Video shows woman's abduction in Germantown; abductor sought

GERMANTOWN, PHILADELPHIA (KABC) -- Philadelphia police have released video of a woman's abduction in Germantown, and it appears to be a random kidnapping.

The missing woman was identified as 22-year-old Carlesha Freeland-Gaither. The video shows the incident at 9:40 p.m. on Sunday on the 100 block of West Coulter Street.

In the video, you can see someone park a Ford Taurus 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.

She 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.

While audio was not released by the surveillance video, investigators say it was clear that Freeland-Gaither did not know her abductor.

Because of the seemingly random nature of the case, police have called in the FBI for help.

Police found Freeland-Gaither's glasses and mobile phone lying on the road where the abduction occurred.

Officers were back Monday morning and picked up a glove as possible evidence.

"There's no relationship to drugs or criminal activity at this time," Philadelphia Police Lieutenant Clifton Lights said.

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, 5 feet 10 inches tall, medium to heavy build, 25 to 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 was described as a 2000-2002 dark gray metallic 4-door Ford Taurus with an unknown Pennsylvania license plates, rear spoiler, with both driver and passenger side rear windows broken out. The vehicle was 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.