Woman Sentenced for Killing Trafficker

Kenosha, Wis. — Chrystul Kizer, a 24-year-old woman from Milwaukee, was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to second-degree reckless homicide in the 2018 death of Randall Volar, 34. A Kenosha County judge imposed the sentence, which includes 11 years of initial confinement followed by five years of extended supervision. Kizer received credit for 570 days already served in custody. Kizer's case drew significant attention due to her claims of being a victim of sex trafficking. She argued that she shot Volar in self-defense after he attempted to molest her, asserting that he had been trafficking her for over a year. Initially charged with multiple offenses, including first-degree intentional homicide, Kizer accepted a plea deal to avoid a potential life sentence. Her defense hinged on a 2008 Wisconsin law that provides immunity to sex trafficking victims for crimes committed as a direct result of their victimization. While anti-violence advocates supported Kizer's position, prosecutors contended that the law was not intended to cover homicide cases. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that Kizer could present this defense during her trial. Kizer's attorneys have not commented on her sentencing, but the case has sparked discussions about the legal protections available to trafficking victims and the complexities surrounding their criminal liability.