Full Notification

A 13-month-old girl was successfully rescued by Lancaster and Palmdale Sheriff’s Station deputies in a shed near T-8 Street and Avenue 43 East, Palmdale, on Saturday after an Amber Alert had been issued in the Antelope Valley.

Two males (an adult and a 16-year-old juvenile), were arrested and charged with attempted murder.  The adult suspect has been identified as Brandon Wynn.  Investigators will seek criminal charges of human trafficking, assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, child abuse, and robbery.

Not only does this case involve a violent assault on a woman and the endangerment of her child, but also aspects of human trafficking, and what are called "trauma bonds" between the victim, and the men arrested for her assault, and the kidnapping of her child.

Up to this point, the investigation has revealed a textbook example of the manipulation and exploitation that occurs in the rapidly emerging crime of human trafficking here in Los Angeles County and beyond.

The female victim is a 40-year-old sexually exploited adult sex worker. Suspect Wynn, the man charged with her attempted murder, is known to be her pimp. 

The investigation began at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2015 when deputies from the Lancaster Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department were called to the Lake Los Angeles area to contact a reported victim of a brutal and violent physical assault.  When deputies arrived, they learned that the suspect also abducted the victim’s 13-month-old child.  The victim provided a name and vehicle description of her assailant, and an Amber Alert was initiated. 

During the course of the investigation by Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau - Metro Detail, it was determined the information the victim provided regarding the identity of her assailant was false, and designed to protect her pimp. The Sheriff's Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit was brought in, as well as resources from the Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau.  The collaboration of these additional resources was crucial in understanding why the victim had intentionally provided false information to detectives, even as the time ticked away in locating her 13-month-old child. 

After an extensive search, the suspect was seen by sheriff’s deputies driving his vehicle at Avenue T-8 and 40^th Street East, Palmdale, where he was detained along with a 16-year-old male.  The suspect told deputies that the 13-month-old child was in a shed at a location nearby.  At approximately 3:00 p.m., Sergeants Steven Owen and Gregory Kelly, and Deputy Daniel Gore rushed to a shed where they located the child, suffering from heat exposure and dehydration, strapped into a car seat.  Los Angeles County Fire Paramedics were immediately summoned and the child was transported to a local hospital. 

The temperatures in the Antelope Valley on a typical July afternoon range in the upper 90’s to the low 100’s.  If it were not for the unusual weather pattern of rain and cloud cover, the child would have certainly perished.  

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is happy to report the 13 month-old girl was released from the hospital Saturday evening into the safe care of the Department of Children and Family Services.  Details regarding the placement of the child cannot be released due to confidentiality issues.

The investigation is on-going.

LASD Major Crimes Bureau detectives believe this case involved "trauma bonds" between a sexually exploited female and her male pimp. This pattern of abuse has been seen in similar types of investigations.  Trauma Bonds are not formed accidentally on the side of the perpetrator.  There is extreme intentionality in creating a “need” and “bond” between themselves and their victim.  The bond occurs because the well-being of the victim is dependent upon the abuser.  

The abuser, in this case a pimp, usually begins by isolating the victim from family and friends.  He creates the persona of a “provider” and wants to be in sole charge of the money so that he can control and manipulate the victim’s life. 

The pimp controls the victim’s time, where her attention goes, and ultimately her behavior, usually in the name of “love” and what “makes him happy.”  The victim’s desire to fulfill this role and make him happy is exciting at first, but as time goes on, the mind and emotional control often leads to physical and sexual abuse.  Any resistance of the pimp or the system leads to punishment.  Pleasing the pimp is not solely for his sake anymore, but for her protection and survival as well.

It is important to note it is not only adult females who are being trafficked, but also the growing number of children who are groomed into the life and emotionally imprisoned by their traffickers. 

