Abducted: Footage Shows Carlesha Freeland-Gaither Kidnapped On Philadelphia Street [Video]

A 22-year-old Philadelphia woman named Carlesha Freeland-Gaither was abducted as she walked down a Philadelphia street on Sunday night. Her struggles to escape her kidnapper were caught on surveillance video, which was released to the public on Monday.

The three minutes of footage shows Freeland-Gaither fighting against the man who attacked her as she was walking near the corner of W. Coulter and Greene Streets at approximately 9:40 p.m. Her assailant is described as a 25 to 30-year-old man standing around 5-feet 10-inches and has a heavy build. By comparison, Carlesha is 5-foot-3-inches tall and weighs about 125 pounds. The man appeared to be wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt.

Authorities suspect that the kidnapper had been following and watching Carlesha before abducting her. The video shows the perpetrator pulling over on W. Coulter Street and getting out of his car, a 2000 dark grey Ford Taurus. He then walks down the street, where he encounters the young nurse’s aide, who was headed home after visiting her godson.

A struggle ensues, and Freeland-Gaither makes a brave and forceful — but ultimately futile — attempt to break free from his grasp as the man drags her toward his car. The man eventually throws the woman into the back seat before getting behind the wheel and driving away. Police said Carlesha smashed out both of the car’s rear windows as a last effort to escape.

Police were able to identify the victim as Freeland-Gaither after discovering her smartphone at the scene. A knife and glove were also found.

Carlesha Freeland-Gaither’s family called her a “sweet child.” Her father, Carl Freeland, made a plea to the kidnapper.

“If anybody knows anything, please, just bring my daughter home…I’ll give it to you. Anything you want, I’ll give it to you, just bring my daughter home.”

Her mother, Keisha Gaither, was inconsolable, and wailed through tears as she begged for Carlesha’s return.

“Just give me back my baby…Please, just let her go!”

On Monday night, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter approved a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in connection with this crime. Anyone with information about the kidnapping are urged to call Philadelphia police at 215-686-3353.

Though witnesses have come forward to say they heard Carlesha Freeland-Gaither screaming for help, it appears no one try to stop her abduction. At one point, the surveillance video shows a car driving down the street before stopping and going in reverse back the way it came.

[Image via Daily Mail]