A resident of Oklahoma who kidnapped and repeatedly raped his stepdaughter by holding her captive for nearly two decades, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Henry Michel Piett. Source: Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office
65-year-old Henry Michelle Piett was convicted on 20 February after a seven-day trial, which describes in detail the almost two decades of ill-treatment of Rosalind Michelle McGinnis.
Piett kidnapped his stepdaughter when she was 12 years old. After that he held her captive for 19 years. During these years they had nine children, two of whom were born before she was 18 years old.
According to witnesses, Piett several tens of times moved, McGinnis and her children in the United States and Mexico before she escaped in July 2016 and went to the Consulate General of the United States in Nogales (Mexico).
«Life in prison is the sentence that is stipulated by the law for the most serious offenders — such as Henri Michel Piett, said attorney Brian J. Smith. Kuster. For 20 years he had subjected the victim and her children severe physical and emotional violence. For 20 years she was afraid for themselves and their children.»
According to the Prosecutor, «reign of terror» of Piety ended due to the exceptional courage McGinnis.
«Unfortunately, the terrible memories can last a lifetime,» said Kuster.
During his stay in captivity Piett forced McGinnis to conceal his identity, including the use of multiple aliases, dye her hair and wear glasses. The perpetrator told the children the pairs that they are «animals».
«Any insult that you might think he was doing with me,» says the victim.
