Michigan Couple Accused Of Locking Disabled Woman In Shed, Trafficking Her

A Michigan couple was charged with human trafficking Tuesday afternoon after police discovered they had forced a 29-year-old woman with disabilities to live in a shed and advertised sexual services by the victim online, reports said.

The 30-year-old Misty George and 38-year-old Michael Welch, a dating couple from Macomb Township in Macomb County, Michigan, were accused of kicking the victim out of their home because she couldn't afford to pay the rent. The victim's identity has not been revealed.

Later, they forced her to live in a shed in the compound while they tried to traffic her, reported Fox News affiliate WJBK-TV. They didn't allow her to use the restroom or shower since the time she was kicked out by them. It's unclear how the woman met the couple.

The couple was also accused of advertising sexual services by the victim. Several men responded to the advertisements online and paid money for sexual services from her, said NBC-affiliate WDIV-TV. The Macomb County Sheriff's Office learned about the incident at the Westbridge Manor mobile home on Sept.12 after her family members found out what happened and contacted authorities.

Sgt. Renee Yax from the county sheriff's office said: "This whole incident spanned over a couple-month period," including the time she was staying in the home.”

Authorities said the 29-year-old woman was mentally and physically challenged and described her as a "profoundly special-needs person."

"Instead of helping this profoundly special-needs person, George and Welch took her support money, forced her to live rough in an outside shed, and sold her as a prostitute," Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith said, in a press release accessed by local news networks. "As your heart breaks for this vulnerable woman, your conscience is shocked by the abusive cruelty one human being is capable of showing to another."

"The Sheriff and the Prosecutor’s Office are resolved to bring some measure of justice to this young woman and to get her the support and treatment she needs," Smith added.

The neighbors of the couple told WJBK-TV told they could not believe the couple, who have a three-year-old daughter, could be capable of committing such an act. "It is sad, it is disturbing," said Tracy Byers who lived next to George and Welch. "I mean even if you are down and out, there are ways to figure it out, not doing that to another human being."

Another neighbor Marquita Ferguson told the network she never noticed anything odd. "…they were just basically nice, cool people," said Ferguson. "(I) never saw the third person."

According to WDIV-TV, George is being held on $75,000 bail after she was charged with human trafficking for forced labor, using a computer to commit a crime and accepting earnings from prostitution. Meanwhile, Welch was charged with human trafficking for forced labor and accepting earnings from prostitution. He is being held on $50,000 bail.

Welch is also said to be awaiting new charges after he attempted to escape from the sheriff's transport vehicle. He was captured after a brief chase on foot and returned to the Macomb County Jail, the Detroit News said, citing police.

The couple is scheduled to return to court Oct. 24.