This investigation showcases the devastating impact of human trafficking in Los Angeles County, demonstrating the need for a collaborative, victim-centered and coordinated approach through efforts led by a dedicated multidisciplinary team of law enforcement and social service providers, as well as community and faith based organizations.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau Detective Staley at (562) 522-1070. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

Sheriff’s Information Bureau – Newsroom

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

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"If You See Something, Say Something"
LA Crime Stoppers: Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

Jim McDonnell, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department 

*****Original Press Release*****

13-Month-Old Girl Found in Shed by Deputies after Amber Alert in Antelope Valley

Deputies from from Lancaster Sheriff's Station were called to the Lake Los Angeles area on Saturday, July 18, at about 6:30am, to contact a reported sexual assault victim. When they arrived, they learned of a possible child abduction related to the sexual assault.

Preliminary information at the scene led Lancaster Sheriff's Deputies to initiate an Amber Alert, identifying a named male adult and his brown BMW, as a person and vehicle of interest in this case. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Major Crimes Bureau investigators responded to lead the investigation. Sheriff's Special Victims Bureau investigators were also called to assist.

Detectives determined the male adult and his vehicle named in the Amber Alert were not actually involved in the reported incident.

The investigation led detectives to identify a male adult as a person of interest in the girl's abduction, as well as the vehicle he was last known to be driving (a blue, Ford Contour). This information was given to sheriff's patrol deputies in the Antelope Valley.

Patrol deputies from Palmdale Sheriff's Station found the vehicle and its occupants, at approximately 2:50 pm, including 35-year-old Suspect Brandon Wynn and a male juvenile, near T-8 Street and Avenue 40th East, in Palmdale.

Leads gained by deputies led Lancaster sheriff's deputies to search for the baby in a shed near T-8 Street and Avenue 43 East, in Palmdale.

Lancaster and Palmdale deputies found the missing 13-month-old girl, at approximately 3:05 pm in a shed alone and unattended for an undetermined length of time. A neighbor was also found to be investigating the sound of crying coming from the shed. Los Angeles County Fire Paramedics were called to the scene, and the baby was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment for symptoms from exposure. Her medical condition is not life-threatening.

Suspect Brandon Wynn and a juvenile companion were arrested for attempted murder charges and booked at Lancaster Sheriff's Station.

The investigation is on-going and additional charges are anticipated.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau Detective Staley at (562) 522-1070. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

Forwarded By: 

Sheriff’s Information Bureau – Newsroom

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department 

Hall of Justice - First floor  

211 W. Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

213-229-1700

Website LASD HQ: http://www.lasd.org

Recruitment LASD: http://www.careers.lasd.org 
Follow LASD HQ via Text and Email: http://www.Nixle.com
https://nixle.com/lasd---los-angeles-county-sheriffs-dept-information-bureau-sib/  

Twitter: @LASDHQ http://twitter.com/LASDHQ
Twitter: @LASDtalk https://twitter.com/LASDTalk
Twitter: @LASDvideos https://twitter.com/LASDvideos
Twitter: @LASDespanol https://twitter.com/LASDespanol
Facebook LASD HQ http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment
Instagram LASD Photos: http://instagram.com/LASDHQ

Pinterest LASD Photos : http://pinterest.com/lacountysheriff/
YouTube LASD Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/LACountySheriff/videos?view=0
SNAP LA County: Specific Needs Disaster Voluntary Registryhttp://snap.lacounty.gov/

Alert LA County: Telephone emergency mass notification system
http://www.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/alertla

Text & Email, Register for LASD Nixle messages: To receive more detailed, up-to-date information via E-MAIL and/or TEXT directly from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), sign up for "Nixle" alerts at http://www.Nixle.com and register for "LASD – Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept Information Bureau (SIB)" AND your local LASD station area. Or, to receive URGENT TEXT ALERTS ONLY, text your zip code to 888777. Standard text messaging rates may apply depending on your calling plan.

"If You See Something, Say Something"
LA Crime Stoppers: Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

Jim McDonnell, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department