ATM card of Germantown kidnapping victim used in Maryland, family says

GERMANTOWN -- Action News has confirmed that the ATM card of a woman forcibly abducted Sunday night in Germantown has been used in Maryland.

The family of 22-year-old Carlesha Freeland-Gaither says police showed them a picture of a man using the victim's card in Aberdeen, Maryland.

Family members say they did not recognize the man.

The development is the newest clue in a case that has made national headlines.

The reward is now up to $15,000 for information leading to the man responsible for the apparently random crime, which was recorded by a nearby surveillance system.

On Monday Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter approved a $10,000 reward for an arrest and conviction.

Tuesday morning, John McNesby, President of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 5, announced an additional $5,000 reward for an arrest, but not necessarily a conviction, in the case.

Authorities hope the reward money 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."

VIDEO: See the video released by Philadelphia Police

The surveillance video shows the incident as it unfolded at 9:40 p.m. Sunday in the 100 block of West Coulter Street.

You can see 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.

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 police, 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.

On Monday they also picked up a glove at the scene as possible evidence.

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

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.

Monday morning Carl Freeland, Carlesha's father, was out posting flyers on the block where she was taken.

"I don't care what anyone has to do, just let my daughter come home," he said. "That's all I'm asking."

"I think she was coming from a cousin's party or something and was walking down," said Carlesha's grandfather, Derek Alston. "And she was supposed to call her boyfriend to meet her, and she never did."

"She's just a sweet child, a very sweet child," said her grandmother, Connie Freeland. "We don't know if she was talking to them or whether they ended up asking her a question and just grabbed her. We don't know what happened at all."

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 Freeland-Gaither's whereabouts is being asked to call Philadelphia Police Northwest Detectives at 215-686-3353.