New surveillance footage in abduction case

As the investigation into Carlesha Freeland-Gaither's abduction enters its third day, police released new surveillance footage this morning of a man they are describing as a "person of interest" in the kidnapping.

Meanwhile, Carlesha's family's anxiety grows with each minute she remains missing.

"This is the third day, we don't know what to think at this moment," her grandmother, Ana Mulero, said. "We're just remaining hopeful, just hoping something happens and hoping this case breaks by today."

The latest video shows the man entering a grocery store, walking down an aisle and then purchasing what appears to be chips in a self-checkout line. Authorities are asking the public to note the way the man walks. It appears he may have a slight limp and his toes point outward.

The time stamp on the video shows the man entering the store at 1:43 p.m. and leaving at 1:50 p.m. Police initially declined to release any further details on when and where the video was taken but authorities said this afternoon that the video was taken at a Philadelphia grocery store before Carlesha's abduction. Police declined to release the name or location of the grocery store.

A police spokeswoman said the man in this video is believed to be the same person of interest who used Carlesha's debit card at an ATM in Aberdeen, Md., around 6 a.m. Monday and who was captured shortly thereafter by a convenience store's surveillance camera.

Police spokesman Lt. John Stanford said authorities have been receiving a number of calls and tips and they continue to check out every one.

"In cases like this, every minute is of the essence," he said.

Carlesha, 22, was kidnapped on Coulter Street near Greene in Germantown shortly after 9:40 p.m. Sunday. The disturbing surveillance footage of her abduction, which shows her bravely fighting against her captor, has moved people across the country.

Yesterday, her family offered several theories about the identity of her captor, mainly, that it could be a boy who was obssessed with Carlesha when she attended high school in Maryland. However, today Mulero said she did not recognize the man in the surveillance footage that has been released by police.

The reward for the arrest and conviction of Carlesha's abductor currently stands at $47,000. The Philadelphia police are working with the FBI and Maryland State Police in the investigation.

Anyone with information on the identity of the person of interest is asked to call Northwest Detectives at 215-548-4756 or the department's tip line at 215-686-8477.