A Texas man who had completed a solicitation diversion program was arrested last week and accused of strangling a sex worker, then leaving her body in a field just outside Houston, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office announced.
The body of 29-year-old Cortney Hall remained for several days in the tall grass of the field in the 100 block of Subsea Lane, until a landscaper discovered it on the morning of Oct. 2, according to the announcement.
Detectives said Hall’s injuries indicated a struggle, according to a personal bond document obtained by HuffPost. Street cameras showed a man later identified as Christopher Bernard, 25, drive up to the field to leave behind the body, authorities said.
Police were able to identify and make contact with Bernard through his vehicle’s registration, according to the bond document. Bernard allegedly admitted to picking up Hall and going back to a motel where he paid her for sex. He allegedly claimed Hall tried to take his wallet and keys.
Bernard said the two struggled until he eventually strangled her to death and dumped her body, according to the document. He was charged with murder and tampering with evidence involving a human corpse.
An attorney listed under his records did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
Court records reviewed by HuffPost show that Bernard was arrested in 2023 and accused of soliciting prostitution. His case was dismissed this year under the condition that he complete a diversion program.
Studies have shown that sex workers face high rates of sexual and physical violence, which is exacerbated by criminalization of sex work, according to the University of Minnesota’s Gender Policy Report. Rates of violence are higher for those who work on the street, and LGBTQ+ and immigrant sex workers are particularly at risk.
