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KRISTI MERRILL has been reunited with daughter Adisyn after being freed from a human trafficking ring in Sacramento. Courtesy photo
Kristi Deann Merrill, who disappeared from Carmichael on March 23, has safely been recovered from a human trafficking ring.
Merrill’s mother, Bryn Barton, confirmed that her daughter had been the victim of a sex trafficking ring and was safely extracted in the early hours of Monday, July 30 with the help of Run 2 Rescue, a Christian organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating human trafficking victims.
“She is a survivor — her term, not mine,” Barton said in a telephone interview with the Mountain Democrat. She confirmed that Merrill, 25, has been moved to an undisclosed location.
Barton was only able to see her daughter immediately after the rescue, where she told her daughter, “I always knew you wouldn’t leave.”
Merrill, who lived in Carmichael, graduated from Union Mine High School and volunteered and interned around the county. Her father and sister, Rob and Mindi Merrill, still live in the county. Her father was with Barton and saw Merrill following her rescue.
Shannon Forsythe of Run 2 Rescue confirmed Merrill was rescued at 12:45 a.m. July 30, with private investigator Michelle Wishart being credited with physically getting Merrill into one of the organization’s cars and rescuing her. Forsythe said Merrill is “doing great.” She added, “She’s doing really good. We’ll continue working with her long term.”
She said the team is currently working on reunification with Merrill’s family, including Merrill’s young daughter. “We’re prepping in the next week or so for a meet.” Merrill has already spoken with her daughter, Adisyn, over the phone, Barton said.
Forsythe compared what Merrill is going through to PTSD, but “it goes even deeper than PTSD. We don’t have terminology for that kind of trauma.” She said it will likely take at least a year for Merrill’s life to return to a semblance of normalcy. “We have to untangle all that.”
Both Barton and Forsythe credit an earlier Mountain Democrat article on Merrill with kicking off a renewed search.
“We got the story from the article,” Forsythe said. “We were working as volunteers on another case, we saw the article and I contacted Bryn. Within 10 days, we found her.”
“It took a couple of days to process,” Barton said of the rescue. “I praise God for her being home.”
Contact Cole Mayer at 530-344-5068 or cmayer@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @CMayerMtDemo.
The Mountain Democrat does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy
Find the MissingAugust 06, 2012 - 7:14 am
Mr Mayer Thank you for printing the article http://www.angelfire.com/cruci34/findthemissing.html
Ashley FaisonAugust 06, 2012 - 7:36 am
Yay! What a great team of people! I'm so happy she's home safe :)
HorsetailAugust 06, 2012 - 8:27 am
What about the traffic ring? Were they arrested?
Sheila ChandlerAugust 06, 2012 - 10:02 am
Praise God!!!
This is such good news! | Help Find LinneaAugust 06, 2012 - 11:03 am
[...] This story appeared today and we’re so happy for Kristi and her family. Our prayers are with her in her recovery. [...]
caitlinAugust 06, 2012 - 11:38 am
That's wonderful. But what about this trafficking ring? Could we get more info on them? It's scary to hear and we'd like to know how to avoid this!
Jamie WarrenAugust 06, 2012 - 12:48 pm
Christian organization, no police involvement? Was this a actual abduction or someone who left and got in a situation she regretted?
Roger RabbitAugust 06, 2012 - 12:51 pm
Why do I smell cult rescue? Something is not kosher here (pun intended). I think the cops need to do some more checking.
TerryAugust 06, 2012 - 1:13 pm
If this is a sex trafficking ring, then why aren't the police or feds involved? Is there proof it is an actual 'ring' or just one or two guys? Will charges be filed and why hasn't any of this been corroborated? This is not journalism. run2rescue.com is not an established human trafficking rescue and rehabilitation organization. "Rescue: Once a victim is identified we will provide a safe place where they will go. Our home will be called Gateway of Hope Ranch." This says nothing about how they rescue victims.
TerryAugust 06, 2012 - 1:50 pm
Yeah, I'd say she was abducted or a forced intervention. Thank you for wanting to help Run 2 Rescue!! Your donation will help us REACH, RESCUE and RESTORE young women who have been trapped in the cycle of human trafficking. We are looking for at least 10 acres of land for the ranch. The Lord has been giving us supernatural favor with those who decide where these girls will go, so we are asking for deep intercession for us that this can be established quickly." I do not think this is above board. Everything thing is written as if they will be doing it after they get a bunch of money. Linnea Lomax's case is also drastically drastically different.
