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North Texas girl sex trafficked from a Dallas Mavericks game shares her story of survival: “I’m not afraid.”
NORTH TEXAS — Her local story made national headlines. Now, the 18-year-old North Richland Hills sex trafficking survivor is ready to discuss every terrifying detail.
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“It’s my first birthday home since, like, two years,” said A smiling Natalee Cramer.
She is speaking out for the first time ever, explaining what happened to her in April 2022.
At just 15 years old, she disappeared from a Dallas Mavericks game at the American Airlines Center. She was found 10 days later with traffickers in Oklahoma.
“I can change people’s perspective and make them feel like they have a voice,” Cramer said.
Once afraid and too weak to tell her story, Cramer now wants her voice heard.
“I’m not afraid. I’m not afraid. There’s nothing to be afraid of. And it’s so strong, feels so strong saying that,” Cramer said. “I feel so strong saying that. I never would have thought it a year ago. I would have never been here. I would have never thought I could do it. I’m so proud of myself.”
On April 8, 2022, the Mavericks played the Trailblazers at American Airlines Center.
Cramer and her dad sat in section 221 until the then 15-year-old left to go to the bathroom and never returned.
For the next 10 days, her story made headlines all over the country. AAC cameras captured the only clues. She was last seen with two men on surveillance video at the arena.
“I was planning on going to the game but then got anxious. … I needed something,” said Cramer.
Cramer says she was struggling with anxiety and addiction to vaping and marijuana.
Dallas Police Department
“So, I just went and I found a male. I was like, ‘Hey, do you smoke?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah.’ He asked me who I was with. And I was like, ‘I was with my dad. I don’t know where he’s at, but we can just chill.'”
Cramer says the encounter took a turn in the parking garage.
“I thought he was the only one … and he wasn’t. They had a bag of weed and rolling papers,” said Cramer. “Pretty much once they kind of showed me, I was just shoved in, not thrown in. But I didn’t — I didn’t have a choice.”
Cramer says it didn’t take long to know she was in danger. She said she “wasn’t sober enough to do anything about it. I didn’t know.”
She said the details of that night and the next 10 days are slowly coming back to her. They are very difficult to hear.
Cramer said she was raped three times in the AAC parking garage and then she was driven somewhere else.
“I would say … 20 to 25 minutes away from the American Airlines Center … and they continued to have me smoke marijuana and they raped me again,” said Cramer. “And when I knew I was getting sex trafficked was when the guy, he had a gray hoodie on. … I remember he asked me, he said, ‘Can you go take a shower and then put these clothes on so we can go down to the street?’ … I didn’t think of selling my body. None of that.”
Cramer’s parents, desperate for answers, hired a private investigator who, within 24 hours, made a terrifying find. He discovered adult ads online for their daughter. She was being sold in Oklahoma.
Cramer said she does not remember being driven to Oklahoma, but she remembers being there.
When asked why she didn’t find a phone to call for help, she said that part of the story is hard to understand.
“That’s something that a lot of people will probably be very questionable about,” Cramer said. “There were times that there was a phone, and I could call. … I didn’t, it didn’t run through my mind. I was, I was running. I was running for drugs. I was running for all these other reasons.”
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Cramer says her family was not number one at that time.
“I was self-sabotaging,” said Cramer. “I was putting myself in positions that I shouldn’t have, but … I just didn’t call. I don’t know why I didn’t call.”
The private investigator alerted Oklahoma City police about the adult ads for Cramer. Ten days after Cramer disappeared from the AAC, an Oklahoma officer found Cramer wandering outside a complex where one of her traffickers would later be arrested.
“I was tired. I didn’t know. I didn’t know what to do,” Cramer said. “I was messed up to the point where I would see things that weren’t there … and so, I was just walking at those apartments, just like praying. I was just like, ‘God, please have someone, something, whether it’s a cop, an ambulance, something, a random person on the side of the road.’ I was like, ‘God, I can’t do this … please.’ And, ‘Somebody, please, please save me.’ And not five minutes [later], a cop pulled up next to me and he goes, ‘Are you Natalee Cramer?’ And I said, ‘Yes, I am.'”
Cramer became very emotional, saying her prayers were answered.
“He felt it. God told him, ‘That’s her. Go get her.’ Like, God was there. He was there.”
