Two people were arrested Wednesday in a human trafficking case, after police found a female victim Sunday afternoon in a Columbus hotel bathroom.
Ratshitanga Naptali Mulalo, 29, of Houston, Texas, and Essence Nicole Holloway, 24, of Arlington, Texas, have each been charged with human trafficking, according to a Columbus Police Department press release.
Officers were dispatched to a local hotel at about 2 p.m. Sunday, after receiving a distress call. The call was from a 21-year-old victim, who called 911 after Mulalo and Holloway temporarily left the hotel, the release said.
When law enforcement arrived, they discovered the victim hiding in the bathroom, fearing for her life, the release said. She told police she had been brought to Columbus from Richmond, Indiana, the release said.
The victim was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle for medical care and support, CPD Community Liaison Glenda Richardson told The Dispatch Wednesday afternoon. During a Wednesday afternoon Facebook Live interview, Chief Joseph Daughtry said the victim has since been reunited with her family.
While Mulalo and Holloway left town following the discovery of the victim, Daughtry said they returned a few days later, hoping to “fly under the radar.” But just before midnight Wednesday, a rookie officer who was out patrolling spotted a silver Cadillac with Texas tags matching the description of the suspects’ vehicle.
The description matched a BOLO (Be On The Lookout) the officers had heard at a roll call briefing earlier in the week, Daughtry said, and the officer called in about the vehicle to investigators. Columbus Police Department’s SWAT then mobilized and arrested Mulalo and Holloway without incident, the release said.
“This case underscores the importance of thorough briefings, vigilant patrols, and the commitment of our officers to protect vulnerable individuals in our community,” Chief Joseph Daughtry said in the release. “We are proud of the teamwork displayed by our department and are determined to continue our fight against human trafficking.”
Daughtry said the victim was not physically forced to leave her family but was coerced into going with Mulalo. Daughtry said the victim was brought through multiple states, and to larger cities like New Orleans and Dallas, before she ended up in Columbus.
Daughtry called Mulalo a “modern day pimp,” saying the man used social media to commit the alleged trafficking.
Mulalo and Holloway are being held at the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center. No bond had been set as of the Wednesday afternoon Facebook Live interview.
“No bond at this time, and I’m going to ask that he doesn’t get a bond because we need this individual to be locked up,” Daughtry said. “I can tell you from looking at him and listening to his conversation, it’s not his first time. But I want it to be his last time.”
Daughtry said CPD was not releasing the name of the hotel involved in the investigation, so as not to potentially impact that hotel’s reputation and business. However, hotel management cooperated with the investigation fully, he said.
The investigation is ongoing, and CPD is working with other agencies to investigate and to provide support to the victim, the release said.
Those with additional information regarding this case or other instances of human trafficking are encouraged to contact the Columbus Police Department or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 39 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
