Craigslist Sex Ad Turns into Iowa Woman's Nightmare

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Cybercrime

(CBS/KCCI)

JASPER COUNTY, Iowa (CBS/KCCI) An explicit ad placed on Craigslist offering sex with multiple partners has Iowa resident Jody Karns rattled. The problem? Her phone number was listed, but she says she isn't the one who placed the advertisement.

Photo: Jody Karns.

Now she is forced to field calls from total strangers in the middle of the night seeking, well you know what they are seeking.

"I got a phone call at 12:30 from a man who said he was driving to me to meet me because I wanted two men," Karns told CBS affiliate KCCI. "I was scared. I wasn't just going to go to bed and relax. You can't. The first person that called said that he was in his car, driving, coming to see me. And it's like whoa, uh uh."

Karns said that call was just the first of many that started several weeks ago. Her phone records show that minutes later, another call rang and then another.

More than 80 incoming calls, more than 50 text messages and explicit e-mailed photos, all because of an online ad that she said she never placed.

The online ad said Karns was looking for two men to "put this fire out." It ran on the casual adult encounter section on Craigslist.

Karns said she thinks she knows who posted the ad and that it is part of a complicated and bitter family dispute, some of which is out of the reach of law enforcement. She said, in this case, somebody went too far and she thinks law enforcement should do something about it.

Jasper County Attorney Mike Jacobsen said Karns may have committed criminal harassment against the person she believes may have posted the ad, which is one of several reasons why he said he would not pursue the case.

Jacobsen said the Craigslist incident is an Internet misdemeanor harassment case, which would take too much time and effort to pursue. Jacobsen said he's written a letter to Karns explaining why he won't prosecute.

"Do I have to get raped? Do I have to get beaten for them to say, 'Oh, ----, maybe we should have done something two months ago? Because, like I said, people are still calling," said Karns to the affiliate.

Karns said after taking many calls from strange men, she changed her voice mail, directing Craigslist callers to the possible suspect's phone number.

She asked Craigslist to remove the ad shortly after it first appeared, but apparently that didn't happen and her phone just keeps ringing.

Story Contributed to CBS Affiliate KCCI

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by jkarnshere August 28, 2010 3:50 PM EDT: For those who had an opinion: yet couldn't use your real name and voiced your comments.

As I read these comments I wonder what all you people are thinking. If you even got what I was trying to say in the big picture. Why is it you all think "blame the victim" "she liked it" "she wanted it" "white trash" on every story like this. ONLY two people that commented had it right, and got my true issue.

My issue is that the county attorney didn't care enough to do anything about it. Most of you said, "why didn't you change your number" Ok at 12:30am Ill just trot over to the local store and do that! what you ppl need to think about is WHAT IF THIS HAPPENED TO YOUR WIFE, MOTHER, SISTER, DAUGHTER! Then remember that my name, phone number and ADDRESS were posted. Men started calling saying they were on their way to my home! I WAS SCARED TO DEATH! Yeah so me turning off my phone wasn't an option! I called 911 and no officers showed up, till the next day! I did answer the phone and say to these men, police are here do not show up or you will be arrested. Just to keep them from showing up. What if he had done this when my daughter was home alone? Lots of things go thru your head!

Ask yourself how scared would you be if they went to your daughters home, kicked in her door, raped her and left her for dead? is it funny then? It isn't. I guess, since only "white trailer trash" cares about other ppl and wanted to let them know that your local law enforcement did nothing and then used the excuse saying I harassed him after the fact. OK, even so, why didn't they show up asap! The puke called me and asked how my night was, did ya sleep well, get any phone calls? that's when I changed my message to call him.

So when you put a message saying call this number its as bad as putting someone's home address, name and phone number out there for sex offenders to read, call and possibly commit a crime, in the county attnys eyes.

In contacting KCCI, I wasn't looking for personal attention to me, but to let people know that our law makers don't care about the issue. As I said in the interview, I could have been raped, beaten or killed and that is the point I wanted to get across and the laws did nothing. Just smacked me in the face.

So as you have fun degrading a person who is a hard working, tax paying, non white trailer trash, good mother and friend. Maybe take just a second and think to yourself. WHAT IF THIS HAPPENED TO YOU OR YOUR LOVED ONES? It could have been an obit instead of a story about getting it stopped.

the "Person", who placed this ad "for" me since has not been involved in my family but has placed his attention on another girl and stalked her and entered her home where "he" was met by an angry dad, who in turn, the father, defended his daughter and home. "He" was arrested for b/e with intent to cause injury and other crimes. The father was not arrested. This could have been prevented if the lawmakers didn't give him the idea he was "allowed and untouchable" and able to behave this way.

Take it all in and then ask your self, how would you feel if it had a different outcome. Would you then feel that your tax dollars are actually keeping you safe from harm. Not all stories are a cry for attention for ones self, but some of us what you to know what isn't being done by our law enforcement officials to protect us and our family and friends.

take care to protect yourself and God Bless!; Reply to this comment


by bankersvox January 3, 2010 3:01 AM EST: How do we know who actually ran the ad ? until we do, this may be ??? a made up story. At the very least the ad should be pulled, and the police should investigate. Watch the TV crime shows enough and you know it is NEVER as it appears in the first 3 minutes.; Reply to this comment


by ToolMangler1 January 2, 2010 10:40 PM EST: sooner or later, somebody will intiate legislation that puts severe limits on websites. People will be very unhappy when this comes about but sites like Craigslist, Facebook and a host of others will cause this to happen because of lack of policing their own content. What one man does (under the guise of "Freedom of Speech") screws everybody when he doesn't consider other peoples rights.; Reply to this comment


by formrusmcsgt January 2, 2010 10:24 PM EST: Maybe SHE ran the ad and was found our by someone who knows her....; Reply to this comment


by erb0087 January 2, 2010 7:47 PM EST: Jody Karns has that "Princess Fergie" thing going.

At least in that photo.

Remember how she and Prince Andrew used to dominate the British tabloids ?

She was a wild one.

"By 1992, the marriage was in trouble, and the couple had drifted apart. While her husband was away on naval or royal duties, the Duchess was frequently seen in the company of other men, notably Texan multimillionaire Steve Wyatt. Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson finally agreed to separate in January 1992. In August 1992, surreptitiously-taken photographs of John Bryan, an American financial manager - apparently in the act of sucking the toes of a topless Sarah - were published in the British tabloid newspaper The Daily Mirror. The Duchess endured widespread public ridicule contributing to her further estrangement from the British Royal Family. After 4 years of official separation, the Duke and Duchess made the mutual decision to divorce in 1996. They have, however, remained close and have shared in the upbringing and support of their two daughters."; Reply to this comment


by blindersoff January 2, 2010 7:38 PM EST: This family member should be charged with something. She could have been raped by one of these freaks.; Reply to this comment


by markavelli January 2, 2010 7:36 PM EST: They arent investigating this because they know she harassed the person who posted the ad.

This isnt news, its a little sensational piece about domestic white trash issues....; Reply to this comment


by askagain January 2, 2010 5:07 PM EST: This is a good reason not to become involved in a family feud.; Reply to this comment


by bubbadubba January 2, 2010 4:20 PM EST: Whatever happens DO NOT CHANGE YOUR PHONE NUMBER to another unlisted number!
I think she likes the calls.
No really, I do.; Reply to this comment


by culturechang January 2, 2010 3:39 PM EST: OH God, here we go trying to outlaw Craiglist again. Just pull the ad and it will disappear in a fews days. No need to get the media, the FBI, and the President involved.; Reply to this comment