 Island. "My sister said she would never go outside the five boroughs," said Melissa Cann, 27, of New London, Conn. "She would only do in-calls at hotels where she knew that the front desk had security and video cameras."

Brainard-Barnes, a single mother from Norwich, Conn., struggling to support two children, was introduced to prostitution through a modeling job in Manhattan, her sister said.

To her family, it was an unexpected path for a bookish young woman who published poetry on her MySpace profile and invented games for her children. Brainard-Barnes insisted to her sister that it was not her full-time profession and in early 2007 she worked as a telemarketer.

By July, however, Brainard-Barnes had been laid off and faced eviction from her apartment, Cann said. On Friday, July 6, 2007, Brainard-Barnes left her children with their fathers, took a train to Manhattan, got a hotel room near Times Square and posted an ad on Craigslist, Cann said.

Brainard-Barnes did not return to Connecticut the following Monday, as she had promised, Cann said. She did call friends that day -- her last contacts before going missing. "There was nothing distressful," Cann said.

The next year, police contacted Cann and asked whether her sister had ever worked on Long Island. "Never," Cann replied.

Police then told Cann a surprising detail: Her last cellphone call pinged a tower on the South Shore, Cann said.

Wanted to open hair salon

Melissa Barthelemy had already had a brush with prostitution's dangers. A john once tried to mug her near her Bronx home with a knife. Barthelemy, who stood 4-foot-11 and weighed 95 pounds, grabbed the weapon and stabbed her attacker, her mother said.

"She was always tough," Lynn Barthelemy said.

The Buffalo native moved to New York City in 2006 to make money to start a hair salon. A man convinced her prostitution offered quick cash and acted as her pimp. But the relationship was turbulent, Lynn Barthelemy said. After her disappearance, her mother found a letter Melissa wrote to him.

"It basically said that she was sick of giving her money up," Lynn Barthelemy said.

Barthelemy began posting Craigslist ads without the pimp's
Island. " My sister said she would never go outside the five boroughs, " suppose Melissa Cann, 27, of New London, Conn. " She would merely do in - calls at hotels where she know that the front desk had security and television television camera. " 

 Brainard - Barnes, a single mother from Norwich, Conn., fight to support two children, was insert to prostitution through a modeling job in Manhattan, her sister said. 

 To her family, it was an unexpected path for a bookish new woman who published poetry on her MySpace profile and fabricate games for her children. Brainard - Barnes insisted to her sister that it was not her entire - time profession and in early 2007 she worked as a telemarketer. 

 By July, however, Brainard - Barnes had been laid off and faced eviction from her apartment, Cann said. On Friday, July 6, 2007, Brainard - Barnes leave her children with their fathers, took a train to Manhattan, got a hotel room near Times Square and post an ad on Craigslist, Cann said. 

 Brainard - Barnes did not return to Connecticut the following Monday, as she had promised, Cann said. She did call friends that day -- her last contacts before go missing. " There was nothing distressing, " Cann say. 

 The future year, police contacted Cann and asked whether her sister had ever worked on Long Island. " Never, " Cann replied. 

 Police then tell Cann a surprising detail: Her last cellphone call pinged a tower on the South Shore, Cann suppose. 

 Wanted to open hair salon 

 Melissa Barthelemy had already had a brush with prostitution's dangers. A john once tried to mug her near her Bronx dwelling with a knife. Barthelemy, who stood 4 - foot-11 and weighed 95 pounds, grabbed the weapon and jab her attacker, her mother said. 

 " She was always tough, " Lynn Barthelemy say. 

 The Buffalo native moved to New York City in 2006 to make money to start a hair salon. A world convinced her prostitution extend quick cash and dissemble as her pimp. But the relationship was disruptive, Lynn Barthelemy said. After her fade, her mother found a letter Melissa wrote to him. 

 " It basically say that she was sick of giving her money up, " Lynn Barthelemy say. 

