Woman found dead after kidnapping near southeast Atlanta park, police say
ATLANTA - Atlanta police said a woman was found dead after having been kidnapped near Chosewood Park early Friday morning.
Investigators said they received a call around 5 a.m. about a possible kidnapping on Burroughs Street. The 911 caller told police that a woman was forced into a vehicle.
About 6 a.m., officers received a call of shots fired in the area of Lakewood Avenue and Terrace Way in southeast Atlanta.
Police found the woman dead just before 10 a.m. The body was later identified as 27-year-old Mariam Abdulrab.
Mariam Abdulrab
Investigators identified and detained Demarcus Brinkley as a person of interest in the kidnapping. Brinkley was taken into custody in Griffin, Georgia on traffic charges after leading police on a high-speed chase.
The pursuit ended when Brinkley collided with another vehicle, police said. As of Friday evening, Atlanta police have not charged Brinkley in the murder or kidnapping of Abdulrab, but he is a person of interest.
A damaged Chevy Equinox driven by Demarcus Brinkley during a high-speed police chase. (SKY FOX 5)
As of Friday evening, Atlanta police have not charged Brinkley in the murder or kidnapping of Abdulrab, but he is a person of interest.
Grant Henry, the owner of Sister Louisa's Church of the Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium, said Abdulrab worked at the bar several nights a week.
He describes her as having a bubbly personality and said she was loved by everyone.
He said he and the entire staff are still struggling to process the news.
"What most of us have been doing all day is either staring in the air, which is [a] shock. Or the realization that this happened and then breaking down in tears," Henry said.
Henry said the staff is close-knit so they feel as though they've lost a family member.
Church will be closed Friday night through Sunday to give staff the time to grieve.
"When we got the news, I just cannot imagine how we do this again. The people she was working with are her best friends," he said.
Henry said he wants to make sure his staff can take the time off this weekend without worrying about money.
He said they'll still get paid this weekend, but said If anyone is interested, they can donate to add to the staff's pay, as they take the time to process the tragedy.
You can donate to the Venmo account @Grant-Henry-7.
A GoFundMe was also started on behalf of Abdulrab's family.
The investigation continues.
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