It’s been two and half years since that night at the AAC. Cramer attributes her escape and recovery to faith, family, therapy, and Gunnar. Gunnar is her dog, who came along not long after she came home and began therapy.
“When I got Gunnar, I was in a manic … every morning he forced me to get out, I had to take him out. I had to feed him,” said Cramer. “He brought that motivation back. … He’s a dog. He doesn’t know, but he saved my life completely.”
Cramer said she is lucky to be alive.
“I knew I was going to die. I knew,” said Cramer. “It’s scary to think that it happens every day. But I hope what people take from this is that it’s real. It’s real and it’s hard. And you may not think it will happen to you until it does.”
She has a message for other victims and survivors.
“Don’t give up on yourself. Even if this happens to you, don’t give up on yourself. It will get better. It’s not something to be ashamed of anything. You just have to embrace it and realize it’s not your fault. It’s not!”
Cramer is still recovering, but she’s ready to help others who may be in the same situation she once was.
“I’m not giving up,” said Cramer. “I am going to continue to speak about it even if that means telling my story 100 times over and over and over and over. It’s not just my story being told. It’s other people’s who aren’t able to tell their story.”
Cramer says she is a 9.5 on a scale of one to 10. She is working on her GED and wants to start veterinarian school. She says she’ll be a “10” when that happens.
Cramer and her family started a non-profit foundation. Aisling for Life helps raise funds for support and resources for sexual assault and sex trafficking victims. The Irish word “Aisling” means “dream.”
While several people were convicted in Oklahoma in connection to Cramer’s case, Dallas investigators made an arrest but later dropped the charges against the suspect.
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Even though mortgage interest rates surged in recent years, they did little to drop home values. Instead, home prices have remained steady and even grown in many parts of the country. Now, with a major cut to the federal funds rate already issued and additional ones possible for the months ahead, prices could rise again as sellers try to take advantage of a wider pool of buyers. Homes that had been priced in the $700,000 range, for example, could now be around $800,000 or $850,000. And homes priced at $1 million or more are already growing.
Understanding this reality, then, buyers should start preparing for higher home prices now. One of the best ways to do so is by calculating the potential monthly costs of a mortgage loan. Below, we’ll detail what an $850,000 mortgage will cost per month – and what it could look like if interest rates decline as anticipated.
See what mortgage interest rate you could lock in here now.
How much will a $850,000 mortgage cost per month?
The average mortgage rate on a 30-year mortgage dropped to 6.15% this week, the lowest it’s been in two years (September 2022). But with rate cuts possible for November and when the Fed meets again in December that rate could fall again before the year ends – assuming lenders don’t start pricing in a series of presumed rate cuts to come.
Here’s what an $850,000 mortgage loan would cost per month at the rate available today, assuming the conventional 20% down payment ($170,000), minus any taxes or insurance costs:
- 30-year mortgage at 6.15%: $4,142.75 per month
- 15-year mortgage at 5.65%: $5,610.44 per month
While today’s mortgage rates aren’t likely to fall directly in tandem with the federal funds rate, a half a percentage point reduction seems possible now following the Fed’s moves this week. Here’s what those payments could fall to assuming a half a percentage point reduction between now and January.
- 30-year mortgage at 5.65%: $3,925.20 per month
- 15-year mortgage at 5.15%: $5,430.68 per month
It’s important to remember, however, that mortgage interest rates change daily (except for weekends and holidays). And in today’s evolving rate climate, these rates could fall even further than many anticipate, thus making an $850,000 mortgage loan even more affordable. So keep an eye on the market and be prepared to lock in a low rate when found.
Start shopping for rates and lenders here now.
Other factors to account for
While the above numbers reflect what buyers can expect to pay for an $850,000 mortgage now (and after a rate reduction of half a percentage point), they’re not the only factor that should be added in when trying to pinpoint your exact monthly mortgage payment. Specifically, don’t forget:
- Homeowners insurance: The bank will want their loan protected and you’ll want to be insured against theft, damage and injuries. Start shopping around now to find the best deal and consider “bundling” any policy with your car insurance to reduce costs.
- Flood insurance: Depending on where your home is located, the lender may require flood insurance proof before signing off on the loan. So be sure to ask if the home is located in a flood zone and ask if you can assume the existing policy, if applicable.
