A 26-year-old Katy-area woman was kidnapped and sexually assaulted after accepting a ride from two strangers, then escaped by screaming for help at a Seguin residence early July 29, Seguin police said.
Brian Cameron Smith, 26, and Haiyan Jayd Lee, 25, both listed at Richmond addresses in ZIP code 77406, were arrested that morning and charged with aggravated sexual assault and trafficking of a person. Each is held in the Guadalupe County Jail on $1 million bond per charge, totaling $2 million apiece.
The woman was walking to a store in the Katy area when Smith and Lee offered her a ride, according to Seguin Police Lt. Michael McCann, who spoke to ABC13 on July 30.
"They passed her destination. She realized that they weren't gonna drop her off. She wanted to get out. They wouldn't let her out, and they continued driving westbound on I-10 until they came to Seguin," McCann said.
The suspects drove the woman more than 130 miles west on I-10 from Katy to Seguin, assaulting her during the trip. Seguin Police Chief Jason Grady told ABC13 that investigators believe the pair intended to take the woman out of state and traffic her.
She was barefoot and distraught when officers found her.
How she escaped
At approximately 12:47 a.m. on July 29, Seguin officers responded to a welfare concern in the 1600 block of State Highway 123 Bypass after a 911 caller reported hearing a woman screaming for help, according to the Seguin Police Department's official statement. Officers located the woman at a nearby residence and found Smith and Lee in the area.
The department credited the 911 caller's quick action with helping officers reach the victim.
Prior criminal history
Court records reviewed by Covering Katy News show Smith pleaded guilty in a 2020 Fort Bend County case involving aggravated robbery and unauthorized use of a vehicle. He received a five-year prison sentence for the robbery charge, which involved threatening a person with a firearm during a vehicle theft, and a two-year state jail sentence for the vehicle charge.
Investigation ongoing
The Seguin Police Department said the investigation remains active as of July 30. No statements from Katy Police or the Harris County Sheriff's Office have been located, and no court dates have been announced.
Recognizing trafficking
Seguin police urged residents to be aware of human trafficking warning signs: someone who appears fearful or controlled, cannot speak freely, does not possess their own identification or money, or is unable to leave their situation.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-888-373-7888, or by texting HELP or INFO to 233733. Anyone in immediate danger should call 911.
