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A Milwaukee woman who says she killed her own sex trafficker pleads guilty as part of a plea deal

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A Milwaukee woman who argued she was legally allowed to kill a man because he was sexually assaulting her pleaded guilty Thursday to a reduced count of involuntary manslaughter. Chrystul Kizer’s decision means she will avoid a trial and a possible life sentence. Questions also remain as to whether a state law granting sex trafficking victims immunity for any crimes they committed while being trafficked, up to and including homicide. Kizer’s attorneys, Gregory Holdahl and Helmi Hamad, did not immediately respond to emails and voicemail messages seeking comment. Prosecutors allege Kizer shot and killed 34-year-old Randall Volar at his Kenosha home in 2018 when she was just 17 years old. She then burned down his house and stole his BMW, they say. She was charged with several charges, including first-degree premeditated murder, arson, carjacking and possession of a firearm. Kizer, now 23, argued that she met Volar on a sex trafficking website. He had abused her and sold her as a prostitute over the course of the year before his death, she argued. She told investigators that she shot him after he tried to touch her. Her lawyers argued that Kizer cannot be held criminally liable under a 2008 state law that prevents sex trafficking victims from “any crime committed as a direct result.” of human trafficking. Most states have passed similar laws in the last decade that provide at least some level of criminal immunity to victims of sex trafficking. Prosecutors countered that Wisconsin lawmakers couldn’t possibly have intended to extend protections to homicides. Anti-violence groups flocked to Kizer’s defense, arguing in court filings that human trafficking victims felt trapped and sometimes felt like they had to take matters into their own hands. The state Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that Kizer could raise the defense at trial. But that won’t happen now. Online court records show Kizer pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter during a hearing Thursday morning. Prosecutors dismissed all other charges. Kenosha County District Judge Michael Wilk is scheduled to sentence her on Aug. 19. The second-degree manslaughter charge carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. First-degree intentional homicide carries a mandatory life sentence.

KENOSHA, Wis. –

A Milwaukee woman who argued she was legally allowed to kill a man because he was sexually assaulting her pleaded guilty Thursday to a reduced count of involuntary manslaughter.

Chrystul Kizer’s decision means she will avoid a trial and a possible life sentence. Questions also remain as to whether a state law granting victims of sex trafficking immunity for all crimes they committed while trafficked extends to homicide.

Kizer’s attorneys, Gregory Holdahl and Helmi Hamad, did not immediately respond to email and voicemail messages seeking comment.

Prosecutors accuse Kizer of shooting 34-year-old Randall Volar in his Kenosha home in 2018 when she was just 17 years old.

She then burned down his house and stole his BMW, they say. She was charged with several charges, including first-degree premeditated murder, arson, carjacking and possession of a firearm.

Kizer, now 23, argued that she met Volar on a sex trafficking website. He had abused her and sold her as a prostitute over the course of the year before his death, she argued. She told investigators that she shot him after he tried to touch her.

Her lawyers argued that Kizer could not be held criminally liable because of a 2008 state law that absolves sex trafficking victims of “any crime committed as a direct result” of trafficking.

Most states have passed similar laws in the last decade that provide at least some level of criminal immunity to victims of sex trafficking.

Prosecutors countered that Wisconsin lawmakers couldn’t possibly have intended to extend protections to homicides.

Anti-violence groups flocked to Kizer’s defense, arguing in court filings that human trafficking victims felt trapped and sometimes felt like they had to take matters into their own hands. The state Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that Kizer could raise the defense at trial.

But that won’t happen now. Online court records show Kizer pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter during a hearing Thursday morning. Prosecutors dismissed all other charges.

Kenosha County District Judge Michael Wilk is scheduled to sentence her on Aug. 19. The second-degree manslaughter charge carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. First-degree intentional homicide carries a mandatory life sentence.

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