A 13-year-old girl, who had disappeared after meeting a man online, was discovered alive hidden in a box inside his residence, where signs of sexual assault were found, as per authorities. Ki-Shawn Crumity, 26, was arrested in Pittsburgh, US, and faces charges including human trafficking, sexual assault, and corruption of a minor following the incident. The teenager, hailing from Baker, Louisiana, went missing on October 20 after establishing contact with Crumity via social media.
Crumity is among three individuals apprehended in a multi-agency investigation spanning state boundaries. Louisiana’s attorney general, Liz Murrill, expressed concerns over the dangers of social media and human trafficking, citing this case as an example of exploitation faced by minors online.
Federal agents tipped off the police, leading to the girl’s discovery in a concealed box in Crumity’s basement, far away from her home. She was promptly taken to a hospital where evidence of sexual abuse was documented. The girl reportedly disclosed to investigators that she communicated with Crumity through Snapchat, who lured her with promises of finding her a reliable adult for adoption. After traveling to Pittsburgh by bus, she ended up in Crumity’s home, where she was subjected to repeated sexual assaults over a week.
The victim mentioned feeling safest while at the hospital, stating that Crumity acknowledged her status as a runaway. Crumity reportedly admitted to engaging in sexual activities with the victim. Local officials confirmed the details of the incident in a press release issued by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Special Victims Unit.
Furthermore, another individual, Ronald Smith, aged 62, was arrested in connection with the girl’s disappearance. Smith and another man, Alvin Hanson, allegedly transported her from Louisiana to Georgia before she was put on a bus heading north. Smith faces charges of simple kidnapping and contributing to juvenile delinquency, while Hanson, 64, was arrested for contributing to juvenile delinquency.
Authorities have hinted at more arrests in the ongoing investigation. Additional individuals, a man and a woman from the Washington DC area, were reportedly present in Crumity’s basement during the girl’s rescue, according to Louisiana news station WAFB.
