Jurors in Milwaukee are now deep into harrowing testimony in the trial of 65-year-old David Boyd, who is accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting, trafficking, and imprisoning two girls, one of whom prosecutors say was as young as 5. The first days in court have been dominated by recorded forensic interviews and graphic details taken from the criminal complaint.
Prosecutors played hours of recorded interviews that, according to CBS58, left some jurors visibly emotional as one young victim recounted the abuse she says happened inside a Milwaukee home. The outlet reports the girl could be heard praying aloud during the recordings, and prosecutors say Boyd faces more than 170 years in prison if he is convicted.
Search Warrant Images And The Criminal Complaint
According to court filings, the investigation began when a foster parent came forward with the allegations. A subsequent search of Boyd’s Milwaukee home turned up knives, hooked chains in the basement, and a child’s drawing of that same basement space, as reported by TMJ4. The criminal complaint alleges that one girl was chained to a pole, with only a piece of bread and a cup of water on the floor, and that Boyd trafficked the children to other men for money.
Prosecutors' Evidence In Court
To build their case, prosecutors are leaning heavily on the recorded forensic interviews, showing jurors testimony the victims gave to experts last year and walking them through the allegations step by step, according to CBS58. Prosecutors told the court that in those interviews the younger victim described being sold to multiple men and threatened with knives during assaults.
Charges And What’s Next
Boyd is charged with multiple felonies, including repeated sexual assault of a child, child trafficking, false imprisonment, and use of a dangerous weapon. Prosecutors say the combined counts carry a staggeringly long potential prison sentence if he is found guilty. Reporting by TMJ4 notes that he was arrested after the allegations surfaced last year and that jurors are expected to continue hearing evidence this week.
How This Fits Into A Wider Local Problem
Child sex trafficking and exploitation have been a stubborn and well-documented problem in the Milwaukee area. Past reporting and city reviews have identified dozens of sexually exploited youths over multi-year periods, sparking the creation of task forces meant to coordinate law-enforcement and social-service responses. A Journal Sentinel report compiled by city researchers previously laid out the scope of the issue in Milwaukee and nearby suburbs, helping explain why this particular trial is drawing such close attention.
Legal Notes
All of this remains allegation at this stage, and Boyd is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The recorded interviews and physical evidence are now in front of a jury to weigh, according to reporting by PEOPLE. Defense attorneys can, and often do, challenge the admissibility, reliability, and context of forensic interviews as the state works to meet its burden of proof.
