A 13-year-old girl from Louisiana, who had been reported missing, was discovered hidden in a box over 1,000 miles away in Pittsburgh. Authorities indicated that she endured serious abuse at the hands of sex traffickers, who led her to believe she had been adopted.
She went missing from East Baton Rouge Parish on October 20 and was found in a box that was covered by a sheet in the basement of a home in Pittsburgh.
According to the criminal complaint, a 26-year-old man named Kishawn Klamity is accused of repeatedly assaulting her. He allegedly forced her to consume alcohol and marijuana.
Klamity had reportedly befriended the girl on Snapchat and persuaded her to travel the distance by bus, spinning a false tale that she would be living with a caring adult.
“She was groomed, exploited, and then sexually abused by strangers she encountered online,” stated Louisiana’s Attorney General Liz Murrill, highlighting broader concerns around social media and trafficking.
Due to her age and the nature of the crime, the girl’s identity remains undisclosed.
The complaint reveals that the abuse started on her first day at the home, with Klamity allegedly assaulting her “at least once or twice a day” during her week-long ordeal. She was reportedly made to sleep in the basement with him and another unidentified woman.
Klamity claimed to investigators that he was aware she was a runaway, suggesting she would inevitably face trouble.
A tip regarding her location prompted a SWAT team raid, leading to her rescue. Following her rescue, she reportedly expressed feeling “the safest I’ve ever felt,” according to police reports.
Klamity faces multiple serious charges, including sex trafficking and sexual assault, and is currently held without bail at the Allegheny County Jail.
Additionally, another suspect, Ronald Smith, 62, from New Orleans, was apprehended in Columbus, Georgia. He’s facing charges related to simple kidnapping and contributing to the girl’s delinquency after allegedly facilitating her trip.
Authorities have indicated that there may be more individuals involved, and further charges could follow.
