Woman missing for 7 years found in motel after police hear her desperate screams
A suspected trafficking victim who had been missing for seven years was rescued this week — after her blood-curdling screams led police to a Michigan motel.
The woman — who vanished in 2017 — called her step-parent and told them she was being held against her will at a motel in Inkster, Michigan State Police said Thursday.
Although they didn’t have an exact location, troopers determined the victim was being held at the Evergreen Motel, an assumption that was confirmed when they arrived on the property.
“They described it as like a crying, kind of screaming type of noise that lured them to that specific area,” Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw told WXYZ.
Officers forced their way inside the room, where they found the woman alone.
The woman, now in her 30s, was physically unharmed, but the room contained drugs and a gun.
She was rushed to the hospital and is undergoing counseling, according to cops. The victim has also been reunited with her family.
Police did not offer further details about her disappearance and are keeping her identity under wraps.
Human trafficking detectives are involved with the missing persons case, however.
“We’ll kind of look at what’s next, right… interview her if a crime did take place such as human trafficking or is it a domestic violence situation or is it different,” Shaw said.
“I don’t want to use the word kidnapping like somebody grabbed her and took her to that place. It may have started out as a relationship that turns into being held against your will and being trafficked.”
A suspect has been identified, but have not yet taken anyone into custody.
Inkster is a city suburb of Detroit, with a population of roughly 25,700.