MILWAUKEE, Wis.—Penthouse Pet of the Year and activist Renee Olstead has launched a new Change.org petition in support of trafficking survivor Chrystul Kizer, urging public action and judicial review in light of Kizer’s upcoming appeal.
Founder of The Coalition of American Sex Workers (CASW 304), Olstead created the petition in collaboration with Kizer at the suggestion of her legal team to demonstrate continued public support for her case as the legal process continues. The petition, now live at Change.org/FreeChrystulKizer, has already amassed more than 600 signatures.
Kizer was just 17 years old when she was charged with the 2018 murder of Randall Volar, a 34-year-old man who had trafficked her since she was 15. Despite overwhelming evidence—including hundreds of videos documenting Volar's abuse of minors—authorities declined to prosecute him and released him without bail. Kizer, in contrast, was given a $1 million bail and later sentenced to 11 years in prison under a plea agreement.
“Chrystul was failed by the system,” Olstead said. “The very agencies charged with keeping kids safe chose to release a dangerous predator back into the community, despite a mountain of video evidence documenting his crimes against children.”
Kizer's case initially sparked national outrage but has since faded from public attention. With an appeal in the case underway, Olstead and CASW 304 are renewing calls for justice. Kizer remains incarcerated at Taycheedah Women’s Correctional Institution in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where she has reportedly been denied mental health treatment and access to basic necessities through commissary restrictions, according to Olstead.
“We can draw a clear distinction between consensual sex work and sex trafficking, while still recognizing that our collective liberation is very much intertwined,” Olstead added. “The sex work community continues to stand in support of trafficking survivors. We want to live in a world where all of our voices are heard—where trafficking survivors have access to the resources and support they’re entitled to, and sex workers can safely report violent clients without fear of arrest.”
CASW 304, founded by Olstead in Milwaukee in 2024, has worked closely with national and local organizations such as SWOP Behind Bars, New Moon Network, EPA United and BLOC MKE to advocate for both sex workers and trafficking survivors. Past efforts include a holiday card drive for Kizer co-hosted by Lotus Lain and exhibiting Kizer’s art in SWOP Chi’s fourth annual art exhibition.
To sign the petition, visit change.org/p/free-chrystul-kizer, and to learn more about CASW, visit casw304.org.
