Suspect in Germantown abduction to be tried first in Philly

A man accused of abducting a Philadelphia woman just weeks after a similar Virginia crime will be tried in the Pennsylvania case first.Delvin Barnes is being brought to Philadelphia from Virginia for an initial appearance Wednesday on federal kidnapping charges.

Authorities say the 37-year-old Barnes grabbed 22-year-old Carlesha Freeland Gaither as she was walking home from a bus stop in Germantown last week. Police found the pair three days later in Jessup, Maryland.

That case will be tried in Philadelphia before Barnes is prosecuted in the abduction and attempted murder of a 16-year-old Richmond girl, officials said.

A Charles City County Sheriff’s Office spokesman said detectives there have questioned Barnes about the Virginia case. Capt. Jayson Crawley says Barnes did not request a lawyer.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

Barnes is expected to be appointed a Pennsylvania lawyer on Wednesday.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal