WI - Chrystul Kizer, 19, sex trafficking victim who killed her abuser, released from jail, June 2020

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A teenager accused of killing her alleged sex trafficker is released from jail on $400,000 bond

A Wisconsin teenager accused of killing her alleged sex trafficker was released from jail Monday on $400,000 bond, according to the organization that paid for her release.

Chrystul Kizer, 19, had been jailed for nearly two years since being charged in connection with the June 2018 death of Randall P. Volar III, according to the Chicago Community Bond Fund.

"No one should be incarcerated for surviving violence against them," the Chicago bond fund said in a statement.

The Kenosha County District Attorney's Office told CNN they're not commenting on Kizer's release since this is an ongoing case.

Kizer, who is Black, was allegedly trafficked by Volar, who was White, beginning when she was 16 years old, the bond fund said.

Kizer maintains that Volar's death was the result of self-defense, the fund said.

"Far too often, survivors of violence -- especially Black women and girls -- are punished for defending themselves," the statement said. "Chrystul's case highlights the urgent need for the criminal legal system to stop prosecuting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault."

Kizer is facing first-degree intentional homicide and use of a dangerous weapon, and four other felony charges, according to Kenosha County court records.

Her original $1 million bond was reduced to $400,000 in February, according to court records. Her bond was signed Monday and posted Tuesday.

When Kizer's case ends, the bond money will be used to establish a national fund for survivors of domestic and sexual violence facing charges, the statement said.

Chrystul Kizer: Wisconsin teen accused of killing her alleged sex trafficker is released from jail on $400,000 bond - CNN
 
Where did the $400,000 come from? Who put that amount of money up?
Several funds and organizations helped bail her out.

"Kizer was released after a $400,000 bond was paid by the Chicago Community Bond Fund, the Milwaukee Freedom Fund, Survived & Punished, and the Chrystul Kizer Defense Committee.

The Chicago Community Bond Fund, an organization that has worked to help bail out people who have been arrested at protests that have taken place across the country in the weeks after George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis, said that they had been inundated with donations from people across the country and decided to use some of the money to help free Kizer after bailing out protesters in six counties across Illinois."

Chrystul Kizer, A 19-Year-Old Sex Trafficking Victim, Was Released From Jail On Bail
 
Approximately 60 supporters took to the sidewalk outside of the courthouse along Sheridan Road, holding signs that said “Free Chrystul,” “Drop the charges” and other similar sentiments.

Local resident Allison Garren organized Monday’s protest, stating that she did so because she knows people who have been sex trafficked “and these people do not deserve to be victimized for attempting to escape their abusers. They need our support, not punishment.”

The Kizer case has been one of interest for many, and has been picked up by even The New York Times and other large media outlets around the country.

“I believe this case gained so much national attention because people know and agree that it is horrendous to punish a survivor of sex trafficking,” Garren said.

“If Randy Volar was appropriately prosecuted for his previous acts of child sexual abuse in 2018, then none of this would have happened. He was released without bail and that shows a severe issue with our justice system.“

WATCH NOW: 'Do better': Protesters gather to demand DA drop charges against Kizer | Local News | lakegenevanews.net
 
There was another woman, Cyntoia Brown, that this happened to. Also a sex trafficking victim she shot a man that was paying her for sex, and she was in prison for 15 years and released last year.

"Earlier this year, then-Gov. Bill Haslam took the unusual step of granting Brown clemency for what he called a "tragic and complex case," a major victory for Brown and her supporters, who for years have maintained that the 2004 killing was an act of self-defense.

Her case gained new scrutiny with the rise of the #MeToo movement, as her supporters drew attention to the case using the hashtag #FreeCyntoiaBrown. Criminal justice reform advocates portrayed Brown's case as an example of the unreasonable incarceration of a teenager who was a victim of sex trafficking

Over the years, the fight for Brown's release has brought prominent lawyers to her defense, a PBS documentary and backing from celebrities including Kim Kardashian West and Rihanna. Her case also inspired the introduction of state legislation aimed at protecting minors who are victims of sex trafficking."

Cyntoia Brown Released After 15 Years In Prison For Murder
 
Why was this man released the same day as his arrest for sex crime against a minor!!??

"Kizer wasn't the only young Black girl who was abused and filmed by Volar. He was previously arrested by authorities in 2017 after a 15-year-old called the police from Volar's home and told police them that a man had given her drugs and that he was going to kill her. Volar was subsequently charged with child enticement, using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, and second-degree sexual assault of a child. Police officers confiscated evidence from Volar's home including hard drives and clothing. He was released the same day that he was arrested and remained free while police investigated him for abusing multiple girls."

Chrystul Kizer, A 19-Year-Old Sex Trafficking Victim, Was Released From Jail On Bail
 
I find it a little odd the media is using her name without Chrystul being specifically quoted. Is she speaking out? Her name should otherwise not have been publicized in combination with "sex trafficking victim" tsk.
 
I find it a little odd the media is using her name without Chrystul being specifically quoted. Is she speaking out? Her name should otherwise not have been publicized in combination with "sex trafficking victim" tsk.

If this truly is believed to a trafficking case, is there an imminent sweep of all minors involved around this case
, like we have recently seen in MI.
email.svg

GENESEE COUNTY, Mich. --Fifty-one kids are now out of harm’s way, thanks to a huge effort from multiple police agencies in Genesee County.

51 children saved from the clutches of human trafficking following sweep in Genesee County
 
I came on to check on the status of this and was so amazed and gratified that Crystul's case was getting so much attention in a good way.

Why was this man released the same day as his arrest for sex crime against a minor!!??

"Kizer wasn't the only young Black girl who was abused and filmed by Volar. He was previously arrested by authorities in 2017 after a 15-year-old called the police from Volar's home and told police them that a man had given her drugs and that he was going to kill her. Volar was subsequently charged with child enticement, using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, and second-degree sexual assault of a child. Police officers confiscated evidence from Volar's home including hard drives and clothing. He was released the same day that he was arrested and remained free while police investigated him for abusing multiple girls."

Chrystul Kizer, A 19-Year-Old Sex Trafficking Victim, Was Released From Jail On Bail

How infuriating! Why was this man let out! This Washington Post article is long and detailed. And infuriating.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/local/child-sex-trafficking-murder/

ETA - I didn't see your post before I posted @Vail . I wonder if this type of situation is a "Hobson's choice" - they need to humanize her to raise awareness, but then she loses her anonymity. After reading the wapo article I hope she gets "wraparound" services. She, like many trafficked children, didn't come from a super-stable background and could benefit from some long-term stability, counseling etc.



https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/local/child-sex-trafficking-murder/
How infuriating! Why was this man let out! This Washington Post article is long and detailed. And infuriating!
 
Last edited:
If this truly is believed to a trafficking case, is there an imminent sweep of all minors involved around this case
, like we have recently seen in MI.
email.svg

GENESEE COUNTY, Mich. --Fifty-one kids are now out of harm’s way, thanks to a huge effort from multiple police agencies in Genesee County.

51 children saved from the clutches of human trafficking following sweep in Genesee County

The below article is very illuminating , and I've see this happen time and time again with these breathless accounts of "saved" trafficking victims. I so often see panic about "trafficking" on here, but it rarely if ever turns out to be relevant to the situations at hand. It's very much akin to the "statanic panic" in the 80s, and the current (albeit fringe) fixation on alleged pedophilia rings involving high government officials. With even sometimes *genuine* attempts to publicize or spread awareness of crimes against children, people are doing more harm than good.

That said, thank goodness Chrystul Kizer has been released, and let's hope she gets a robust defense and an opportunity to reclaim her life.



U.S. Marshals Exaggerated A Recent ‘Child Recovery’ Sweep in Michigan. Here’s Why That Matters. - The Appeal

U.S. MARSHALS EXAGGERATED A RECENT ‘CHILD RECOVERY’ SWEEP IN MICHIGAN. HERE’S WHY THAT MATTERS.

Experts say playing up the risk of sex trafficking fuels anxiety and criminalization.

"Kate D’Adamo, a consultant at Reframe Health and Justice who advises anti-trafficking groups, said exaggerating the risk of trafficking often diverts attention from more pervasive dangers. “Obscuring the lives of young people who are experiencing poverty, homelessness, and who are often being failed by the system with flashy headlines means we end up serving the headlines and not those young people,” she told The Appeal."

"Michigan State Police participated in a similar operation in June, also looking for missing children in an attempt to find victims of trafficking. Again, media reports overstated the operation’s connection to human trafficking. “51 children safe from clutches of harm, human trafficking after Genesee County sweep,” a local Fox affiliate’s headline announced. “Investigators believe that five to as many as 10 of the children were either involved with or could have fallen into sex trafficking,” the station reportedat the time. As in the September operation, the vast majority of those children located in what Genesee County police called a “rescue” were not rescued from trafficking situations. MSP told The Appeal they did not have any updates about the children."

“Human trafficking is serious, but spreading rumors just doesn’t help at all,” Lt. Shaw posted to Twitter of the alleged ring. He told the Detroit Free Press: “If we had that big of a problem, we wouldn’t be tweeting about it. We would be doing something.”




 
Appellate Court decision opens possibility of affirmative defense in Chrystul Kizer homicide case

With a decision on a long-awaited appeal, Chrystul Kizer may be able to use a defense open to sex trafficking victims in her pending murder case.

Kizer, now 20, was charged in June 2018 with shooting and killing 34-year-old Randall Volar III before setting his Kenosha home on fire and fleeing in Volar’s car. The then 17-year-old girl was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, arson and auto theft.

With a decision issued by the state District II Court of Appeals on Wednesday, the court found Kizer’s attorneys may be able to use “affirmative defense” open to trafficking victims, and may be able to argue to a jury that Kizer’s actions were the direct result of being a sex trafficking victim.
 
Chrystul Kizer, 23, became a cause célèbre online in 2018 after she was charged with murder in the first degree, arson, theft, and other charges related to the death of Randall Phillip Volar, III, 34.

In January, while out on bail and awaiting a trial in which she plans to claim self-defense, the defendant was charged with one count of disorderly conduct in Milwaukee County and four counts of bail jumping in Kenosha County — one of which was because she allegedly changed her address without notifying the court, according to a prosecutor’s motion to increase bail reviewed by Law&Crime.
 
The then-17-year-old told investigators the motive for the murder was that Volar sexually assaulted her, while also selling her to others for sex.

Regardless of the motive, Kizer was charged with first-degree intentional homicide and arson. With a bond set at $1 million, she stayed in a Wisconsin jail for two years until people rallied around her, holding protests.

This led to a Wisconsin judge lowering her bond to $400,000. She bonded out of jail in 2020, though she faced another battle that would take her case to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Kizer’s attorneys argued she was a victim of child trafficking, and the murder was a result of that. They argued she should be immune from prosecution.
 

Wisconsin woman who argued she legally killed sex trafficker pleads guilty to homicide​

A Milwaukee woman who argued she was legally allowed to kill a man because he was sexually trafficking her has pleaded guilty to homicide

A Milwaukee woman who argued she was legally allowed to a kill a man because he was sexually trafficking her pleaded guilty Thursday to a reduced count of reckless homicide.

Chrystul Kizer's decision means she'll avoid trial and a possible life sentence. It also leaves open the question of whether a state law that grants sex trafficking victims immunity for any offense committed while they were being trafficked extends all the way to homicide.

(Snipped)

Kenosha County Circuit Judge Michael Wilk is set to sentence her on Aug. 19. The second-degree reckless homicide charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. First-degree intentional homicide carries a mandatory life sentence.

 

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