Germantown abduction victim's ATM card used in Maryland - police
GERMANTOWN, PHILADELPHIA -- As the search continues for the woman forcibly abducted in Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood, her family is talking about a former boyfriend who, they say, was "obsessed" with her.
Carlesha Freeland-Gaither has been missing since being snatched off the street Sunday night. Surveillance video not only showed Freeland-Gaither's abduction, it also showed the vehicle involved.
Police say that car had a front license tag which indicates it could be from Maryland.
Freeland-Gaither was raised in Maryland and returned to Philadelphia two years ago.
The family says a former boyfriend from Maryland was obsessed with her and tracked her down.
Meanwhile, Freeland-Gaither's bank card was used at 6:01 a.m. Monday at an ATM just off I-95 in Aberdeen, Maryland, about 75 miles from Philadelphia, said authorities. The transaction occurred less than nine hours after the reported abduction Sunday night.
A surveillance image of the person who used the card was shown to the family.
"I did not recognize the person in the picture, but I know (the boyfriend) has a light complexion. The picture was not very clear, but - if I had to say - it's a possibility," said Freeland-Gaither's grandmother, Ana Mulero.
Freeland-Gaither's family is pleading for her safe return.
VIDEO: Police, family issue plea for abducted woman
"Please give me back my child. Please give me give my baby. I just want my daughter. Please let her go," said the 22-year-old's mother, Keisha Gaither.
"Just release her, we're not asking for anything else. If you want somebody, come get me," her father, Carl Freeland, said. "Whatever you're asking for, just get into contact with me and my family. All we want back is my daughter."
The FBI said Tuesday it was working to enhance the surveillance video of Freeland-Gaither being taken and was offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect. Local officials previously pledged $17,000 in rewards -- $2,000 by the Citizens' Crime Commission; $10,000 by the city of Philadelphia; and $5,000 by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 5.
Authorities hope the reward and the dramatic surveillance video of the kidnapping released Monday will lead to a break in the case. The video shows Freeland-Gaither's violent abduction in chilling detail.
"We need to find this young lady," said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey. "We need to find the person responsible and get him in custody and get her home safely."
VIDEO: See the surveillance footage released by police
The abduction happened at 9:40 p.m. Sunday in the 100 block of West Coulter Street.
The video shows someone park a 2000-2002 dark gray metallic 4-door Ford Taurus with Pennsylvania plates by the street. A man in a hooded sweatshirt gets out of the car and goes out of view, but then comes back dragging Freeland-Gaither.
Freeland-Gaither is seen struggling against her abductor while being dragged down the street. Police say she kicked out both rear windows just before the car sped away.
Police found Freeland-Gaither's glasses and mobile phone lying on the road where the abduction occurred. On Monday, they also picked up a glove at the scene as possible evidence.
Freeland-Gaither's family says she worked as a nurse and had spent the evening visiting with her godson before heading home. They say she was just blocks from her home when she was abducted.
The suspect was described as a black male, about 25-30 years old, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a medium-heavy build and a medium-brown complexion. He was wearing a dark colored jacket with a dark colored hood, possibly a hooded sweatshirt underneath, a dark colored hat, and dark colored pants.
The suspect vehicle was described as a 2000-2002 dark gray metallic 4-door Ford Taurus with an unknown Pennsylvania license number, an unknown plate on the front bumper, a 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.
Anyone with information about the incident or Freeland-Gaither's whereabouts is being asked to call Philadelphia Police Northwest Detectives at (215) 686-3353.