JerryAugust 06, 2012 - 3:32 pm
A year ago I drove up to a gas station to get water for my radiator and noticed a girl crying while digging through her purse. She needed to call her mom so I let her use my cell phone. She didn't make contact and I asked if she needed help, she introduced herself as Lisa and said she was staying with a friend temporarely while she was going to a center on Fair Oaks Blvd for methadone treatments to ward off another addiction. I spent a good hour listening to her story. She had two small boys staying with her mom, she was offered a job as an escort to parties to entertain high end men without dates (she thought)! She told me she was given shots in the arm against her will and became addicted and then was under the control of a gang involved with the sex trade. Being that she went to them willingly the police were not interested in her case. Her mom shamed her when she saw her because after a brief phone call explaining she was going away on a job for awhile, worded carefully by her kidnappers, easing the suspicion of foul play. She was gone for weeks before checking in again with her mom who condemned her for abandoning her boys. She escaped, needed someone to help her. At that time I couldn't give her a place to stay and did not know much about the human trafficing that goes on or how big business it really is. Those kids are addicted and under the strict control of animals who threaten them and their families if anyone acts against them. I saw the movie "Taken" which is based on a true story and recommend it to how big the problem really is!Laws have to be changed!
TerryAugust 06, 2012 - 3:48 pm
Jerry, human trafficking and sex trafficking is real no doubt. And, a big problem. No, those neighborhood massage parlors are not so innocent either. However, most sex trafficking is not of adult women. The woman you are talking about actually had her purse and was out and about. She could have called a safe house/shelter. I think there is either something fishy about her story or yours. Maybe you couldn't give her a place to stay, but why couldn't you contact police or a shelter. That's right you could have if you thought crimes had been committed against this woman and you had an hour to spend talking to her. And, for every man who pays prostitutes or visits massage parlors where illegal activity is going on - you are committing a crime and fostering sex trafficking.
Cindy SmithAugust 06, 2012 - 7:07 pm
These Christen groups are not cults,as you call them.If it wasnt for these groups alot of our kidnapped girls,would never make it out alive.You need to do some research on sex trafficking.Your children,mother,grandmother are not safe,no one is.Most of our missing children end up here.And these groups spend there time saving them,there angels.The police department dont have the time or resources to track them down.Kristi needs lots of prayers right now,so dont condem her,this is every females worst nightmare.This is not another countrys problem,its here to!!
BeeAugust 07, 2012 - 6:59 am
Terry, private investigators can do in a day what takes law enforcement months to do. These type of rescuers risk their lives to help families who have missing daughters. Are you and "cult rescue" commentator here both users of prostituted women as product? Then you have reason to justify your bias against groups who want to help these women.
Cuppa JoeAugust 07, 2012 - 7:58 am
No Bee, we are using cult and in cult rescue as in reprogramming! Everything in this article points to the woman being taken from where ever she was against her will by this "Christian" "rescue" (read reprogramming)group. This is the exact MO used by such groups. 5 bucks says the was "rescued" against her will. And the reason private investigators are often used is that there may not actually be a crime, the "victim" is an adult and is where she is under her own power. As for your "users" comment, stop projecting "Bee"
SarrahAugust 07, 2012 - 9:09 am
Reading all of these negative comments is nauseating!!! This woman was clearly being hel against her will! She has a young daughter and a sister who is sick... I do not know kristie, but I do know her father. She comes from a very accepting family and this is not a case of runaway... There would be no reason to leave. It is sad that people are saying she should not have been rescued. shame on all of you!
MaureenAugust 08, 2012 - 3:27 am
This kind of stuff is happening ALL OVER OUR COUNTRY www.franklinfiles.net THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM Two weeks ago a 16 year old girl was arrested at a West Des Moines Iowa motel for prostitution. The 2 adults in an adjoining room were arrested for "pimping" her. IT turns out the 16 year old was a missing child from Oregon, missing since June 2012. It does not matter what she did or if she is a runaway. She was clearly their prey. There is no question in my mind that this young girl was being trafficked. The adults need a bigger list of charges....Taking minors across state lines, trafficking, child abuse to name a few.
KMAugust 08, 2012 - 6:52 am
Reading most of these comments are making me sick. Seriously, why is everyone quick to jump to conclusions when it comes to a missing girl? Why do people automatically assume that she "got herself in a situation she regreted?" Come on people, use your brains. If you have been folling Krisit's story, like I have, you would know the facts. Stop with the judgment, and just pray for her recovery, it's going to be a long process.
James E.August 08, 2012 - 8:34 am
Who held her against her will and/or kidnapped her? Can we have the rest of the story, please?
Help Find Kisti MerrillAugust 08, 2012 - 11:03 am
From the family, to those who appear uneducated or misinformed, please while the family heals keep your opinions to yourself or find another place to vent. Kristi is one tough survivor and it matters not how any girls gets to a point of beng trafficked, only that that make it out alive. Shame on you is right. Read up on Prop 35, read up on the stats in Sacramento alone on trafficking, and read up on how law enforcement is under budgeted to address this quickly growing 350 billion dollar a year crime instead of wasting your time here. You can have your opinion but this organization charged nothing and being there in person, I and her father can both attest she willingly not only came but asked me what took me so long to find her. So please educate yourself and more information will come as it can to keep my daughter safe, not to appease your needs. Thanks to the rest of you for your support, we love you and Kristi is doing GREAT today. Much love and blessing. The family.
