DALLAS, TX – A Texas teen is opening up about her harrowing experience after being abducted during a basketball game and subjected to sex trafficking 200 miles from home. At 15, Natalee Cramer was at a Dallas Mavericks game on April 8, 2022, when she was taken by a man she met at the event.
Cramer, now 18, explained that she was dealing with anxiety, seeking marijuana and alcohol to cope. While feeling anxious during the game alongside her father, Kyle Morris, she left her seat to go to the bathroom, where she encountered Emanuel Cartagena. She described making eye contact with him and inquiring about marijuana.
Cartagena led Cramer to a car with another individual present. Promising weed, they instead took her to a home in North Texas where the ordeal began. For days, she was held captive before being transferred to another group in Oklahoma. Despite Morris reporting his daughter missing, local police initially treated it as a runaway case due to her past behaviors.
During the 11 days she was missing, Cramer’s parents hired a private investigator. The investigation led to Oklahoma City, where ads featuring Cramer appeared online. She recounted unsettling moments, including seeing a family at a hotel who didn’t intervene, despite observing the situation.
Cramer’s family has since sued the hotel for allegedly ignoring signs of trafficking. The dramatic rescue came on April 18, when an Oklahoma City officer recognized her, leading to the arrest of several individuals involved.
Despite her traumatic experience, Cramer is speaking out, hoping to raise awareness about the deceptive nature of trafficking. She emphasizes that the danger isn’t always apparent until it’s too late.
Though US Marshals arrested Cartagena in January 2023 for sexual assault, a Dallas County grand jury chose not to proceed with prosecution. Cramer reflects that while she felt some guilt, she recognizes that her choices were not the cause of the ordeal inflicted upon her.
Now sober and working towards her GED, Cramer notes that mental health challenges contributed to her previous behaviors. She credits her family and boyfriend for their unwavering support during her recovery, describing her rescue as divine intervention.