Woman accused of ‘psychological manipulation’ in Lexington human trafficking case
A woman has been indicted on multiple charges, including human trafficking, after police accused her of manipulating an 18-year-old woman into prostitution, according to court records.
Savannah Elizabeth Gribanow, 26, of Knoxville was indicted in Fayette County on charges of human trafficking, promoting human trafficking, tampering with evidence and receiving stolen property worth more than $10,000, according to court documents.
The victim, who is from Michigan, told police that Gribanow would take her phone and earnings, according to court records.
The woman told investigators that Gribanow held her against her will while traveling from hotel to hotel, and that Gribanow had used “financial and psychological manipulation” against her. Gribanow is accused of bringing the 18-year-old victim from Knoxville to Lexington.
Gribanow was arrested on Sept. 19 at the Econo Lodge on Athens-Boonesboro Road, near Interstate 75.
Gribanow is accused of providing the victim with drugs to “keep her compliant,” police told WKYT, the Herald-Leader’s reporting partner.
Elija S. Bowling, 19, also of Knoxville, was also indicted on charges of promoting human trafficking and receiving stolen property worth more than $10,000, according to court records.
A third defendant, 31-year-old Jonathan Anthony Louis of Lexington, was indicted on charges of receiving stolen property worth more than $10,000 and evidence tampering, according to court records.
Gribanow traveled from Knoxville to Lexington in a car she knew to be stolen, according to court records. Louis and Bowling were also traveling in the car.
Gribanow is also accused of making a call from the Fayette County jail and asking someone to delete evidence of her crimes on Facebook Messenger, according to court records.
Louis is accused of trying to hide the keys to the stolen vehicle that he, Gribanow and Bowling were traveling in, according to court records.
Gribanow, Bowling and Louis are being held in the Fayette County jail. They’re scheduled to be arraigned in Fayette Circuit Court on Dec. 12.
This story was originally published December 9, 2019 at 3:46 PM.
