Milwaukee, WI
Sex trafficking victim Milwaukee woman gets 11 years in jail for killing her abuser – Times of India
Kizer, now 24, admitted to the shooting in 2018 when she was 17 years old. She had accused Volar of trafficking and raping her.
The crime and its aftermath
In June 2018, Kizer went to Volar’s house in Kenosha with a gun, BBC reported.She shot him twice in the head, then set his house on fire and took Volar’s BMW. After the killing, she posted a selfie from Volar’s house on social media with the caption “My Mug Shot.” Prosecutors said that Kizer planned the actions to steal the car, while Kizer’s defence argued that she acted in self-defence due to years of abuse.
Legal and public reaction
Kizer’s case drew significant media attention and sparked debate over how the law treats victims of sex trafficking. She had met Volar when she was 16 and claimed he sexually assaulted her, gave her money and gifts, and trafficked her to other men.
Evidence later revealed that Volar had abused multiple underage girls. Despite this, he was released by police before his death.
In court, Kizer’s lawyers argued that she should be protected under a 2008 Wisconsin law that shields trafficking victims from certain charges if their crimes were directly related to their trafficking. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that this protection could extend to homicide cases, allowing Kizer to present evidence of her abuse.
Outcome and future
Kizer accepted a plea deal this year to avoid a life sentence. She will serve 11 years in prison followed by five years of extended supervision. Her case continues to be a point of discussion regarding the legal treatment of trafficking victims and the extent of legal protections available to them.
Kizer, who has already served over a year and a half, is scheduled for a restitution hearing on November 8.