Teenage rape victim ordered to pay restitution to the family of her rapist after she killed him.

[DdraigGoch]

Pieper Lewis was trafficked at 15 by Zachary Brooks and raped repeatedly. She stabbed him to death. She has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and wilful injury.

Under Iowa State Law, the court had no choice but to order that she pays his family $150k dollars in restitution.

www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/09/14/teenager-who-killed-alleged-rapist-ordered-pay-restitution-family/

I hadn't heard of this case. Even the prosecution agree that she was the victim of sex trafficking. And she was only 15 when it happened. Poor young woman.

Declare bankruptcy to avoid it ?

More than enough money to cover this was raised via Gofundme by Wednesday afternoon. Let's hope she manages to turn her life around.

eu.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2022/09/14/pieper-lewis-gofundme-des-moines-sex-trafficking-victim-alleged-rapist-zachary-brooks/10372929002/

If his family has any moral code at all then they’ll give the money back to her or, if they couldn’t bring themselves to do that, should donate it all to a local rape crisis charity.

It’s a tragic story that underscores the grim and often untold horror that victims of sex trafficking have to deal with.

But for the sake of stopping incorrect information in the OP, the person who was stabbed and killed was actually one of her Johns - not the man who had enslaved her and forced her into sex work. He is sadly still alive.

There is a gofundme page that has been set up to support Pieper Lewis. I won’t link to it but it can be found easily enough should you wish to donate.

Her ‘John’ was still a rapist so the headline “Teenage rape victim ordered to pay restitution to the family of her rapist after she killed him.” still seems accurate to me.

Hopefully they can now prosecute the man that trafficked her.

Heart breaking story. Glad to hear the money was raised for her, may all that good will surround her as she starts to rebuild her life.

Unfortunately her state doesn't have a 'safe harbour' law, yet.

I'm glad the go fund me has raised so much. The judge said he had no option but to order her to pay as that is the law.

She has got 5 years probation, hopefully that will allow her to go to college as she has enough money from the fund raiser to pay college fees.

That is a crazy law. I can't believe they don't have a principle that you (or by extension your family) can't profit from a crime you've committed.

This. They shouldn't accept the money.

She pleaded guilty and the required restitution for this case is set in law so the judge had no choice.

Piper Lewis is a victim of one of the worst crimes imaginable. She shouldn't have to pay restitution.

The law is that if you kill someone you pay that amount to the family of the deceased.

Safe Harbour laws allow a defence in circumstances like this, but the law hasn't passed yet in this state.

The US can be a cruel place if you end up in the legal system, particularly if you are poor.

She has done better than Cyntoia Brown and Gypsy Rose Blanchard.

I understand the sentiment but it does depend who it is imo. The rapist may have left young family and children destitute. I wouldn’t begrudge a mother keeping the 150k in such circumstances. However, this is an awful law and needs to be urgently repealed.

How is this her second chance? She never had a first chance.