KANSAS CITY, Mo. — She found Balanced Life Massage and Wellness the way a lot of people do these days, through a recommendation from a friend. She is a 39-year-old woman, who 41 Action News is not identifying because of what she said happened at the spa on Dec. 1, 2020.
The business has a five-star rating on Google. Dozens of reviews proclaim how wonderful a man who goes by the name "Andy," is. Only, that wasn't this woman's experience.
She told Olathe police he "was just in extremely inappropriate places, touching and then, you know, when it was time to turn over, he did give me the dignity to at least have the sheet over as I turned over like a normal massage, but then it was off for the rest of the massage."
According to the woman, she was completely exposed.
Kulavudhi Kasemvudhi, also known as Andy, is the man she said massaged her butt, between her legs and squeezed her breasts during her massage appointment.
"I've gotten myself out of some pretty scary situations," she said, "but nothing has compared to this. And I always thought I would be the person that would fight. But I've since learned that what I did was freeze, and I've learned that that is common. Unfortunately, it's common, so that's what I did was just kind of froze."
Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said those kind of situations are scary "because victims really put themselves in very vulnerable situations when they're being given a massage."
Six other women have come forward since she first reported her encounter, alleging similar experiences at the spa.
Kasemvudhi has been charged with one count of sexual battery and his license to operate at Balanced Life Massage and Wellness is suspended.
Howe said the trauma of an experience like this sticks with survivors.
"It's not something that you just snap your fingers and it goes away," Howe said, "but it's something that stays with you for a long period of time."
The Johnson County District Attorney's Office is asking anyone else who endured a similar experience at Balanced Life Massage and Wellness or anywhere else to call the Olathe Police Department at 913-971-7500 or his office at 913-715-3000.
For the woman who told her story to 41 Action News, this is about taking a stand.
"I personally have nothing to gain except for the satisfaction that I'm hopefully helping many others," she said. "Because it's not just coming forward, that's not where it stops, then you have to get the help that you need."
She said she hopes her resilience is remembered.
"I do not want to be labeled as a victim," she said. "Definitely, it would be an overcomer."
Kasemvudhi and his attorney declined a 41 Action News request for comment on this case. He is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 22 in Johnson County District Court.
