Trafficking Survivor Sues Amarillo Hotel Over Ignored Warning Signs

Jane Doe alleges Red Roof Inn locations in Amarillo and Lubbock turned a blind eye to clear signs of sex trafficking for years.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A survivor of a five-year sex trafficking ordeal is suing the Red Roof Inn hotel chain, alleging that staff at locations in Amarillo and Lubbock ignored obvious signs of trafficking activity taking place on their premises over an extended period. The victim, identified only as Jane Doe, claims the hotels were a frequent 'home base' for her traffickers, who used methods like forced drug addiction to control her.

Why it matters

This lawsuit highlights the growing issue of sex trafficking in Texas and the role that hotels can sometimes play, either knowingly or unknowingly, in enabling these criminal activities. It also raises questions about corporate responsibility and the need for better training and protocols to identify and report suspected trafficking.

The details

According to court documents, Jane Doe was trafficked from 2013 to 2018, with her traffickers frequently using Red Roof Inn locations in Amarillo and Lubbock as a base of operations. The lawsuit alleges that hotel staff regularly noticed red flags like guests paying in cash or with prepaid cards, having few belongings for an extended stay, and a high volume of male visitors at unusual hours - but failed to notify authorities. One Amarillo manager even reportedly acknowledged 'knowing what was going on' but did not call the police.

  • Jane Doe was trafficked from 2013 to 2018.
  • The lawsuit was originally filed in Lubbock County but has since been moved to federal court.

The players

Jane Doe

A survivor of a five-year sex trafficking ordeal who is suing the Red Roof Inn hotel chain.

Red Roof Inn

A hotel chain that allegedly allowed sex trafficking activity to occur at some of its locations in Amarillo and Lubbock, Texas, according to the lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The case was originally filed in Lubbock County but has been moved to federal court, underscoring the seriousness of the allegations.

The takeaway

This lawsuit highlights the critical need for hotels to have robust training and protocols in place to identify and report suspected human trafficking activity, in order to protect vulnerable victims and hold perpetrators accountable.