What sounds like a movie plot starring Liam Neeson has become a brutal reality for a Texas family.
A 15-year-old girl attending a Dallas Mavericks game with her father at the American Airlines Center in Dallas went to the bathroom just before halftime and never returned to her seat. The surveillance camera footage showed her exiting the arena with a man who used a fake ticket to gain entry to the stadium.
The incident happened on April 8 when the Dallas Mavericks were playing the Portland Trail Blazers. The girl’s father was waiting in his seat for his child’s return, worried because it was taking an unusually long time. He immediately notified local police, who asked the father to report the incident to the North Richland Hills Police Department, where he lives.
When he contacted the police, they said they couldn’t help him because the incident happened in Dallas.
After a missing persons report was filed, more than a week passed with no new information before a Houston-based anti-trafficking agency, the Texas Counter-Trafficking Initiative, used its facial recognition technology to find the missing teenager.
On April 18, police found the girl at an Oklahoma City hotel after her parents identified her from nude photos posted in sex ads online.
Eight people were arrested and charged with human trafficking, distribution of child pornography, rape or prostitution.
The family, meanwhile, has sent a letter to several parties they believe could have helped prevent the situation – Dallas and Richland Hills police, the American Airlines Center and the OKC Hotel.
Family attorney Zeke Fontenberry said in a statement, “Our intention is to alert [these organizations] that we are pursuing claims against them for their negligence and other causes of action.”
Robert Lewandowski will probably leave FC Bayern by 2023 at the latest. According to media reports, the Pole informed the club bosses last week that he would not be extending his contract, which runs until 2023. Lewandowski is even said to be hoping for a departure this summer.
Erling Haaland’s move from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City is imminent. Now the contract details of the mega transfer have become known. And they are surprising: the super striker gets less money than expected – just like BVB. The transfer fee is millions of euros lower than initially assumed.
