 block of W. Coulter Street toward his car.
Freeland-Gaither tries to break free as the man works to open the rear driver's side door on a 2000 model dark gray metallic Ford Taurus with missing inspection stickers. They both tumble onto the sidewalk, but the woman is unable to get away.
She's thrown into the back of the car and the vehicle rocks back-and-forth for about 30 seconds before it pulls away. During that time, police said the woman broke out the both rear windows of the car trying to escape.
Another car can be seen driving up the street as the struggle takes place, but eventually backs out of the street.
A witness told NBC10 he walked past the woman shortly before hearing her scream. He then ran back to find her being forced into the sedan.
"I heard a whole bunch of screaming,” said witness John Wayne. "She was screaming, 'Help, Help!'"
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Detectives identified Freeland-Gaither as the victim after finding her smartphone and glasses on the sidewalk. A knife and glove were also recovered, police said.
Freeland-Gaither's family members said the woman may know her attacker, but police feel otherwise. They've begun working with the FBI and are classifying the abduction as random.
"Whoever it was, they knew what they were doing," said Freeland-Gaither's mother, Keisha Gaither. "They waited for her."
On Monday night, Mayor Michael Nutter approved a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the perpetrator.
The family told NBC10 they felt desperate, but are not giving up hope.
"Just give me back my baby," Keisha Gaither screamed while in tears. "Please, just let her go!"
Officials are asking for anyone with information to call the Philadelphia Police tip line at 215.686.TIPS.
