The girl who was sex trafficked after a Dallas Mavericks’ game tells her story
Natalee Cramer spoke to CBS News about those tragic moments
Believe it or not most of the things that we see on movies are just little examples of how really cruel the world is. Every year, every week, every day… we hear and see news about the most disgraceful and terrific acts any human can do.
It requires to be very brave to speak about a traumatic experience, even with family or friends, but is even harder when you have to tell the whole world about it.
On April 2022, at just 15 years old, Natalee Cramer disappeared from a Dallas Mavericks game at the American Airlines Center. She was found 10 days later with traffickers in Oklahoma.
Natalee Cramer spoke with CBS News about this tragic event in a video where the harshness of the situation can be seen. This is the transcript of the interview.
She is ready to tell the story
Her casewent viral nationwide, making all the headlines. Two years later, after all that pain and moments of breakdowns, the 18-year-old North Richland Hills sex trafficking survivor was ready to discuss every terrifying detail for the very first time.
She was once afraid to share the story, but luckily, she wants her voice to be heard.
When asked about her feelings on telling the story she said: “I’m not afraid. I’m not afraid. There’s nothing to be afraid of. And it’s so strong, feels so strong saying that,” Cramer said. “I feel so strong saying that. I never would have thought it a year ago. I would have never been here. I would have never thought I could do it. I’m so proud of myself.”
I’m not afraid. I’m not afraid. There’s nothing to be afraid of. I’m so proud of myself.
The night that changed everything
Everything took place on April 8, 2022. The Dallas Mavericks played the Trailblazers at their American Airlines Center. Cramer went to see the game with her dad and they sat in section 221, until the then 15-year-old decided to leave to the restroom and never returned
At 15 years old, young Cramer was struggling with anxiety and addiction to vaping and marijuana, and went to some people looking for someone to chill and have a relaxing time.
“I was planning on going to the game but then got anxious. … I needed something. So I just went and I found a male. I was like, ‘Hey, do you smoke?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah.’ He asked me who I was with. And I was like, ‘I was with my dad.
I don’t know where he’s at, but we can just chill.'”
I just went and I found a male. I was like, ‘Hey, do you smoke?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah.’ He asked me who I was with. And I was like, ‘I was with my dad. I don’t know where he’s at, but we can just chill.
Nothing seemed weird until they got to the parking garage, when she realized he was not alone in the arena, leading to one of the most scary moments of her life.
“I thought he was the only one … and he wasn’t. They had a bag of weed and rolling papers,” said Cramer. “Pretty much once they kind of showed me, I was just shoved in, not thrown in. But I didn’t – I didn’t have a choice.”Cramer says it didn’t take time for her to realize she was in danger. “I wasn’t sober enough to do anything about it. I didn’t know.”
