Philadelphia Police Release Terrifying Footage of Woman's Abduction
Police have released security camera footage of the apparent abduction of Carlesha Freeland-Gaither from Philadelphia's Germantown-Penn Knox neighborhood. According to the 22-year-old's family, she was just blocks away from her home when she was dragged into a car by an unknown man.
Freeland-Gaither was abducted Sunday night just before 10 p.m. local time. In the video released by police Monday, you can see her being dragged down the street and taken to a car. She drops her cellphone and glasses in the struggle, and police told CNN that she kicked out the driver and passenger side rear windows in her attempt to flee.
According to the Philadelphia Daily News, a witness told police that they heard Freeland-Gaither screaming for help at the time of her abduction. The paper also reports that Freeland-Gaither was supposed to phone her boyfriend from the bus stop near their home, but she was taken before she could make the call.
WPVI reports that police have confirmed that Freeland-Gaither's credit card was used at an ATM in Maryland early this morning. The reward for her return has grown to a collective $42,000: the FBI, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, and the Fraternal Order of Police have all pledged money for Freeland-Gaither's release. A description of the alleged abductor and their getaway car from WPVI:
The suspect is described as a black male, 5'10, medium-heavy build, 25-30 years-of-age, medium brown complexion, wearing a dark colored jacket with a dark colored hood possibly a hooded sweatshirt underneath, dark colored hat, and dark colored pants.
The vehicle is described as a 2000-2002 dark gray metallic 4-door Ford Taurus with an unknown PA license number, an unknown plate on the front bumper, rear spoiler, and both driver and passenger side rear windows broken out. The vehicle is missing inspection stickers and has an unknown item in the center bottom of the front windshield.
"I don't care what anyone has to do, just let my daughter come home," Carl Freeland, Carlesha's father, told WPVI. "That's all I'm asking."
[Image via Philadelphia Police Department]