The police rescued a suspected trafficking victim who had been missing for seven years on Thursday, February 29, 2024. According to the police, the missing Michigan woman’s blood-curdling screams led them to a motel. The woman, who vanished in 2017, reportedly called her family, saying someone was holding her against her will.
State Police said on X, formerly known as Twitter, the missing woman managed to call her stepmother on Monday, February 26. According to police, the woman revealed she was being held against her will at a motel in Inkster, Michigan.
Although they didn’t have an exact location, troopers determined the victim, now in her 30s, was at the Evergreen Motel. Hence, detectives and troopers stormed the motel, where they heard her screaming and crying from a motel room. Troopers made forcible entry into the room and found her alone.
“They described the crying as a kind of screaming,” Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw told WXYZ. “The screaming type of noise that lured them to that specific area.” Although the woman appeared physically unharmed, the room reportedly contained drugs and a gun.
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After discovering her, the police transported her to Beaumont Dearborn Hospital for a medical evaluation. According to the cops, she has reunited with her family and is undergoing counseling. In addition, police records reveal detectives are interviewing her but did not provide further details about her disappearance.
The state police are also keeping her identity private. Following the rescue mission, authorities searched the area for leads and evidence but didn’t get much. They found a cell phone, drugs, and a gun in the motel room. According to reports, the police have identified a suspect. However, they are yet to make an arrest.
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State Police’s Trafficking and Abduction Group is investigating to determine if this was a case of human trafficking. Human trafficking detectives are also looking into the then-missing woman’s case. “We’ll kind of look at what’s next, right,” Shaw said.
“Interview her if a crime did take place, such as human trafficking or a domestic violence situation, or is it different.” Furthermore, the Police lieutenant noted the complexity of the case.
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He stated that although complex, the department will carefully investigate the case needs as there are so many unknowns in a case that has been ongoing for seven years. “I don’t want to use the word kidnapping like somebody grabbed her and took her to that place,” Shaw said.
In addition, he stated the case may have started as a relationship between two people that later turned out violent. “It may have started out as a relationship that turns into being held against your will and being trafficked,” he concluded.
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