Man accused of raping child bride

MILWAUKEE, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- A Hmong-American woman was essentially sold to a Milwaukee man when she was 12 and forced to endure multiple rapes, prosecutors allege.

The victim, whose identity was not released, alleges Thaying Lor, 42, raped her for three days in 1991 when she was only 12 and then took her as his wife despite her repeated requests to the contrary, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Friday.

The woman, now 31, contends her cultural beliefs forced her to stay with Lor or face bringing shame on her family by leaving him. Lor is charged with sexual assault and attempted assault.

Lor and the young girl were wed in a traditional Hmong ceremony after the alleged 1991 assaults and the couple went on to have six children together.

The victim alleges that prior to filing for divorce in 2007, she attempted suicide in 1997 and 2005.

The Journal Sentinel said the woman's mother, whose identity was also not released, maintains her family members used $3,000 Lor gave them to hold a celebration for the couple's Hmong wedding.

"I don't want anyone to think we sold our daughter," the victim's mother said. "We just wanted him to marry her and love her."