The Rest of the StoryAugust 08, 2012 - 7:55 pm
@ Jerry The rest of the story is found if you Goolge "Kristi Merrill Found Angelfire" - It will be the 1st site that comes up in the returns Its nice to see someone who wants to know the fats before spouting off. BT
The Rest of the StoryAugust 08, 2012 - 7:57 pm
Sorry My last comment was for James E. or anyone else who need the "FACTS" Please Goolge the phrase seen in my above comment.
The voice of reasonAugust 09, 2012 - 10:16 pm
Kristi was and has been on drugs for a long time. Bottom line is she made the choice to leave her daughter and sell her body for drugs! And kristi's mother is a delusional alcoholic. What's going to happen when she takes off again? Because I highly doubt everyone will buy the whole "sex trafficking" story twice!
The Rest of the StoryAugust 10, 2012 - 10:54 am
To the Voice of Reason, There is no indication what you wrote is True But we know there is someone on Face Book and online who is trying to undermine the investigation ---- and cast a shadow over what really happened - IF YOU want to Know what happened and what the REAL Facts are google "Kristi Merrill Found Angelfire" AND READ THE PAGE WHICH COME UP FIRST AND Email me from that page ----- IF YOU DARE
Finding Missing on Face BookAugust 10, 2012 - 4:53 pm
If we wanted to we could solve these crimes quickly - Its up to each of us to step up and voice your opinion on adapting existing military satellite picture taking and transmitting technology for use by Law Enforcement See the petition at sign.1sta .com Or you can continue to read about missing women children and men forever - AND most of the victims will be found dead ---- GUARANTEED
We need MORE InfoAugust 10, 2012 - 5:09 pm
I hope Mayer is going to do a follow up and provide more info - the story here is not informative and the title does injustice to Kristi - She should be referred to by her full name Kristi Merrill in the title - Disrespect on the authors Mayer 's part in my opinion -- Doing that also helps others find his stories.
prime timeAugust 12, 2012 - 9:38 am
US Border Patrol agents convicted in $2 million human smuggling case
TerryAugust 13, 2012 - 9:29 am
Why has the picture on this been added/changed and why does it's caption say "KRISTI MERRILL has been reunited with daughter Adisyn after being freed from a human trafficking ring in Sacramento." This doesn't appear to be a recent picture and the body of the article says: "She said the team is currently working on reunification with Merrill’s family, including Merrill’s young daughter. “We’re prepping in the next week or so for a meet.” Merrill has already spoken with her daughter, Adisyn, over the phone, Barton said." Still waiting for some other coverage of the puported "sex trafficking ring" operating in Sacrament/Carmichael. Typically those trafficked are underage, especially in the Watt/Madison Ave area.
Finding MissingAugust 13, 2012 - 9:37 am
@Terry In speaking with Kristis mom she said she does want to release ALL the details yet to protect Kristi and the family from those who were responsible for Kristis abduction - most are still on the loose I assume the picture was changed just to show Kristi with her daughter. Google "Kristi Merrill found Angelfire" for the whole story PLEASE and sign the petitions seen there to Stop these atrocities --- We wish more people would spend and extra few minutes helping, instead of posting negative comment
Finding MissingAugust 13, 2012 - 9:40 am
I got an email from Cole Mayer this weekend ( Aug 12th ) and he said he is preparing an update with more in depth info on Kristi Being found. Thank You Mr Mayer
Help Find Kristi MerrillAugust 13, 2012 - 10:05 am
"Typically" being the key words Terry. Sacramento is a large place unlike Placerville, therefore crimes do not occur in one "typical" area. That being said,and hopefully you grasp the concept, the photo is recent and does not look like Kristi because of the trauma she's been through. She is in an undisclosed location for a reason, to keep her safe, which again is our main goal not to appease nosey uneducated and just plain nasty Commentators. If you want to learn about Sex Trafficking so badly go to our page Help Find Kisti Merrill, read the statistics in Sacramento and perhaps if it's not to big for you, read about Prop 35. Then you can comment with some intelligence. Thanks for sharing though, your help clearing up exactly the problem we face, ignorance. That is the biggest battle of all.
finding missingAugust 16, 2012 - 8:38 am
Just use the search bar near rhe top of any Mountain Democrat page and enter 'Merrill: for the latest stories - They have stirred some varying comments And gOOGLE 'Krsiti Merrill Found Angelfire" for all the details on the WHOLE CASE...