Apple Valley Woman Convicted of 1998 Murder Charged in Burnsville Prostitution Sting

An Apple Valley woman who was convicted in 1998 of murdering her 3-year-old daughter was one of three people charged last week in a prostitution sting in Burnsville.

Tysann Yvette Celestain, 45, of Apple Valley is charged with two counts of prostitution as a result of a March sting by the Burnsville Police Department.

The other two women charged with two counts of prostitution as a result of the Burnsville sting operation in March are Tayana Marshay Hudson, 22, of Plymouth, and Cymbre Nicole Ford, 23, of Richfield.

According to the complaints, filed in Dakota County District Court in Hastings, the arrests took place at separate times on the evening of March 23 at a hotel in Burnsville.

Burnsville police set up the sting by responding to ads on Eros.com, which bills itself as offering “all things erotic,” and backpage.com, a website similar to Craigslist that features an adult category.

The complaint against Celestain says an officer responded to her ad on Eros.com and made arrangements to meet Celestain in a room at the hotel in a specified room for an hour of “outcall,” which, according to the complaint, is a term commonly used by prostitutes to refer to traveling to a client’s location.

The ad, placed by “Tonya,” said no area would be left “untouched” and that “the light, intimate strokes will build to a crescendo of ecstasy,” according to the complaint against Celestain.

Celestain allegedly told the officer when they met that her rate for an hour was $120, the complaint says. The officer told her that he was willing to pay between $200 and $250, then said he wanted to use the bathroom. The arrest team entered the room and arrested Celestain.

Celestain was convicted of second-degree intentional murder in 1998 after she admitted giving her daughter, Jaylyn, a sleeping pill, then smothering her with a pillow and holding a plastic bag over the child’s head. She was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Celestain, who lived in Burnsville at the time, told authorities that she intended to kill herself, but didn’t want to leave her daughter motherless. Authorities found her in her garage with her wrists cut after they found the child’s body.

The complaint in the March prostitution case against Hudson says a Burnsville police officer assigned to the street crimes unit responded to an ad on backpage.com placed by “Tiffany,” which read: “Why not treat yourself 2 simply the best. I’m young, active and attractive. I’m the hottest girlie on here – I’ll do anything – I’m adventurous and I love trying new things. I specialize in fetishes, very open and ready.”

Hudson  Hudson told the officer that her rate was $250 an hour; the officer told her he had only $220, and she said she would accept that amount, the complaint says.

When Hudson arrived, the officer allegedly asked her for oral sex, and asked if she preferred to use her condoms or his, according to the complaint. The officer put $220 in cash on the bed and told Hudson he wanted to use the bathroom, at which point the arrest team came in and arrested Hudson.

Hudson allegedly told police it was her first time posting on backpage.com, and she posted the ad because she was being evicted from her apartment and needed the money to pay back rent.

In Ford’s case, according to court documents, the undercover officer responded to an ad on backpage.com placed by “Sophie,” which read, “Dangerously addicting brunette. I aim to please you in every way. I’m 5-foot-5 and 137 pounds with nice curves for you to hold.”

The officer made arrangements by telephone for Ford to meet him at the hotel after agreeing to a price of $180 an hour, the complaint says. The two allegedly discussed payment and condom use before the officer said he wanted to use the bathroom, and the arrest team entered and arrested Ford.

According to the complaint, Ford told police that she had previously been arrested for prostitution in Burnsville and that she offered only “escort” services because she is a “nympho.” Her criminal record showed a previous arrest and an active warrant for prostitution in Dakota County.