3 charged with human trafficking in connection to North Texas 18-year-old's death
COLLIN COUNTY, Texas - The Collin County District Attorney’s Office charged three people in connection to the human trafficking and death of an 18-year-old.
Julia Wells was killed when prosecutors say she was lured into a prostitution trap and then pushed from a moving car on the Dallas North Tollway. Her death led to a new Texas law.
This is the first time Collin County authorities are prosecuting human trafficking resulting in death, a first-degree felony.
Julia’s mother says she was notified Tuesday that all three suspects had been arrested in three different cities in North Texas.
Mark Dailey, 51, of Plano, Nikki Jordan, 48, of Fort Worth and Anna Hudson, 42, of Mabank were arrested earlier this month in connection to human trafficking charges.
Dailey was charged with trafficking resulting in death, trafficking and compelling prostitution. Jordan faces trafficking and compelling prostitution charges. Hudson was charged with trafficking
It’s a moment that’s been six years in the making for Mary Wells, Julia’s mother.
"It was so much relief. So much relief. We have waited a long time. For a long time," she said. "I just don’t understand how people can do it. I don’t."
Back in May 2018, state troopers say Julia was pushed out of a vehicle on the DNT. That vehicle was registered to a known human trafficker out of Collin County.
Mary says Julia had autism and was trusting. Julia was 18 and lived with her boyfriend in Cleburne.
The last thing Mary heard from her daughter was that she was going to a friend’s house in Dallas.
"From what I was told, she brought her in, made her feel safe and comfortable and then sold her," she said.
Mary was later told by investigators Julia’s friend was 42-year-old Anna Hudson. Six years later, she is still unsure how the two met.
The indictments say Hudson, Jordan and Dailey were all involved in the trafficking of young women, including Julia.
In 2021, House Bill 985, also known as the Julia Eells Act, went into effect. It requires driver’s education to include human trafficking prevention.
Mary is also president of the board of the non-profit Breaking the Chains of Human Trafficking.
"Our biggest thing is that we want to make sure that Julia has justice," she said. "She didn’t deserve what she got. She didn’t deserve any of it."
Collin County's District Attorney Greg Willis says he is hopeful that "this will serve as the first step in seeking justice for Julia in a court of law."
Authorities didn’t say how they tracked down the three suspects. However, they knew the vehicle Julia was last in.
The Texas Rangers, the AG’s office and Dallas police detectives were all involved.