- Taxes: Taxes could be paid annually or you can have them divided among your monthly mortgage payments but this could be a significant amount of money to account for so be sure to determine the exact cost before closing, and, ideally, before making a formal offer.
- Private mortgage insurance: Don’t have enough money to make the conventional 20% down payment? Then you’ll have to pay private mortgage insurance, or PMI, to your lender until you’ve reached that equity threshold.
The bottom line
The Fed’s rate cuts could make the monthly payments on an $850,000 mortgage a lot more affordable, but navigating the current real estate market still requires careful consideration of a range of factors. As interest rates fluctuate and home prices adjust, the market could shift, and potential buyers may want to stay informed about trends but also thoroughly calculate all associated costs during the process. That way, they can make more confident decisions about their path to homeownership.
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The mortgage rate landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation now that inflation is cooling. For starters, there has been a notable drop in mortgage rates over the past few weeks, with rates hitting a two-year low on Wednesday. This shift has already begun to stir excitement, as more affordable borrowing costs open doors for those previously priced out of homeownership.
The Federal Reserve also conducted its first rate cut since 2020 (September 18), reducing the federal funds rate by an unexpected 50 basis points. Most analysts expected the Fed rate cut to be just 25 basis points, making this decision larger and more impactful than anticipated.
This move is expected to put additional downward pressure on interest rates across the board, including mortgages, and may present an opportunity for borrowers to lock in more favorable rates. But how exactly will this substantial Fed rate cut impact mortgages? Below, we’ll break down what you should know.
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Here’s how the Fed’s big rate cut affects mortgages
The Federal Reserve’s decision to implement a 50 basis point rate cut has injected a new layer of complexity into the mortgage market. While the impact of a standard 25 basis point reduction has likely been factored into current mortgage rates, which are sitting at an average of 6.15%, it’s unclear exactly how mortgage rates will respond to this larger rate cut.
One outcome could be that the larger rate cut will cause mortgage rates to fall even further in the coming days and weeks, building on the recent trend of declining rates. This could create a more favorable environment for borrowers, with the possibility of mortgage rates dipping to levels not seen in years.
However, it’s crucial to understand that the Federal Reserve’s actions, while significant, are not the sole factor influencing mortgage rates. The mortgage market is a complex ecosystem affected by various economic indicators. Long-term bonds, particularly the 10-year Treasury yield, also play a pivotal role in determining mortgage rates. So while the Fed’s rate cut will likely push these yields lower, other factors can also sway bond yields and, consequently, mortgage rates.
The mortgage industry itself may also play a role in tempering any dramatic rate drops. For example, lenders might be hesitant to lower rates too quickly or too far as they balance their desire to attract borrowers with the need to maintain profitability. This could result in a more gradual decline in mortgage rates rather than an immediate, sharp drop.
For potential homebuyers or those considering refinancing, the Fed’s larger-than-expected rate cut presents both opportunities and potential challenges. On one hand, the prospect of lower mortgage rates is certainly appealing. Lower rates translate to more affordable monthly payments and increased buying power, potentially allowing borrowers to qualify for larger loans or more desirable properties.
The allure of lower rates could also bring its own set of complications, however. If mortgage rates decline even further, it’s likely to attract more buyers to the market. This increased demand could lead to heightened competition for available properties, potentially driving up home prices and offsetting some of the benefits of lower interest rates.
Those waiting for rates to bottom out before making a move may also find themselves in a precarious position. Timing the market is notoriously difficult, and there’s a risk that rates could begin to rise again before you can act. After all, economic conditions can shift rapidly, which could reverse the current downward trend in rates.
Lenders are also more likely to see an uptick in inquiries and applications in the wake of the Fed’s decision. This increased volume could lead to longer processing times and potentially stricter underwriting standards, so borrowers should be prepared for this possibility and consider getting pre-approved or starting the application process early.
Find out how low your mortgage loan rate could be now.
The bottom line
The Federal Reserve’s unexpected 50 basis point rate cut will likely have a noticeable effect on the mortgage market, but its exact impact remains uncertain. While lower rates may materialize in the short term, a range of factors will influence how mortgage rates move in the future. So, homebuyers and homeowners who plan to refinance should carefully consider their options, recognizing that waiting for the perfect moment could be risky in an unpredictable market. Securing a favorable rate now may be the best course of action instead, especially with rates already at a two-year low.