Woman says she was molested by masseur at Troy chiropractic studio

Masseur charged with indecent conduct after woman says he molested her at Troy chiropractic studio

TROY, Mich. – A 35-year-old woman says what happened to her inside a Troy chiropractic studio was a nightmare and she will never get a massage again because of it.

The woman says a masseur molested her while she was getting a massage at the studio on Big Beaver Road. The owner of The Chiropractic Studio tells Local 4 the majority of the business done there is chiropractics. However, she said she did allow a freelance masseuse to take appointments at the studio. That is a decision she regrets since the customer's assault claim.

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The woman did not want to show her face on Local 4 or have her full name mentioned in this story, but she still wants her story to be heard.

She says it was 30-year-old Frank Royster, who has been charged with indecent conduct after her claims, who molested her while he was supposed to be giving her a massage.

"He put his hands over my breasts," she said. "He did repeat himself several times, 'I'm just massaging. I'm just massaging.' Kind of to talk me down, I guess."

She says she didn't know what to do, wondering if it was part of the massage or not.

"I wasn't sure. I don't get massages very often. Later that night, when I called my girlfriend, who gets massages, she said, 'Oh, absolutely not,'" she said.

That's when she went to police to file a report. They investigated Royster, interviewed him and then arrested him.

"I would hate for this to happen to anybody else," the woman said.

The studio told Local 4 they fired Royster immediately after the allegations were reported. However, the Local 4 Defenders found Royster is still working as a masseur at the Renaissance Chiropractic Studio in Royal Oak.

Dr. Steve Upchrcuh runs Renaissance. He said Royster still has a list of female clients at his clinic who he works on.

Royster is free on bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 20.


About the Author:

Karen Drew is the anchor of Local 4 News First at 4, weekdays at 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. She is also an award-winning investigative reporter.