A young woman is saved by a ride-share driver after harrowing escape from a sex trafficking ordeal in Seattle
A young woman narrowly escaped the clutches of a violent sex trafficker after making two desperate attempts to flee, including jumping from a third-story window. The 20-year-old woman, who had been trafficked from California to Seattle by her abuser, Winston Burt, 30, was eventually rescued by a ride-share driver who engaged in a gunfight with Burt as he tried to flee.
According to prosecutors, the woman, identified only by her initials H.A., had been forced to perform sex acts in exchange for money and had been severely beaten after attempting to leave her trafficker. During one attempt, H.A. jumped from a high window to escape, but she was not successful until a second escape attempt led to her being aided by a driver who intervened in the attack.
Burt, who used the street name “Dice Capone”, was arrested shortly after the incident. Authorities revealed that Burt had been running a sex trafficking operation across multiple states, forcing young women to work for him in Seattle, California, and Arizona. The women were expected to make thousands of dollars per day and were entirely controlled by Burt, who provided food, housing, and clothing, but took all their earnings.
The woman’s escape unfolded when, after another violent attack by Burt, she was forced into a car where she tried to get help by running across a busy highway. In a dramatic turn of events, a ride-share driver, who witnessed her distress, stopped and helped, but Burt pursued them in his car, opening fire on the vehicle. The ride-share driver returned fire until they were able to reach safety and contact the police. Fortunately, no one was injured.
Burt has been charged with a range of serious offenses, including human trafficking, assault, and a drive-by shooting. He remains in custody, and prosecutors have warned that further charges may follow as they continue to investigate the extent of his actions.
