Kat Torres, a former Brazilian model and US-based wellness influencer, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for human trafficking and enslaving women. The FBI's investigation into Torres uncovered disturbing details of her activities, leading to her conviction.
The case emerged after two women living with Torres went missing in 2022. This disappearance prompted other women to come forward with harrowing accounts of their time under Torres' control. They described being lured by her glamorous lifestyle and supposed spiritual powers, which she frequently showcased on Brazilian television and through high-profile associations, including rumored relationships with Hollywood figures.
Ana, a former associate of Torres, shared her ordeal after moving to New York to work as Torres' live-in assistant. Despite promises of a decent salary, Ana endured deplorable conditions, including sleep deprivation and menial tasks without pay. She described the house as filthy, with a urine-soaked sofa as her bed.
The situation worsened when Torres relocated to Texas with two other women, Desirre and Leticia, under the guise of a healing and life coaching retreat. The environment quickly became oppressive, with restrictions on movement and alleged involvement in prostitution and witchcraft. Desirre revealed how she was coerced into working at a strip club and subjected to Torres' manipulative control, including financial quotas and enforced isolation.
Desirre was eventually forced into prostitution, facing punishment if she didn't meet Torres' earning quotas. "I ended up sleeping on the street several times because I couldn't reach that," she recounted.
In September, friends and family of the missing women launched social media campaigns to find them. To escape media attention, Torres and the women traveled from Texas to Maine, where they were coerced into posting Instagram videos denying captivity and demanding an end to the search efforts.
The case has shocked many, with over 20 women stepping forward to share similar tales of exploitation and deception by Torres. These women continue to undergo psychological therapy to cope with the trauma inflicted during their time under her influence.
