A Texas man who had previously been through a solicitation diversion program found himself in hot water once again after being arrested for allegedly strangling a sex worker and leaving her body in a field outside Houston. The victim, Cortney Hall, was discovered days later by a landscaper in the tall grass of the field.
According to reports from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation revealed that there were signs of struggle on Hall’s body. Street cameras captured footage of a man, later identified as 25-year-old Christopher Bernard, driving up to the field and leaving the body behind. Police were able to track down Bernard through his vehicle registration and he confessed to picking up Hall, paying her for sex, and then getting into a deadly altercation with her.
Bernard claimed that Hall had attempted to steal his wallet and keys, leading to a physical confrontation that resulted in him strangling her. He now faces charges of murder and tampering with evidence related to a human corpse. His attorney has not yet commented on the case.
Further digging into Bernard’s past revealed that he had a previous arrest in 2023 for soliciting prostitution, a charge that was dismissed this year after he completed a diversion program. This tragic incident sheds light on the dangers faced by sex workers, particularly those who are LGBTQ+ or immigrants, as studies have shown that they are at higher risk of violence due to the criminalization of sex work.
The case of Christopher Bernard serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by sex workers and the urgent need for better protection and support for individuals in this industry. It also highlights the importance of addressing the systemic issues that contribute to the high rates of violence experienced by sex workers, including discrimination and criminalization.
