Sex Trafficking, Domestic Violence, and Violent Death: Exploring the Intersections

• In Event: Intimate Partner Homicides, Familicides and Victim Perspectives

Abstract

This study examines the intersection of interpersonal violence and violent death through analysis of cross-referenced homicide and criminal justice records from 2013-2024 in a major metropolitan area of the Northwestern United States. By linking open-source homicide data with jail intelligence related to sex trafficking and domestic violence, the research illuminates patterns of violent mortality among individuals connected to trafficking and domestic violence networks. The analysis encompasses both quantitative assessment and detailed case studies, examining victim demographics (age, sex, role as trafficker, trafficking victim, or buyer), perpetrator characteristics (age, sex, role as trafficker, trafficking victim, or buyer), location patterns, methods of violence, and case outcomes.

The findings reveal distinct patterns of violent death across different contexts. In homicides where the victim or perpetrator is involved in trafficking, firearms were the predominant method, with incidents frequently occurring at commercial establishments including clubs, hotels, and automotive businesses. These deaths involved a broad spectrum of individuals within trafficking networks, including traffickers, victims, family members, and gang-affiliated individuals. Domestic violence-related homicides showed different patterns, characterized by blunt force trauma and strangulation, with some cases revealing overlap between domestic violence and trafficking victimization.

The study identified several key locations where violent deaths clustered, suggesting specific environmental risk factors. Drug-related violence emerged as significant within the dataset. The research demonstrates how participation in criminal enterprises and exposure to vulnerable environments correlates with elevated risk of violent death and commission of homicide. These findings have important implications for violence prevention strategies and suggest the need for integrated approaches to addressing interconnected forms of interpersonal violence.

Authors

• Anna E. Kosloski, University of Colorado Colorado Springs

• Christopher Carey, Portland State University

• Molly McDade, Portland State University

• Bridget Diamond-Welch, University of South Dakota