Arrest Made In Kidnapping And Murder Of Atlanta Bartender

A man has been charged for the murder of an Atlanta woman who was kidnapped and forced into a vehicle, police say.

Demarcus Brinkley, 27, was arrested on Friday after leading police on a car chase in Griffin, Georgia, according to a press release from the Atlanta Police Department. Authorities held Brinkley on traffic charges but say they've have since established probable cause and secured arrest warrants for the murder of a local bartender.

Family members confirmed that the victim was Mariam Abdulrab, 27, who was found dead earlier in the day, according to Atlanta’s 11 Alive News.

“My daughter was the most peaceful and loving person,” the victim’s mother, Khalid Abdulrab, told 11 Alive. “She did not deserve this.”

Mariam Abdulrab was nearly home from her shift at the Revery VR Bar in Atlanta when witnesses say a man forced her into a vehicle at around 5:00 a.m.. 

Security camera footage captured the kidnapping, as obtained by Atlanta’s CBS 46 News. In the black and white video, Abdulrab pulls into her driveway shortly before another vehicle pulls up behind her. The suspect forces the victim into their car before reversing out of view.

According to the press release, officers responded to a possible kidnapping call.

One hour later, “officers received a call of shots fired,” police stated.

Investigators determined both calls were related.

“During the investigation, investigators determined the shots fired call was likely related to this incident, and investigators were responding to canvas the area when a witness called at around 9:55 a.m. and advised of a deceased person found near 1907 Lakewood Avenue,” police said in a statement obtained by 11 Alive.

An official cause of death has yet to be determined.

A woman claiming to be Mariam Abdulrab’s best friend wrote a Facebook post pleading for information about her whereabouts shortly before her body was found.

According to the post, "she [Abdulrab] stopped by a gas station and someone followed her home and as she was walking up to her door she was taken.”

Police have not specified how Demarcus Brinkley became a suspect but detained him Friday afternoon, according to 11 Alive. Georgia State Patrol was part of a police chase that ended when Brinkley crashed into another car, authorities said.

Two occupants of the second car were airlifted to the local hospital.

“What we do believe is that we do have a person of interest detained at this time,” said Deputy Chief Charles Hampton JR. during a press conference. “I would believe that this person detained may be significantly involved in both of these crimes; the kidnapping and the homicide.”

It's not clear of Brinkley and Abdulrab knew each other.

Pending Brinkley’s release from the hospital, authorities plan to charge the suspect with murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping, false imprisonment, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. According to the press release, Brinkley will then be taken to Fulton County Jail.

He remains in stable condition at Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center.

The investigation is still ongoing.