Destiny Rebecca Somersall, Sex Trafficking, West Virginia 2024

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Martinsburg woman has been charged with a heinous crime, leaving law enforcement officials and community members outraged.

Destiny Rebecca Somersall, age 41, has admitted to trafficking a teenager to a Florida man, bringing shame to her family and the community. The victim, a minor, was subjected to exploitation and abuse at the hands of Somersall and her accomplice, John Balch.

According to investigators, Somersall sent photographs and videos of the minor to 75-year-old John Balch for cash and gifts. One of the videos included a second victim, who was also exploited by Somersall and Balch. The investigators found at least 60 cash transactions between Balch and Somersall over a period of two years, totaling $13,725.

Somersall’s actions are a stark reminder of the devastating effects of human trafficking. The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been left with emotional scars that will take a lifetime to heal. The community is outraged by Somersall’s actions, and many are calling for harsher penalties for those who commit such heinous crimes.

John Balch has been indicted in the District of Maryland on related charges. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Crockett on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland assisting.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information on human trafficking, go to www.stophumantraffickingwv.org. To report a potential human trafficking crime, email USWVN-Report@usdoj.gov or call 304-234-0100.

The community is coming together to support the victim and their family, and many are calling for change. It is time for us to take a stand against human trafficking and protect our children from such heinous crimes. We must work together to create a safer and more just society for all.

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