Carlesha Freeland-Gaither has been found alive and well less than 72 hours after her abduction, NBC Philadelphia reports.
Freeland-Gaither was rescued from the car of her alleged kidnapper in a Jessup, Maryland parking lot Wednesday afternoon. She suffered a few injuries and but is reported to be in good condition.
“I’m taking my baby home,” the victim’s smiling mother, Keisha Gaither, said during a police conference yesterday.
FBI agents arrested 37-year-old Delvin Barnes in Maryland after they received a tip from the ATF office in Richmond, VA which was investigating Barnes.
Barnes tried to leave the scene as agents arrived. Freeland-Gaither reportedly screamed relentlessly for help as officers moved in to make the arrest, saying she was the woman who was abducted in Philadelphia.
“You could tell she was emotionally distraught,” ATF agent Tim Jones said.
The 22-year-old woman was kidnapped while walking home in her Philadelphia neighborhood. Her struggle and abduction was caught on camera by street surveillance video. Barnes reportedly attacked Freeland-Gaither at random. He has a long criminal history including rape, burglary, aggravated assault, making terrorist threats, and the attempted murder of a 16-year-old girl last month, according to court documents. He will be federally charged with alleged kidnapping and assault in this case.
“He’s a thug and this is what he does, apparently,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner, Charles Ramsey. “He’s a vicious predator. He’s off the streets.”
