Women arrested in Lake Mary undercover prostitution sting

LAKE MARY, Fla. — Channel 9 has learned four women were arrested in a prostitution sting at the La Quinta Hotel in Lake Mary.

Authorities said Jessica Steele, Jackie Turner, Rebekah Zapatier and Stephanie Braedyn were arrested after offering sex for hundreds of dollars at the hotel, which sits off Interstate 4.

"It's not one of those things you connect Lake Mary with," said resident Kathleen Dulac.

Channel 9 was able to trace the women to ads on websites Backpage.com and BodyRubList.com, asking for upscale men to contact them. Instead, undercover deputies met the woman at the hotel, where they allegedly agreed to perform sex acts for hundreds of dollars.

Authorities said none of the women live in Lake Mary, but residents said it's disturbing that they were bringing that kind of business to the area.

"We don't have a transient base," said Dulac. "We have a local base here, so I am very, very surprised that they would be that outreached to Lake Mary."

Other residents worry if the women were so easily persuaded to travel to the hotel, more illegal activity could be happening in other parts of the typically quiet city.

The arrests were the latest in a number of recent arrests in Seminole County related to prostitution, authorities said. Investigators told Channel 9 the problem is growing.

WFTV