Chrystul Kizer sentenced to 11 years for killing man who sexually trafficked her

Chrystul Kizer, who was convicted of killing Randy Volar III, the man who sexually trafficked her when she was a minor, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison, followed by five years of extended supervision. Kizer, now 24, shot Volar in 2018 when she was 17, then set his house on fire and fled in his car. Her case garnered international attention, highlighting issues of sex trafficking, particularly among Black women and girls. Kizer’s defense initially aimed to use a Wisconsin law that shields trafficking victims from prosecution for crimes directly resulting from their trafficking. However, she ultimately pleaded guilty to second-degree reckless homicide, avoiding a potential life sentence. Despite recognizing her traumatic past, the judge emphasized that Kizer’s actions were still criminally reckless, warranting incarceration. The case has sparked significant debate about the treatment of trafficking victims in the criminal justice system.

Source: NPR