((ANIMATION W/ GFX, CAPTIONS, PHOTOS))
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children estimates 1 in 6 endangered runaways reported to them were likely sex trafficking victims (2016 figures)
((PKG)) SEX TRAFFICKING / VICTIMS
((Banner: Moving Forward))
((Reporter: Carolyn Presutti))
((Camera: Mike Burke, Arash Arabasadi))
((Adapted by: Martin Secrest))
((Map: United States / Virginia))
((NATS))
((Banner: “Amy’s” daughter was sex trafficked at age 14 by a gang))
((AMY, KATE'S MOTHER))
The indicators that I first started to notice in “Kate”, her moods begin to change, and we went from this picture-perfect family to a daughter who resented us. She would distance herself from us as much as possible.
((Banner: “Kate” began, at age 14, a relationship with a 21 year-old male attending her school))
((KATE, SEX TRAFFICKED VICTIM))
So, we started talking. Months and months passed by. I started sneaking out to parties with him, and he would introduce me to a lot of his male friends, and I started getting, like, red flags. And again, I wasn’t aware but I was literally walking into sex trafficking. I was at the gates of it and had no idea that sex trafficking even existed.
((AMY, KATE'S MOTHER))
I got a call one early February morning, and it was this boy. He called to tell me that Kate was in trouble. And I said, “What are you talking about? She’s upstairs sleeping.” And he said, “No, she’s not. She’s at a party and she’s drunk and she’s high and she needs your help.”
((KATE, SEX TRAFFICKED VICTIM))
I was with all these old men. All I saw was they thought I was pretty. They thought I was cute. They gave me attention. I started drinking. I was under the influence by many drugs, and I was sex trafficked that night. I remember blacking out. After a couple days of running around with them, and just honestly feeling like I would never be found, I was stuck in that lifestyle. All I wanted to do was self-medicate. I didn’t want to feel anything. I didn’t want to remember anything. So, I would use and use until I would forget about what happened. And I lost faith in my family. And this was just the second day of being gone. I didn’t think they would find me. I didn’t think anyone would find me. Who would look for me?
((AMY, KATE'S MOTHER))
And when she went missing, I knew deep down inside that she needed me to find her and I was going to find her.
((KATE, SEX TRAFFICKED VICTIM))
When I was found, I was in the process of being sent to a whole other area, a whole other state. I remember almost getting into the car and then seeing blue lights, and squad cars. I remember seeing my mom again. I went to another hospital in Richmond. While I was there, I, of course, met my detective, and he helped me through a lot, that what I went through did matter and then I started realizing, oh, this is what I went through. This is what this is called.
((CAROLYN PRESUTTI, VOA NEWS))
So, what’s your message to parents? How can they protect their daughters and sons?
((AMY, KATE'S MOTHER))
I think the first step is understanding that human trafficking is a real problem here in the United States. That it’s not something that’s going to go away, and, you know, the age range for children is anywhere from nine to 19, with the average age of being 11. These captors will use the children, will groom them for six, eight, ten months at a time. And if they have the resources to groom these children, then we should have the funds and resources to help combat it.