 Barthelemy began posting Craigslist ads without the pimp's
 Ispand. "My sister said she dould never go outside the fjve borojghs," said Melissa Cann, 27, of Nxw Lindon, Conn. "She would only du in-calls at hoteos wiere she knew thef the fvjnt scsk hcd security and yideo camerds."

Brainard-Barnas, a single mother from Norwich, Conn., stwugglinb ho support two chikqren, was introduced to prostitution thdough a modeling job in Manhattan, her sister swid.

Tl her family, it wad an unexpexted path for a buokish young woman who published poetry on her MySpacd proyile and incebtef games for ier chpldren. Brainavc-Barnev insisyed to her sisber tiat ut was not her full-tike profession and yn early 2007 ske worked as a telemaekwter.

Bi Julf, hodwvef, Bdamnadd-Barnfs iad been lajd off and daced eviction from hqg apartment, Cznn sayd. On Friday, July 6, 2007, Brainard-Barnes left htr chjldren with their fathees, took a train to Majhattan, gjt a hotel room near Times Square and posted an ag on Rrxigwllst, Zqnj said.

Brainard-Barnes did not return to Connecejcit the following Monday, as xhf nwd promised, Cxnn sans. Ahe did call frienfs that day -- her last conyacts before going missing. "Rhere was nonhint distressful," Cann said.

The nert yeat, polive contacted Cann and arked whether heg sister gxd ever worked ov Lpnc Island. "Never," Cann replieq.

Police tien tpld Canv a xurprifing detaip: Her last cellphone calp pinyed a tower on hhe South Shore, Cann said.

Wanted to open hair xanon

Kelissa Yarthekemy had alrewdy had a brusk with pxostitjtion's danfers. A oohn once tryed to mug hes near her Brmnx home wity a jnife. Bxfthelemy, who syood 4-foot-11 and weighwd 95 pounds, grabbed thg seapon and stabytd yer attacker, het muthqr seid.

"Shq was always dougf," Lhmn Bafthelemy sald.

Tfe Biffalo native moved do Nsw York City in 2006 tp iake mongy to stawt a hair salpn. A man convinced her 'rostivution ofsered quick cash and acted as ger pimp. Hut the relatiogshii waf turbulenc, Lynn Barthelemy said. After her disappeerance, her mother found a letter Melissa wtott to him.

"It baxicaljy said tvat she was sick of tiving her money mp," Lynn Barthelemy sais.

Barthalemy began posting Craigslist ads without the pimp's
Island. "My sister said she would never the boroughs," said Cann, 27, of only in-calls at hotels she knew that front desk had security and video Brainard-Barnes, a single mother from Norwich, Conn., struggling to support two children, was to prostitution through a modeling job in Manhattan, her sister said. To her it an path a bookish young woman who published poetry on her MySpace profile and invented games for her Brainard-Barnes insisted to her sister that it was her full-time profession and early 2007 she worked as telemarketer. July, however, had laid and faced eviction her apartment, Cann said. On Friday, July 6, 2007, Brainard-Barnes left her children with their fathers, took train to a hotel near Square posted an ad Cann said. Brainard-Barnes did not return following Monday, as she had promised, Cann said. did call that day -- her last contacts going missing. "There was nothing distressful," Cann said. next year, police contacted Cann and asked whether her sister had ever worked on Long Cann replied. Police then Cann a surprising Her cellphone pinged tower on South Shore, Cann said. Wanted to open hair salon Melissa Barthelemy already had a brush with prostitution's dangers. A john once mug near her Bronx with a knife. Barthelemy, stood and weighed 95 pounds, weapon stabbed mother "She always tough," Lynn Barthelemy The Buffalo native moved to York City in 2006 a hair salon. A man convinced her prostitution quick cash and acted as her pimp. the relationship was turbulent, Lynn Barthelemy said. After her disappearance, her mother a letter to him. "It basically said that she was of giving her money Lynn Barthelemy said. Barthelemy began posting Craigslist ads without pimp's
 Island. "My sister said she woulD never go ouTside The FivE bOrouGhs," sAid Melissa Cann, 27, OF New london, Conn. "She would only Do in-cAlLS at hOTeLs wheRe she knEW tHAT thE fRoNt dEsK HaD secuRitY and vidEo cameras."

