“Plaintiffs’ claims stem from the severe sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse, human trafficking and forced labor our clients endured as a result of defendants’ actions and inactions.”
Survivors of the Sarah Lawrence sex cult are suing the college for damages, claiming that officials failed to investigate an adult sexual predator and convicted kidnapper living in his daughter's dorm room, according to Fox News.
Had college officials questioned why a 50-year-old man had been alone in the sophomore dormitory or had enforced the college's no-pet policy, then victims could have been saved from the sex-trafficking scheme, the plaintiffs allege in the suit.
Larry Ray, 62, was sentenced to 60 years in prison last year after being found guilty of running a multi-millionaire sex cult out of his daughter's dormitory at Sarah Lawrence College which began in 2010. His charges included sex trafficking, tax evasion, extortion, forced labor, and others.
Ray was found guilty of using violence, threats, and intimidation to manipulate, groom, and sexually abuse his victims. He also deprived them of food and sleep.
"Lawrence Ray made minimal effort to conceal his existence at Sarah Lawrence College," the lawsuit filed by three victims says. "While residing at Sarah Lawrence College, Ray freely entered and exited the grounds, without being noticed or approached by staff or security."
The plaintiffs claim that the college chose not to intervene or protect the victims despite knowing "something was awry."
The lawsuit states that parents, other students, and community members approached the dean with concerns regarding the health and well-being of students, but the college "did nothing to investigate or intervene."
"Despite the clear warning signs that something was awry in the Slonim Woods dormitory, Sarah Lawrence College teachers, faculty, staff and security failed and/or refused to notice or take any corrective action or intervene," the suit alleges.
"Plaintiffs' claims stem from the severe sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse, human trafficking and forced labor our clients endured as a result of defendants' actions and inactions, causing them irreparable harm, pain and suffering," the suit says.
The lawsuit claims that there are unanswered questions regarding the manner in which a man who had recently completed a prison term for abduction was able to "temporarily stay" in his daughter's dorm room with other sophomores in the autumn of 2010 and navigate campus without arousing suspicion.
The "temporary stay" extended into years, and as his scheme became more intricate, his hypnotic influence gained control over his victims. He was "building an army" by means of manipulation and coercion, Fox News reports.
Sarah Lawrence College has maintained its position that they were unaware of Ray's sex-trafficking scheme.
Lawyers for the college told several news outlets, "(Ray) committed heinous crimes for which he has properly been held responsible, convicted and sentenced."
"We hope that sentencing has brought some resolution to Ray's victims, for whom the college has deep sympathy. We will not comment on any aspect of this litigation, beyond noting that we believe the facts will tell a different story than the unproven allegations made in the complaint that has been filed."
Claudia Drury, one of Ray's trial witnesses, stated that he coerced her into prostitution.
"They utterly failed us," Drury lamented to The New York Times, according to the network. "There was a predator living in our dorm, and they did nothing."
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