Philadelphia Abduction Suspect Delvin Barnes on Suicide Watch
— -- Delvin Barnes, the man suspected of abducting a woman in Philadelphia and a teenager in Virginia, was put on a suicide watch in a Virginia jail today.
Barnes was incarcerated in the Riverside Regional Jail in Virginia after Barnes waived extradition following his arrest in Maryland on Thursday.
"The inmate is currently on suicide prevention based on his current charges and behavior," Lt. Laura Gray said in a statement.
Barnes' arrest Thursday ended a five day manhunt following the violent abduction of Carlesha Freeland-Gaither off a Philadelphia street Sunday night. At his only court hearing, Barnes agreed to be taken to Virginia where there was a warrant for his arrest accusing him of the Oct. 1 kidnapping a 16-year-old girl, raping her and trying to kill her. The girl escaped.
Barnes was also charged federally with kidnapping in Freeland-Gaither's abduction. He admitted to the Nov. 2 abduction of Carlesha Freeland-Gaither in Philadelphia, stating that he didn’t know her prior to the attack and later drove with her to Aberdeen, Maryland, according to a federal complaint released Thursday.
Barnes, 37, cursed at reporters when he arrived at the Charles City County Sheriff’s Office.
Federal agents found Freeland-Gaither, 22, and Barnes in Maryland Wednesday. Freeland-Gaither is said to be resting now after being checked out at a nearby hospital and later reunited with her family. The nurse’s disappearance drew national attention after surveillance video was released showing her abduction.
Freeland-Gaither left a trail of clues, including her cellphone and glasses at the scene of the abduction, according to the complaint. She also kicked out the rear passenger side window after she was forced inside Barnes’ car, authorities said.
Additionally, her ATM card was used at a bank – to withdrawal $20 – with Barnes stopping minutes later at a nearby convenience store to purchase potato chips and a bottle of water, among other items, according to the complaint.
Barnes’ car was tracked using a GPS device that allows auto dealers and lenders to keep tabs on customers with poor credit.
Investigators also praised the actions of Dwayne Fletcher, a good Samaritan who called police twice with key tips after the recent abduction. Fletcher was identified by police as the man who reportedly witnessed the kidnapping and called police and picked up the phone that Freeland-Gaither threw out of the car after punching out a window.
"If it wasn't for him, I don't think we would've had the same outcome," Philadelphia police Det. James Sloan said during a Thursday news conference.
Authorities say it could be some time before Barnes enters a Pennsylvania courtroom because of the charges in Virginia.
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