Chrystul Kizer, who fatally shot her trafficker, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to reckless homicide.
A Wisconsin woman has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for killing a man who sex trafficked her. Chrystul Kizer, now 24, pleaded guilty to second-degree reckless homicide, avoiding a potential life sentence for the 2018 death of 34-year-old Randall Volar.
According to prosecutors, Kizer shot Volar at his home in Kenosha, Wisconsin, before setting fire to the house and stealing his car. She was 17 years old at the time.
Sentenced: 11 Years for Killing Sex Trafficker
Kizer has maintained that she killed Volar in self-defense, arguing that he was molesting her and selling her as a prostitute. Her attorneys argued that she was legally justified in killing him under Wisconsin's safe harbor law, which absolves sex trafficking victims of crimes committed as a direct result of being trafficked.
However, prosecutors argued that the safe harbor law is not intended to extend to homicide. They also emphasized that Kizer's decision to shoot Volar was not made in the heat of the moment, but was a premeditated act.
Sentenced: 11 Years for Killing Sex Trafficker
Ultimately, Judge Robert Repis sentenced Kizer to 11 years of initial confinement followed by 5 years of extended supervision. She will be eligible for release in 2033.
The case has drawn national attention and sparked debate about the legal rights of sex trafficking victims. Anti-violence groups have argued that victims often feel trapped and may resort to violence in self-defense.
Sentenced: 11 Years for Killing Sex Trafficker
However, prosecutors have argued that extending immunity to homicide would undermine the rule of law and create a dangerous precedent. They pointed out that Kizer had other legal options available to her, such as reporting the abuse to the police or seeking help from a victim services organization.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that Kizer could raise the self-defense argument at trial. However, the judge in the case ultimately rejected her claim, finding that she had not acted in self-defense and that the killing was not justified.
The case has also highlighted the need for better support services for sex trafficking victims. Many victims are reluctant to seek help or report the abuse due to fear of retaliation or arrest. Advocates are calling for increased funding for victim services and improved training for law enforcement officers to better understand the complexities of sex trafficking.
