INDIANAPOLIS — A Louisiana man is in jail in Hamilton County accused of promoting human trafficking in Fishers.
The investigation began in June when Fishers police found an online advertisement for prostitution and arranged to meet a woman at the Quality Inn near 96th Street and I-69 for sex.
The woman confessed she has been a prostitute since the age of 13 and that she travels the county along with Timothy Murray to engage in prostitution. Murray is now charged with promoting human trafficking and promoting prostitution.
Following an initial hearing in Hamilton County this week, Murray is being held on a $100,000 cash bond. Murray’s address is listed in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Cell phone records show Murray set up appointments for the woman to have sex for money, repeatedly threatened her with violence and controlled details of her life including what she could eat, how much money she was allowed to have and where she stayed at night.
“Every community is at risk and every community has trafficking,” said Meagan Cunningham with the Indiana Trafficking Victims Assistance Program. “It’s just a matter of when they identify it or if they ever do.”
Cunningham said many trafficking victims don’t see themselves as victims.
“A majority of the time, 99% of the time, victims don’t know they’re being trafficked. It’s part of the lifestyle. They’ve been groomed,” said Cunningham. “So we should be offering them services and resources and being survivor-centered.”
Cunningham said it’s important for the public and law enforcement to watch for red flags because if it can happen in Hamilton County, it can happen everywhere.
“Transportation is absolutely a part of trafficking,” said Cunningham. “We also have to understand that trafficking could be happening in our own communities with our neighbors because it’s so complex and broad.”
In this case, prosecutors claim Murray sent hundreds of messages to different women online, attempting to lure them into working for him as prostitutes.
When police searched the suspect’s car at the hotel, they allegedly found marijuana inside. That resulted in an additional charge of drug possession.
The alleged prostitute in this case is also charged with possession of marijuana in Hamilton County. A warrant has been issued for her arrest.
Anyone who suspects human trafficking or wants information on resources can call the Indiana Child Abuse Hotline (DCS) at 1-800-800-5556 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1(888) 373-7888.
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