New video, clear pictures released of person of interest in Germantown abduction
GERMANTOWN -- Police have released new video showing a person of interest in connection to the abduction of a woman in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.
The video was released Tuesday night.
The surveillance video shows the person of interest inside an Aberdeen, Maryland gas station.
The time stamp on the video shows 6:04 a.m. on November 3, 2014.
Earlier Tuesday, Action News obtained surveillance video of the abduction.
In the video, a man is seen approaching Carlesha Freeland-Gaither on the 100 block of West Coulter Street around 9:40 p.m. Sunday.
It seems as if she tries to get around him and he reaches out as if to shake her hand.
She tries to get around him once again, and that's when he lunges and grabs her. The two then disappear from view.
Previously released surveillance video showed Carlesha being dragged down the street.
That video then shows her being put into a car, possibly a 2000-2002 dark gray metallic 4-door Ford Taurus with Maryland tags.
That is just one of a handful of Maryland connections in this case.
VIDEO: See the video released by Philadelphia Police
Earlier Tuesday evening, police released surveillance images from a Maryland ATM where Carlesha's ATM card was used.
The images were taken at an ATM at a PNC Bank just off Interstate 95 in Aberdeen at 6:01 a.m. Monday morning.
Police are currently seeking to identify the man in the photos.
The first piece of surveillance video released showed both Carlesha's abduction and the vehicle involved.
Police say that car had a front license tag which indicates it could be from Maryland.
Carlesha 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.
"It scared her so she backed off from him, but he found her. When she came up here he found her," said Carlesha's mother, Keisha Gaither.
Keisha says the ex-boyfriend wanted Carlesha to send him naked photos, but she would not.
"He was very aggressive with her. He would ask her for pictures. She didn't want to send pictures. He would harass her. He wanted naked pictures. She would not send it. She's a young lady. She would not degrade herself and send naked pictures. He was pressuring her all the time for pictures," mother Keisha Gaither said.
Carlesha's family is pleading for her safe return.
"Please give me back my child. Please give me give my baby. I just want my daughter. Please let her go," said her mother.
VIDEO: Police, family issue plea for abducted woman
"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."
Her sister spoke directly to Carlesha, saying "If you see me or hear me out there, just know that I love you and we want you to come home."
A $47,000 reward is being offered in this case. Some of the money is being offered for both an arrest and conviction, some for an arrest only.
Authorities hope the reward and the dramatic surveillance video of the kidnapping released Monday will lead to a break in the case.
"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."
Police found Carlesha's glasses and mobile phone lying on the road where the abduction occurred. .
On Monday, authorities also picked up a glove at the scene as possible evidence.
Police say she kicked out both rear windows just before the car sped away.
Carlesha's family says she worked as a nurse and had spent the evening visiting with her godson before heading home.
They say she had just gotten of a bus and was just blocks from her home when she was abducted.
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.
Anyone with information about the incident or Carlesha's whereabouts is being asked to call Philadelphia Police Northwest Detectives at 215-686-3353.