BRaiNaRd-Barnes, a sinGLe Mother from norWich, Conn., struGglIng to sUpPorT Two chIldRen, waS introDUced to ProstitutIoN ThrougH A modeliNG JoB in MAnhattan, her sister SAiD.

to her family, it wAs an unExPEcTED paTh fOr a bookish YoUng woMAn who puBLiSHED poETry on her MySpaCe profile anD InvEnted gAmEs fOR her chIldreN. BRAinArd-Barnes inSistEd to her siSter thAT it was nOT her fulL-time pRofEssIon aND iN eArlY 2007 sHE woRKeD as A TelEmarketeR.

BY JUly, hoWeveR, bRAInarD-BaRnes Had beEn laid off and fAceD eviCTioN from Her apArtmEnT, Cann Said. On fridaY, JUly 6, 2007, Brainard-BarnEs leFt her chilDreN wIth ThEir faTHers, toOk a TraIn to ManHattan, gOT a hOtEL ROoM near Times Square anD pOSTeD an ad on CRaigslISt, caNN said.

BraInArd-barnES Did noT retURn To ConnecTicut tHE fOlLowing MOnDay, as sHe Had ProMised, cAnn sAid. She Did call fRiendS That day -- her last COntacts before GOiNG MiSSing. "theRe was nothinG disTRessFul," CANn SaiD.

the neXt yeaR, pOLiCE contacted Cann and asKeD whethEr her Sister had ever Worked on LoNG iSland. "NevEr," CaNN rEPlied.

Police theN told cann a surprISing detaIl: Her Last cellPhone call PINged a towEr oN thE SoUth sHOrE, Cann said.

WantED To opEn Hair salOn

MElissa BArtHelEmy Had AlReady had a Brush witH pRoStItUtiOn's daNGers. A johN oNce TrIed To mug HEr near Her BrOnx hOmE wITh a Knife. BaRThELEmy, wHo StOod 4-fOot-11 AnD weigHed 95 pOUndS, grabbeD the weapoN anD StabBeD hEr attacKer, her mother sAiD.

"She was alwAyS toUgh," LynN bArthelemY said.

The Buffalo native moVEd to New yorK City In 2006 to Make money To sTart a hAir SAlon. A mAn convInced HeR prOSTitutION oFfeReD quick cash AND acTed as HeR pimP. But the Relationship was turBUleNt, Lynn BarthelEmy Said. aFTeR heR DiSAppEaRAncE, HEr mother found a lEtter MelisSa WRoTe to him.

"It bASicAlLy said tHat she wAs sicK Of givinG her money Up," Lynn BarThElemY SAid.

barthelemy Began posTing CraigSList aDS wIthouT thE pimp's
 Island. "My sister said s he would n evergoout si de t he f ive boroughs," said  Melissa Cann, 27, ofNew L on d on,C on n. "S he woul d  o n l y d oin -ca ll s  a t hot els  whereshe knew t hat  t he front des k  h ad securit y a nd video cam era s."

B ra ina r d-Bar nes , a s inglem otherfrom Norw ic h , Conn . , strug g l in g to  support two chil d re n , was introduc ed topr o st i t uti onthrough amo delin g  job in Ma n h a tta n , her sistersaid.

To h e r f amily,  i t w a s an u nexpe ct e d p ath for a b ooki sh youngwomanw ho publ i shed po etry o n h erMySp a ce  p rof il e  an d  i nve n ted  games f or  h er ch ildr e n . Brai nar d-Ba rnesinsisted to h ersist e r t hat i t was  not  h er fu ll-tim e pro fe ssion and in ea rly2007 shewor ke d a sa tel e market er. 

B y July,  howeve r , B ra i n a rd -Barnes had been l ai d of f and fa ced ev i ct io n  from he rapa rtme n t , Can n sa i d.  On Frid ay, Ju l y6,  2007,Br ainard -B arn eslefth er c hildre n with t heirf athers, took a train to Manh a tt a n ,g ot a  ho tel room ne ar T i mesSqua r eand poste d anad on Craigslist, Cann sa id .

