84-year-old woman who was abducted at Wind Creek is suing

Victim claimed security was negligent

The woman who was assaulted and kidnapped during a 2019 robbery at the Wind Creek Bethlehem is suing the casino for gross negligence in its security protocol.

Jean Hartranft and her husband, Richard, are plaintiffs in a suit filed this week in Northampton County Court. It names Wind Creek Bethlehem as a defendant for failing to stop the robbery and assault, offering only a “free dinner as a proposed remedy” for the ordeal.

Hykeem Sessoms pleaded guilty to the December 2019 incident, during which he struck the 84-year-old woman in the head and forced her into her vehicle to drive him from the scene as he continued to assault her and she pleaded for her life. Sessoms made off with $7 from Hartranft’s purse and was arrested by police a short time later.

He was sentenced last month to between 12 and 24 years in state prison for the crime.

The lawsuit alleges that if the casino had better security measures, the entire attack could have been prevented by security staff.

“Now over one year later, Mrs. Hartranft still lives in constant fear, rarely leaves her home and often has flashbacks of the attack,” the lawsuit states. “Her life and independence have been forever impacted by the events ... that were permitted to occur due to Wind Creek’s negligence and recklessness.”

The casino’s myriad security cameras and surveillance should have caught the incident unfolding in real time on Dec. 11, 2019, as Sessoms followed Hartranft through the casino floor and onto the elevator that leads to the attached parking garage, according to the lawsuit.

But no one intervened “despite clear indication that she was at risk of imminent harm by the perpetrator that had been following her.”

Hartranft screamed as she was being attacked, but her cries for help went unanswered by casino security staff, the lawsuit alleges.

Police reports describing the events following Sessom’s arrest did indicate that a Wind Creek employee heard the woman scream and yell, “I don’t have any money!” as she was attacked by a man. The worker went to notify staff, but the vehicle left the garage in the meantime.

Wind Creek would not comment on pending litigation, but spokesperson Julia Corwin said the casino “worked closely with local law enforcement throughout” the investigation into Hartranft’s assault.

Hartranft was treated for her injuries and underwent therapy for the traumatic experience. She was offered a “free dinner” by the casino, according to the civil suit.

The lawsuit alleges that Wind Creek should have been on notice about “deficiencies with its security and surveillance practices” since both it and the Sands Casino “had been subject to numerous violations and fines by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board for security lapses/violations including in the months leading up to” the incident.

The lawsuit seeks more than $50,000 in damages.