Chrystul Kizer, a Milwaukee woman who claimed she was being sexually trafficked, pleaded guilty to a reduced count of reckless homicide in the case involving the death of 34-year-old Randall Volar in 2018. Kizer argued that Volar had been molesting her and selling her as a prostitute, leading up to the incident where she shot him after he tried to touch her. She then burned his house down and stole his car. Kizer was initially charged with multiple counts including first-degree intentional homicide, arson, car theft, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Kizer’s attorneys had argued that she should be absolved of criminal liability under a 2008 state law that grants sex trafficking victims immunity for any offenses committed as a direct result of being trafficked. While prosecutors contended that the law was not intended to extend protections to homicide, the state Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that Kizer could raise the defense during the trial. However, Kizer ultimately decided to plead guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree reckless homicide, leading to the dismissal of all other charges.
The decision by Kizer to avoid trial and accept a guilty plea means that she could face a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison for the reckless homicide charge. In contrast, the first-degree intentional homicide charge carries a mandatory life sentence. Kizer’s attorneys, Gregory Holdahl and Helmi Hamad, did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the guilty plea. The case has raised questions about whether state laws providing immunity to sex trafficking victims should extend to offenses such as homicide.
Throughout the case, anti-violence groups have come to Kizer’s defense, arguing that trafficking victims often feel trapped and may feel compelled to take matters into their own hands. Advocates for trafficking victims have highlighted the challenging circumstances that individuals like Kizer face, and the complex legal issues surrounding cases where victims may have committed crimes in response to their trafficking experiences. Despite the legal and ethical debates surrounding the case, Kizer’s guilty plea represents a resolution to a complex and contentious legal proceeding. The sentencing for Kizer is scheduled for August 19th, where the judge will determine the final punishment for her involvement in the death of Randall Volar.
