A 13-year-old girl who disappeared after meeting a man online was discovered alive hidden in a container inside his residence, with signs of sexual assault, as per officials.
Ki-Shawn Crumity, aged 26, was taken into custody in Pittsburgh, US, on Thursday and is facing charges of human trafficking, sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, and corruption of a child. The teenager, who was from Baker, Louisiana, went missing on October 20 after making contact with Crumity through social media.
Reports indicate that Crumity is among three men arrested in a multi-agency investigation spanning state borders. Louisiana’s attorney general, Liz Murrill, expressed concern about the dangers of online interactions, citing this incident as an illustration of the risks associated with social media and human trafficking.
Following information provided by federal agents, law enforcement officers found the girl confined in a box covered with a sheet in Crumity’s basement, far away from her home. She was swiftly transported to a hospital where evidence of sexual assault was documented.
According to a criminal complaint, the girl disclosed that she connected with Crumity on Snapchat. He allegedly lured her with promises of facilitating her adoption by a trustworthy adult. The girl detailed her journey to Pittsburgh via Greyhound bus and recounted staying in the basement with Crumity and another individual, a woman, during her time at his residence.
The victim reported that Crumity provided her with cannabis-infused edibles and sexually assaulted her repeatedly over a week. She mentioned that Crumity was aware she was a runaway and warned her about potential consequences. The child expressed relief at being in the hospital, considering it the safest environment, as outlined in the complaint. Crumity reportedly confessed to engaging in sexual activity with the victim, according to PEOPLE.
Local authorities stated in a press release that the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Special Victims Unit acted on a report from the United States Marshals, leading to the rescue of the juvenile female from Louisiana at an address in Pittsburgh.
Another individual, 62-year-old Ronald Smith, has also been apprehended in connection with the girl’s disappearance. Smith, along with Alvin Hanson, is accused of transporting her from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Georgia before assisting her in traveling northward.
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, according to authorities. Additional arrests are expected as the investigation progresses.
Local media sources have reported that a man and a woman from the Washington DC area were present in Crumity’s basement when the girl was rescued.