Witnesses identified three teenage girls rescued from a suspected sex trafficking operation in Hartford, Connecticut, according to police reports. Following their disappearance during a sleepover earlier this month, family members canvassed the neighborhood until a tip-off led them to the Nelton Way apartment where the minors were located.
Police confirmed that two of the 14-year-old girls left the May 1st gathering with friends but instead ended up at a residence in Hartford. A criminal complaint details that they were allegedly sexually assaulted by Donovan Dunn (age 19) and four other individuals during this initial phase.
The ordeal continued when these same girls were taken to another location, later arriving at a Super 8 motel under false pretenses of obtaining business services from Ahmad Compton (age 36). According to the complaint, Compton arrived claiming he would secure their future business opportunities before transporting them to an apartment on Nelton Way.
During their alleged three-day captivity in this apartment complex’s vicinity, the minors were subjected to alcohol and drugs by the accused individuals. One of the rescued girls reportedly described the incident as a “joyride gone bad.”
“We can’t tell people how many of these cases start with grooming online,” stated Krystal Rich, executive director of the Connecticut Children’s Alliance. This case underscores her warning about community vigilance regarding warning signs.
The families reported their daughters missing and initiated the search that led to their rescue after receiving information from a concerned witness who had seen one girl near the Nelton Way address.
Following medical evaluation at Connecticut Children’s hospital, seven men were arrested for involvement in the trafficking of underage girls. These individuals face charges including sexual assault, kidnapping, risk of injury to minors, and illegal sexual contact with juveniles under 16 years old.
