On December 17th, anti-violence advocates throughout the world call attention to the horrific violence inflicted on victims of commercial sexual exploitation. The CSE Institute joins this movement, in honoring the human dignity of everyone involved in the commercial sex industry. Every human being’s life has intrinsic and ultimate value – and yet, as victims of commercial sexual exploitation continue to suffer beatings, rapes, and murder, too many communities fail to take this violence seriously. Serial predators (including members of law enforcement) continue to prey on the most vulnerable members of our society.
Below, we have listed only few of the many cases involving people involved CSE whose deaths were either homicides or ruled suspicious in the past year. While the short list below is incomplete, it begins to demonstrate the vast number of victims in CSE who have suffered the ultimate violence since last December 17th. (Credit for source of list from which these cases were identified: www.december17.org)
Brandy Carroll, age 19, Beloit, WI. According to the criminal complaint filed by prosecutors in Rock County, Wisconsin, Brandy was found dead in the home of Andre Robinson, after the two set up a “date” on Backpage.com. Prosecutors allege that Johnson pushed Brandy down the stairs of his home, stabbed her in the shoulder and neck, and put Brandy’s body in a blue plastic tote box in his garage. Brandy, who had was finishing her GED at Blackhawk Technical College, was described by friends as, “a happy and adventurous person” who “danced and sang in the mornings.”
Michelle Hernandez-Vasquez, age 21, Staten Island, NY. Michelle was found with a gunshot wound to the head at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Staten Island. She died the next day. Carl October and Derekson Lett allegedly responded to a Backpage.com escort ad featuring Michelle and met up with her at the Cosmopolitan. According to prosecutors, Lett posed as the customer and attempted to rob her, and her pimp, hiding in the hotel room’s bathroom, intervened. October, waiting outside, then allegedly shot into the room, striking Michelle in the head. The two men were indicted on murder and robbery charges on May 27, 2015. The Staton Island Live news agency, where the case is reported includes the phrase, “suspects_indicted_for_hooker” in its website url. (Is it any wonder that our communities fail to take violence against people in the commercial sex trade seriously? A more accurate url would read, “suspects_indicted_for_murder_of_human_being_who_deserves_respect_and_dignity.”)
Teresa Longo, age 31, Omaha, NE. Teresa’s body was found in an abandoned home in Omaha. She had been shot execution-style in the head. Reginald Briggs, who allegedly acted as Teresa’s pimp, has been indicted for her murder and is awaiting trial.
Sanisha Johnson, age 34, Burlington, MA. Sanisha was found dead at the Extended Stay America Hotel in Burlington. She had been shot in the chest. Epshod Jeune and Derrell Fisher allegedly responded to a Backpage.com escort ad featuring Sanisha, posing as customers, and shooting her during an attempted robbery. The two were indicted on charges of murder and robbery on September 4, 2015.
Faith Jenkins, age 35, Daytona Beach, FL. Faith’s body was found behind an abandoned house, naked from the waist down. Her autopsy revealed internal trauma and her death has been classified a homicide. Jenkins had moved to Florida from West Virginia and reportedly lived most of her life on the streets, forced to engage in prostitution. No suspect had been identified in connection with her homicide.
Laura Nagengast, age 30, Daytona Beach, FL. Laura’s body was found in a ditch alongside a road outside DeLand, Florida. An autopsy could not conclusively determine a cause of her death, and police are still investigating it as suspicious. Around the time of her death, Laura was reportedly engaging in prostitution. Police have named John Lytus a person of interest in Laura’s death. Lytus is currently awaiting trial for rape charges stemming from an alleged attack on a pregnant homeless woman who was engaging in prostitutio
Shaquierra Pinckney, age 22, Daytona Beach, FL. Shaquierra’s body was found in a cemetery. Although the coroner’s office never released a cause of death, it had been burned. Shaquierra’s family reported her missing four days before her body was found. The night of her disappearance, she had posted an escort ad on Backpage.com. Shaquierra was four months pregnant and was already the mother of two. Her mother described her as a “good, educated woman who had a lot of friends.” No suspect has been identified in connection with her death.
Kelly Lynne Sallee, age 55, Hauser, ID. Kelly’s body was found partially submerged in a slough near Hauser Lake. Patrick McGhee allegedly paid Kelly to have sex with him and then allegedly strangled her to death with a ligature. On July 28, 2015, he was charged with second-degree murder, interstate “prostitute” trafficking, and procurement of a “prostitute.”
Kittaporn Saosawatsri, age 37, Bellevue, WA. Kittaporn was found dead in her apartment in Bellevue. He had died from multiple stab wounds. Song Wang allegedly responded to a Backpage.com escort ad featuring Kittaporn and then attempted to rob her. He also allegedly set fire to her apartment before leaving with one of her bags and wallets. He has been indicted on first-degree murder and first-degree arson charges and is awaiting trial.
Cynthia Worthy, age 23, Detroit, MI. Cynthia’s body was found in an alleyway in Detroit. She had been stabbed. She and Jerome Moore allegedly set up a date on Backpage.com at Moore’s home. He was indicted on charges of first-degree murder on November 6, 2015. Cynthia’s family described her as bubbly, generous and extremely close with her family. “She would just do anything for anybody,” her mom said. “She would just come in a room and take over. Everybody would know Cyndee was there. She was really funny and silly, too. Nobody else could be Cyndee.”