Crystal was newly 21. Her life was about to change forever.

Her situation was unremarkable — what you might expect in America’s heartland. Awkward, insecure and lonely, she met a man online who said she was beautiful and smart. He was attentive, messaging her frequently and filling her need for companionship. Crystal was smitten. Her trust in this man was growing.

Without realizing it, she was being manipulated and groomed.

This man encouraged Crystal to travel to Chicago, about 3 hours away, to meet him for a night out. As soon as Crystal arrived, this man attacked her physically, sexually and emotionally. He targeted her vulnerabilities and threatened her family’s safety. Over five weeks, he forced Crystal to perform sex acts for money with many men, all while continuing the fraudulent relationship.

Eventually, law enforcement discovered Crystal. She willingly came to the Center for Prevention of Abuse for safe emergency housing and trauma-informed care. While she was there, a caseworker asked Crystal if she knew the name of her abuser. She replied, “Yes, but I don’t know how to spell it, so you’ll have to look.” Crystal lifted her long bangs to reveal a homemade tattoo of his full name across her forehead. She had been branded as his property.

Crystal’s true story offers insight into the........

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