There’s a chilling video (that recently made the Internet rounds) in which a 22-year-old woman, Carlesha Freeland-Gaither, being kidnapped from a street in Germantown, Pennsylvania.
This post discusses the case: the kidnapping, the resolution, and the suspect in the case.
The video shows the victim kidnapped right off the street just a short distance from her home. Investigators at the scene said that in addition to video, they also found Freeland-Gaither’s cell phone, which they believe she discarded on purpose. She also provided the kidnapper, 37-year-old Delvin Barnes, with her debit card PIN. Investigators say that this was a very smart move, as it would allow them to track the suspect when he used the card. This created an electronic trail, and it did help to lead the police to her.
Fortunately, this young woman was rescued approximately 72 hours after the kidnapping took place. They found her in Jessup, Maryland. Family, friends and well-wishers were relieved to know that she was found and that she would be safe, although she likely has a long road of psychological recovery ahead of her.
Barnes is a bad man on all counts. This is certainly not the first time he’s been in trouble with the law, and he has a history of violence against women. He’s actually facing additional charges for an outstanding warrant for attempted capital murder stemming from another kidnapping case. The victim in that crime was just 16 years old. While he is in custody now and on suicide watch, the police do wonder and worry whether Barnes could have other victims who were not as fortunate.
Barnes allegedly showed Freeland-Gaither photos of other girls he claimed to have done the same thing to in the past. Police are hoping now that other victims will come forward. They want to make sure that Barnes goes to prison and never gets out. He’s a predator, and they know that this type of behavior will not stop. Prison really is the only place for him.
While he’s in prison, the harsh truth is that many other predators are out there on the streets that are just like Barnes. They stalk their victims, take them unaware, and then vanish. Not all victims will be fortunate enough to rescue, so we thought it would be a good idea to provide our readers with a couple of tips that can help them in case they are ever in a similar situation.
Even when you are in an area that is familiar, it does not mean you are safe. Follow your instincts. If you feel someone is following you, contact the police. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
It is always a good idea to resist a kidnapping when possible rather than going with the abductor. Yell, fight, and run. Kidnappers want victims they can handle quickly and easily. Putting up a fight makes them think twice and can cause them to leave you alone.
Once you are safe, contact the authorities immediately, and provide them with as much information as possible.
Private investigators deal with missing person cases all the time. Most of the time, people disappear because they want to disappear. However, that’s not always the case. Police are the initial investigators in these cases, but private investigators can often offer help as well, and family members and friends should not hesitate to get advice from a professional when they have a missing loved on, no matter the circumstances.