Dad killed daughter's partner for selling her into sex trafficking ring, Washington state police claim

Aaron Sorenson's body was found inside a car. Photo / WSP

WARNING - Confronting details

A father in the US brutally killed his daughter's teenage boyfriend and left his body to rot inside a car for almost a year for selling her into a sex trafficking ring, police in Washington state have revealed.

Detectives say John Eisenman, 60, repeatedly stabbed 19-year-old Aaron Sorenson before stuffing his body inside a car after making the shocking discovery about his daughter.

The boyfriend's rotting remains were discovered in the boot of an abandoned car in Spokane — a city in eastern Washington state — last month, police said in a press release. Investigators believe the victim was killed in November 2020.

Aaron Sorenson's body was found inside a car. Photo / WSP

They said that Eisenman discovered in October of that year that his young daughter had been sex trafficked into Seattle by Sorenson for US$1000 (NZ$1404). He was able to rescue the girl from the city and bring her back to Spokane that month.

"In November 2020, Eisenman learned his daughter's boyfriend was going to be at a location in Airway Heights, WA," police said in a statement.

"Eisenman waited for the victim and confronted the 19-year-old as he arrived.

"During that encounter Eisenman abducted the victim, tying him up and placing him in the trunk of a vehicle. Eisenman subsequently assaulted the victim by hitting him in the head with a cinder block and then stabbed him repeatedly, causing his death."

After the murder, Eisenman drove the vehicle to a remote area in North Spokane County and abandoned the car with the body still inside.

Police said Eisenman was arrested and surrendered to officers without incident. Photo / 4 News Now

"The vehicle remained at that location until it was moved in October 2021 by a third party and driven to Spokane," police said.

Officials said they do not believe that person knew there was a corpse in the back.

The body was found when people began searching through the vehicle.

Amber Hellmann said her boyfriend and another friend said they noticed the car had been there for a while.

"They were just looking around and for some reason, they decided to look in the trunk and all I hear is, 'there's a body'," she told KHQ-TV.

Police said Eisenman was arrested and surrendered to officers without incident.

Prior to his detention, he had no recent violent criminal history.

SEXUAL HARM

Sexual harm - Where to get help

If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact

Safe to Talk

confidentially, any time 24/7:

• Call 0800 044 334

• Text 4334

• Email support@safetotalk.nz

• For more info or to web chat visit

safetotalk.nz

Alternatively contact your local police station -

click here for a list.

If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault.