Life in the city isn’t always as glamorous and great as it appears. Beneath the bright lights and busy streets, hidden dangers lurk, especially for women and girls. Tragically, two teenage girls found themselves pulled into some of the darkest corners of humanity. One of them, a 19-year-old, became a victim of sex trafficking after being kidnapped during a night out in New York. While spending time in Times Square, she was approached by 30-year-old Layquan Highsmith. Armed with a gun, he threatened her and forced her into a car. She was then taken to an apartment in Brooklyn, where she was coerced into performing sexual acts for money.
The kidnapping group didn’t confine their victim to New York; they also took her to North Carolina and Albany/Troy. In mid-October, another victim, a 15-year-old girl, was abducted as well. When the 19-year-old girl attempted to escape, she was caught and severely punished with a physical beating. The kidnappers also destroyed her phone after discovering she had tried to contact her family.
The 19-year-old finally found a breakthrough while staying at the Red Roof Inn in Wilmington. Without the kidnappers noticing, she managed to get her hands on a hotel phone and call 911, claiming she was suicidal. After receiving care and being discharged from the hospital, she obtained a Greyhound bus ticket to return to her home in New York. The sex trafficker didn’t escape without consequence, however, as she reported the crime to the police while waiting at the Port Authority bus terminal.
After months of investigation, police managed to arrest three men and two women who were part of the trafficking ring. They are facing a number of serious charges, including conspiracy, sex trafficking, and promoting prostitution. The three main players in the case, Layquan Highsmith, Tyshawn Crawford, and Ronasia Robinson, are likely to face the toughest consequences because of their key roles in the operation.
Many people who heard about what happened to the teens and women were outraged. Some even called for the harshest possible punishment for those responsible. “Life in prison without parole for all involved. They should be forced to break big rocks into little ones, 12 hours a day, six days a week, until they physically can’t anymore,” one Redditor commented.
Some users demanded to see mugshots of the kidnappers, which police have yet to release. Others expressed concern for the victims and their mental well-being. “Glad she’s alive, but that poor girl is in for a lifetime of mental trauma because of this,” another user said.
