Photo: Courtesy NYPD
Federal authorities believe they are closer to finding missing Pennsylvania woman and and possible sex trafficking victim Corinna Slusser after arresting a man they allege advertised her for sex online, PEOPLE confirms.
Woney is accused of engaging in sex trafficking with at least one female alleged victim, who is identified in court documents only as “Victim 1,” in the Bronx and other locations for money, the press release states.
Woney was arrested in New Jersey and, if convicted, faces a sentence of 5 years to life in prison.
It was not immediately clear if he has retained an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
Courtesy NYPD
While the exact details of where Slusser was living in Pennsylvania and how and when she came to N.Y.C. remain unclear, friends previously told PEOPLE she moved from Pennsylvania in late summer 2017 after living with a female friend.
The last pictureSlusser, an avid social media user, shared on Instagramwas posted two days before she was last seen. Its location tag was in the Bronx, and on the day of her disappearance, Slusser was seen leaving a hotel in the Bronx.
From the beginning, New York police have feared her to be a victim of sex trafficking.
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On Oct. 6, 2017, Slusser turned 19 but did not contact friends or family, longtime friend Kayleigh LeVan says.
In the weeks leading up to her disappearance, Slusser shared pictures of her life in New York and invited friends to visit her apartment, which she said had a doorman, LeVan says.
“She was so excited about New York,” LeVan says. “She was excited about having her own place.”
At the time of her disappearance, Slusser’s mother shared her concern on Facebook.
“My daughter was a great student, a cheerleader. She had many friends … I need her home and I cant bare anymore days like this,” Sabina Tuorto wrote. “I fear the worst but I pray for the best and her to return home.”
Anyone with information is urged to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, at 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
source: people.com
