Germantown abduction victim reunited with family; suspect behind bars

GERMANTOWN, PHILADELPHIA (KABC) -- A woman forcibly taken from a quiet Philadelphia street Sunday night has been reunited with her family after authorities rescued her in Maryland and took her suspected kidnapper into custody.

Carlesha Freeland-Gaither, 22, was released from a hospital in Columbia, Maryland, overnight and is now recovering with her family in Philadelphia.

Police said Freeland-Gaither suffered some physical injuries and psychological trauma, but is generally doing OK.

"Everybody came through," the victim's cousin, Cinquetta Barfield, told ABC affiliate WPVI-TV. "The media, the public - they called in with crazy tips. Everybody just came through, and we all worked as a team."

"For all of us - family, all of us - I mean, you hope, you hope, you hope. But you don't really know until you actually are able to get her and make sure that she's OK," said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey.

Her suspected abductor, 37-year-old Delvin Barnes, was previously wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant out of Charles City County, Virginia, for attempted capital murder, assault and malicious injury with acid, explosive or fire.

That's in connection with the case of a 16-year-old girl he allegedly kidnapped there.

On Thursday, he waived his right to an extradition hearing. Virginia now has five days to retrieve him from Maryland.

Authorities say he will be charged federally with the crimes committed in Philadelphia, including Freeland-Gaither's abduction.

"Bottom line is, it doesn't matter, he's not getting out of custody whichever direction he goes, in Philly or Virginia. His last moment of freedom was last night," Ramsey said.

Details on how authorities tracked Barnes from Philadelphia to Maryland continue to emerge.

The dramatic resolution to the three-day ordeal was announced just after 7 p.m. Wednesday at a news conference. Ramsey and FBI Special Agent Ed Hanko were surrounded by a host of law enforcement officials and the victim's family.

"Tonight, the FBI and Philadelphia Police Department have great news - that Carlesha Freeland has been rescued," said Hanko. "Her abductor has been arrested in Maryland."

Early Wednesday night, investigators said a task force from the Baltimore FBI office consisting of U.S. Marshals, ATF agents, and FBI agents, located a car that matched the description of the vehicle used in Freeland-Gaither's abduction.

FBI Agent Timothy Jones said a tip led them to the car, which was located in the parking lot of a shopping center just off I-95 in Jessup, Maryland.

Authorities say a car dealer who sold Barnes the car recognized him. The dealer put a GPS tracking device on the car, fearing Barnes would default on his loan.

Plastic was covering the window that police believe Freeland-Gaither kicked out during her abduction. Agents were able to get a clear view of a man and woman sitting inside the car.

Agents say both were sitting on the passenger side at first, but then Barnes moved into the driver's seat.

"For fear of him driving away before we could detain him and determine that was actually our abduction victim, the agents, at that point, moved in," said Jones.

Jones says the agents surrounded the vehicle and were able to subdue and arrest Barnes without incident.

"It was fantastic because I was actually on the phone with the detective from the Philadelphia Police Department, and it was one of those moments where we were very happy that luck was in our favor," said Jones.

Freeland-Gaither was rushed to nearby Howard County General Hospital to be evaluated.

At Wednesday night's news conference, the victim's mother, Keisha Gaither, thanked the Philadelphia police, the FBI, the public, and her family and friends for finding her daughter.

"Thank you so much for having us in your prayers," she said. "Thank you for keeping me up. Thanking for being there for us. I'm taking my baby home. Thank you. Thank you so much."