Woman accused of sex trafficking her teenage daughter

EVERETT — She’s 16.

A Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office investigation tracked her to motel rooms in Everett, Edmonds and Fife.

It recently led to the arrest of a 44-year-old woman for investigation of promoting sexual abuse of a minor. The sex trafficking suspect, the girl’s own mother, could be charged with a Class A felony.

“She knew exactly what was going on and was complicit in the rape of a child for money,” sheriff’s office spokeswoman Shari Ireton said.

A county detective in February spotted a classified ad offering the girl’s services on backpage.com. The sales pitch was aimed at clients in the Everett area. The ad claimed the girl was 18. She was 15 at the time.

A search warrant later turned up thousands of texts from the girl’s iPhone during a five-week period late last year. More than 400 messages were from potential clients. More than a dozen others involved discussions of drugs.

The exchanges also included texts allegedly from the girl’s mother, asking her for her motel room number and what city she was in.

The detective wrote in an affidavit to establish probable cause for the mother’s arrest that the communication seemed “more out of a concern to keep tabs on her whereabouts. I know from my training and experience that this type of behavior is often indicative of a pimping situation.”

After the teen allegedly had a client walk away without paying, the woman allegedly wrote text messages telling her “Never give (people) anything without paying upfront” and “Next time get paid upfront.”

At one point, the mother allegedly wrote her daughter to find another hotel room for the night rather than come home. When the daughter reportedly asked her mom, “Is the money worth it?” her mother allegedly replied, ‘Yes, it sure is.”

On one occasion the teen was in an Edmonds hotel room when she wrote to a client, asking him to visit later because her mom had just dropped off food.

An acquaintance of the teen told the detective that the girl said “her mom was very well aware of what she was doing and encouraged it because she enjoyed the money.”

In an interview with the sheriff’s detective earlier this month, the teen allegedly said her mom knew about her work as a prostitute. She reportedly estimated that she gave her mom about $2,000 from her earnings over the past year and that her mom often picks her up at motels so they can spend time together.

Ireton said the detective followed up on a lot of leads in gathering evidence.

“The concern is always about the victim,” she said.

Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.