Jane Doe #9

“Survivors need to see strength and perseverance . . . and Lizzette models just that.” —Melissa Schuman, actress and singer

In January of 1995, seventeen-year-old Lizzette Martinez met Grammy–winning musician and record producer R. Kelly at Aventura Mall in Florida where he was performing. At first, it seemed that her hopes of becoming a professional singer were about to come true when he offered to help boost her career. However, this mentorship quickly turned into sexual grooming, leading to years of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.

After struggling to free herself of the relationship and rebuild on her own, Lizzette’s successful new life, far away from the entertainment industry, was interrupted in 2017 by allegations against R. Kelly by other women. This led her to coming forward to the authorities with her own history of abuse by the music icon.

In January 2019, she participated with other survivors in a documentary series with Lifetime called “Surviving R. Kelly.” It should have been a healing experience but instead left them feeling abandoned and fearful for their lives.

In August 2021, Kelly went on trial in New York on racketeering and sex trafficking charges and was found guilty of all charges.

In JANE DOE #9, readers get a no-holds-barred look at Martinez’s relationship with Kelly, her efforts to break free and pursue her dreams, and courage to take on her abuser and seek justice.

“Lizzette Martinez . . . is an inspiration.” —Jim DeRogatis, music critic, journalist, and author of Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly