Sex Trafficking Survivor Kills Abuser, Faces Prison Time

A sex trafficking survivor who endured more than a year of virtual slavery reportedly faces a life sentence for killing the man who abused and exploited her.

Now 19, Crystul Kiser was reportedly 16 when she was lured into prostitution by 33-year-old Randy Volar, who also abused her himself, even going so far as to put it on film — along with approximately a dozen other underage African-American girls. A white male, Volar was arrested in February of 2018 for sexually assaulting a minor, but was released without bail. For three months, Volar reportedly remained at large, even though law enforcement had evidence that he had committed multiple crimes against teenage girls.

Now, Chrystul is the one on trial, according to the Washington Post.

The Allegations

According to the report, Chrystul allegedly took the law into her own hands. One night, say prosecutors, she went to Volar’s home, shot him in the head and attempted to burn his body before fleeing in his BMW. The prosecution argues her crime was premeditated, constituting murder in the first degree — which under Wisconsin law, carries a mandatory life sentence. District Attorney Michael Gravely claims Chrystul’s motive was to steal Volar’s vehicle.

Chrystul says that when she went to Volar’s home, he attacked her when she refused to submit to his abuse — which may constitute self-defense. She told reporters, “I didn’t intentionally try to do this.”

A Miscarriage of Justice?

If law enforcement had evidence of Volar’s crimes, why wasn’t he taken into custody and prosecuted? DA Gravely says that his office did indeed have evidence against Volar, but was “waiting” before filing charges. An extensive story featured in the Washington Post did not give a reason for the delay.

Reportedly, Chrystul may have one hope of an acquittal, which lies in what is known as an “affirmative defense.” This is a legal principle that has been adopted by a number of states, including Wisconsin, in recent years.

If a sex trafficking victim charged with a crime can prove to the court that the crime was committed while being exploited, she (or he) can have the charges dropped. However, the affirmative defense has reportedly never been used when the charge is homicide — making Chrystul’s a test case.

Why a Sex Trafficking Victim May Not Reach Out for Help

Under federal law, a minor cannot be charged with prostitution. However, local law enforcement is often unaware of this, and continue to see these victims as “willing participants” — particularly young African-American girls, meaning there is a racist component to the issue. The typical sex trafficking victim thus has multiple reasons to fear the police.

Some jurisdictions, such as Washington D.C., are attempting to change this by decriminalizing sex work. Supporters say this would remove the stigma of a prostitution charge and make victims more willing to come forward. However, critics fear that essentially legalizing prostitution would enable and embolden sex traffickers, making it easier for them to engage in their illicit enterprises.

The other part of the equation is how sex traffickers lure their victims — through flattery, faux concern, and emotional manipulation, according to experts. This manipulation is also another reason that victims may be hesitant to turn their traffickers to law enforcement.

Human trafficking is a worldwide problem, with hotels accused of luring workers with visas and the Jeffery Epstein case coming to light in recent years.