Jailed Texas mum 'lured teen on World of Warcraft'

Ap
Thursday 07 January 2010 06:18 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A Houston mother remained jailed on Wednesday after authorities said she flew to Canada and lured a 16-year-old boy, whom she allegedly had an online sexual relationship with for more than a year, away from his home.

Lauri Price, 42, has been charged by prosecutors in Houston with two counts of online solicitation of a minor and one count of enticing a child with the intent to commit a felony.

Authorities say Price started having an online sexual relationship with the boy, then 15 years old, in September 2008 after meeting him on the internet video game World of Warcraft, said Donna Hawkins, a spokeswoman for the District Attorney's Office.

After going to the teen's home in Ontario in February and failing to lure the boy away, Price continued her online relationship with the boy, said Lt. Matthew Gray, with the Houston Metro internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce.

"She talked to him about sex and a lot of different stuff. It was a very long, long grooming process. She thought that in February she had him at that time.

She continued to work on him until she finally felt she broke through," he said.

On Dec. 29, Price flew back to Canada and lured the teen from his home, taking him to a hotel in Rosseau, about 110 kilometres away, and having sex with him, Gray said.

"From our investigation, we have thousands of emails and instant messages to go through. She was very persistent to say the least," Gray said.

Price was arrested early Tuesday morning at Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport after returning from Canada. She made her initial court appearance on Wednesday.

Her attorney, Skip Cornelius, did not immediately return a telephone call on Wednesday.

Before leaving his home, the teen left a note for his mother saying he was running away with Price. Authorities in Barrie were looking for the two when an off-duty police officer in Rosseau spotted them at the hotel, Gray said.

Price is not facing charges related to sexual assault because the age of consent in Canada is 16.

But Canadian police knew Price could face possible charges in the United States and told US authorities when she would be returning to Houston, Gray said.

Price has worked as a permanent substitute teacher with the Cypress-Fairbanks school district in suburban Houston, and has four children, Gray said. Prosecutors said after her arrest, Price was fired from her job.

Price is being held in the Harris County Jail under bonds totalling $20,000.

If convicted, she faces from two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 for each charge, Hawkins said.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in