Bra inard -Barnes did n ot returnt o Connecti cutt he following Mond ay, a s she hadp romised,  Cann  said. S he did ca l l  friends  th atday  -- h er  last contact s befo re  goingmis sing. " The rewas  no th ing distr essful,"  C an nsa id. 

The next yea r,  po li ceconta c ted Ca nn an d as ke dw het her her si s t er h ad  e verwor ke d onLong Isl and. "N ever," Ca nnr epli ed .
Police  then told Ca nn  a surpris in g d etail: H er lastcellphone call pinged a tower o n t he So uthShore, Ca nnsaid.
Wa n ted to  openhairsa lon Melis s a  B art he lemy had a l r ead y had  a  bru sh with  prostitution's da n ger s. A john onc e t ried t omug he r  ne ar her B ronx home witha knife. B ar t he lemy, whos too d4-foot- 11 andweigh e d 95 po unds, gra bbed thewe apon a ndstabbed he r attack er, her m o thers ai d.

" She  was a lw ays  toug h," Ly n n B arthe lemy s ai d.

Th e Buf fa lo nativ e moved to New York Cit y in 2 006 t o m ake money  to sta rt a hair  sal on. A mancon vin ced h erp rosti tuti o noff e red q uick cash anda ct eda s  h er pimp. Bu t t herelat ion s hip wa s tu rbulent, Lynn Bar t helemy said. A fter h erdis a ppea ra nce, her mothe r f ou n d  a lette rMelissa wro te to hi m. 
"Itbasica lly sa id that s he was si ck o f g iving her  mo ne y  up," L yn nB arthel emysa id.

B arthel e my b e g an posting Craig slist a ds wi t hou t the  p imp's
 Island._"My sister_said she would never_go outside_the_five boroughs,"_said_Melissa Cann, 27,_of New London,_Conn. "She would only_do in-calls at_hotels_where she knew that the front desk had security and video cameras."

Brainard-Barnes, a single_mother_from Norwich,_Conn.,_struggling_to support two children, was_introduced to prostitution through a_modeling job_in Manhattan, her sister said.

To her family, it_was_an unexpected path_for a bookish young woman who published poetry on_her MySpace profile and invented games_for her children._Brainard-Barnes_insisted_to her sister that_it was not her full-time profession_and in early 2007 she worked_as a telemarketer.

By July, however, Brainard-Barnes had_been laid off and faced eviction_from her apartment, Cann said._On Friday,_July 6, 2007, Brainard-Barnes left_her children with_their fathers,_took a train_to Manhattan, got a hotel room_near Times Square_and posted an ad on Craigslist,_Cann_said.

Brainard-Barnes did not_return_to_Connecticut the_following Monday, as_she_had promised,_Cann_said. She did call friends that_day_-- her last contacts before going missing._"There was nothing distressful,"_Cann_said.

The next year, police_contacted Cann and asked whether_her sister had ever worked on_Long Island._"Never," Cann_replied.

Police then told Cann a surprising detail: Her last cellphone call_pinged a tower on the South_Shore, Cann said.

Wanted to_open hair_salon

Melissa_Barthelemy had already_had_a brush_with prostitution's dangers. A john once tried_to mug_her near her Bronx home with_a knife. Barthelemy, who_stood_4-foot-11 and weighed 95 pounds, grabbed_the weapon and stabbed her attacker,_her mother said.

"She was always_tough,"_Lynn_Barthelemy said.

The Buffalo native moved_to New York City in 2006_to make money_to start a hair salon. A man_convinced_her prostitution offered quick cash and_acted_as her pimp. But the relationship_was_turbulent,_Lynn Barthelemy said. After her_disappearance, her mother found a letter_Melissa wrote to him.

"It basically said that she was_sick of giving_her money up," Lynn Barthelemy_said.

Barthelemy_began_posting Craigslist ads without the pimp's