Police: Cracking Germantown Abduction Case "An Example Of How Things Should Work"
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Police officials spoke at a press conference Thursday afternoon, just one day after the woman who was abducted off of a Philadelphia street was found alive in Maryland.
Police have called the investigation, starting with the quick thinking actions of the victim who left her phone behind as a clue, to family and inter-agency cooperation, a case book study of how such a case should be handled.
Philadelphia Police Detective James Sloan, serving as the face and voice of the team of investigators who worked around the clock, served as point on the investigation, and working with the distraught family, mother Keisha Gaither from the beginning.
"I told her I was going to get her daughter back. I promised I was going to get her daughter back. She didn't look me in the eye. So I said it again," said Sloan.
He saw hope that she believed him. Did he believe his own assurances?
"I won't say something if I don't believe it," said Sloan.
Inspector Kelly of Northwest Detectives says of Detective Sloan, "He was always adamant that we were finding her. He was optimistic and driven by it."
Then the case book study led to a phone call home.
Detective Sloan had promised Carlesha's mother that he would bring her daughter home safe, and sure enough, he delivered.
"I spoke to her sister yesterday and I said 'why do you sound gloomy, why don't you start cheering?' She asked why and I told her 'we found your sister and she's safe, now put your mother on the phone.'"
"Once I spoke with her mother she said 'bring my baby home.'"
Carlesha Freeland-Gaither was found, she was safe, and soon Detective Sloan met her for the first time.
"Entered the room, she was upset. And I just told her, 'I've been looking for you.' And she started crying. Her mom hugged her and her father embraced her. Touching moment. Touching moment," said Sloan.
And it was promised fulfilled.
Inspector Kelly comments the investigation is "a case study example of how things are supposed to work, and I say that knowing it doesn't happen a lot. But this could be a case study of how everything fell right into place. Everyone worked seamlessly, FBI, ATF, everybody worked great."
Detective Sloan, a 22-year veteran of the force, agrees, saying this case "was one of the more memorable. It felt good to help out."
KYW Newsradio's Tony Hanson contributed to this report.
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