Yadira Escamilla, one of the young women assaulted by an overnight manager at a troubled facility, felt a sense of relief when the perpetrator received a 30-year prison sentence. Speaking to the Tribune, Escamilla shared her initial anxiety about the outcome but expressed happiness over the sentencing. “When the sentencing came, I was just happy that he actually got some time,” she said.
Cook County Judge Ursula Walowski sentenced Trulon Henry, 41, to 30 years in prison. In March, a court found him guilty of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child under 13, along with multiple counts of criminal sexual assault involving three children, including Escamilla.
Escamilla had filed a lawsuit against Aunt Martha’s Health and Wellness, which operated the now-closed residential facility, and its security contractor, A-Alert Security Services. The lawsuit revealed the lack of security and oversight at the facility, where Henry assaulted Escamilla. “I was just locked there downstairs,” she recounted.
Further incidents reported in the lawsuit included improper handling of situations by staff, which exacerbated Escamilla’s fear. Despite previous complaints, inappropriate actions by Henry persisted from January to April 2024. The court sentenced Henry to four years on each count of criminal sexual assault and six years for predatory assault, served consecutively.
Escamilla shared in court how reliving the trauma was painful but necessary for justice. “I do try to continue to push to heal those wounds, but mainly I just want awareness,” she said. Her attorney, Margaret Battersby Black, stated the sentence reinforced Escamilla’s credibility, which would benefit their civil case.
The lawsuit accused Aunt Martha’s and A-Alert Security of failing to protect Escamilla from abuse despite clear signs. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was later included as a defendant. Aunt Martha’s had employed Henry despite his past conviction for armed robbery, a fact noted in media previously.
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