A 13-year-old girl, who had gone missing after meeting a man online, was discovered alive hidden in a box inside his residence. Authorities found evidence indicating that she had been sexually assaulted during her captivity.
The man, Ki-Shawn Crumity, aged 26, was arrested in Pittsburgh, US, and now faces charges of human trafficking, sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, and corruption of a child. The teenager, a resident of Baker, Louisiana, disappeared after connecting with Crumity through social media on October 20.
According to The Guardian, Crumity is among three men apprehended in a multi-state investigation involving various law enforcement agencies. Louisiana’s attorney general, Liz Murrill, expressed concern over the incident, stating that the child was groomed, exploited, and sexually abused by strangers found online, highlighting the risks associated with social media and human trafficking.
Law enforcement authorities received information from federal agents that led to the girl’s rescue in Pittsburgh, more than 1,000 miles away from her home. She was found trapped in a covered box in Crumity’s basement and was immediately taken to the hospital for examination, where signs of sexual assault were confirmed.
As per a criminal complaint, the girl revealed that she had connected with Crumity on Snapchat, who had promised to help her find a trusted adult for adoption. She explained that she traveled to Pittsburgh via bus and stayed in Crumity’s basement, where he provided her with edibles containing cannabis and subjected her to repeated sexual assault for approximately a week.
The child mentioned that Crumity was aware of her status as a runaway and told her he would face consequences. However, she expressed feeling safe at the hospital, as disclosed in the complaint. Crumity reportedly confessed to engaging in sexual activities with the victim, as reported by PEOPLE.
Local officials issued a press release stating that the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Special Victims Unit acted on a report from US Marshals, leading to the girl’s rescue at an address in Pittsburgh. Another man, Ronald Smith, aged 62, was also arrested in connection with the girl’s disappearance, along with Alvin Hanson, who allegedly facilitated her transportation from Louisiana to Georgia before boarding a northbound bus.
Smith faces charges of simple kidnapping and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, while Hanson, aged 64, was arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, as confirmed by Brian Fair from the US Marshals Service.
Further arrests are anticipated in the ongoing investigation, with reports from WAFB indicating the presence of individuals from the Washington DC area in Crumity’s basement at the time of the girl’s rescue.
