On July 21, 2022, Christina Randall, 47, was arrested following an eight-month investigation into the alleged sexual exploitation of her 13-year-old daughter. The victim’s father, Tyquann Brown, 44, was also arrested for endangering the welfare of children.
According to media reports, the victim’s school reported to police that she was not in school on December 11, 2021. Randall purportedly told the school that the victim had doctors’ appointments that day, but Randall later claimed that these appointments were actually the day before. The victim’s parents failed to report that she was missing until five days had passed. Additionally, Randall allegedly reported to the police that her daughter had run away before and usually returned home.
Randall subsequently reached out to police on December 16, 2021, stating that she believed her daughter to be part of a sex trafficking ring. The victim was ultimately found in a home in Amsterdam, NY. The home belongs to Neil Moore II, 28, and Jeniyah Lockhart-Tippins, 23, who have both individually been charged with kidnapping of a minor, sexual exploitation of children, unlawful contact with a minor, concealing the whereabouts of a child, and two charges of corruption of minors.
According to media reports, the victim met Lockhart-Tippins on Instagram. The victim allegedly met with Lockhart-Tippins and Moore at a hotel in Harrisburg to “get her makeup done.” From there, the couple allegedly drove the victim to their home in Amsterdam, NY. Lockhart-Tippins reportedly told police that Randall, the victim’s mother, dropped the victim off at the Harrisburg hotel to meet her.
Randall reportedly told police that she knew Moore and Lockhart-Tippins. Randall had also deleted text messages between her and the suspects in this case. The victim reported that her mother was in contact with Lockhart-Tippins and Moore while she was missing.
There are three additional suspects in Memphis, TN who have been charged: Danerick Perry Jr., 27, Jeremy Maxwell, 19, and Mario Maxwell, 22. It is reported that these three suspects are accused of providing marijuana to the victim and having sex with her at a hotel.
It is unfortunately not surprising that a hotel played a role in commercial sexual exploitation. As of 2018, 79% of sex trafficking survivors reported that hotels or motels played a part in their exploitation. Hotels have long existed as a prime location for sex buyers and traffickers to use, and hotels profit off this exploitation. The Trafficking Victim’s Protection Act can be utilized to hotels accountable, both criminally and civilly, for participating in sex trafficking. Furthermore, hotel employees should be educated and trained in detecting signs of human trafficking. By recognizing and putting an end to the commercial sexual exploitation going on within their own four walls, hotels can play a huge role in stopping commercial sexual exploitation.
The CSE Institute applauds the Lower Swatara Township Police Department and the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office for their work investigating and charging the seven suspects involved. The CSE Institute also urges the hotel industry to stop turning a blind eye to the commercial sexual exploitation happening within their hotels. Instead, hotels and motels should become a leading force in stopping this exploitation altogether. The CSE Institute recognizes the need for legislation that would require these types of trainings, policies, and procedures to be implemented in every hotel and motel across the country. Additionally, the CSE Institute commends the bravery of the victim. It is the voices of survivors that enact change surrounding the sex trafficking narrative.
The CSE Institute will continue to provide updates on this matter.
All views expressed herein are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law or of Villanova University.