23 is code for underage
It was every mother’s worst nightmare……
Michelle, a single mother, woke up early and was getting ready for work when she realized her 15-year-old daughter, Julia, was gone. She called the local police department, frantic. They came to her house and took a report, but believed that Julia had runaway and classified her as such. In the eyes of law enforcement, children classified as “runaways” are a lower priority than children classified as “abductions.” There is no Amber Alert for them, patrol officers are simply advised to stay on the look out for children like Julia.
Finding Kids began our boots-on-the-ground investigation. We interviewed Julia’s mother, her friends, and we searched social media. Our team found Julia being sold for sex on trafficking websites. She was being advertised as being “23” which is a code word for “underage.”
Normally, with this type of evidence, law enforcement would conduct a rescue within 48 hours. Unfortunately, because of budget cuts, it took 2 weeks for the police department to elevate Julia’s case to the Violent Crimes Unit. And, even then, repeated calls to the Violent Crimes Unit by both our team and the family went directly to voicemail, which was heart wrenching to the family.
Finding Kids called on its network of federal agents who planned a ruse to buy Julia online from the traffickers. The plan worked. Julia is home safely and the traffickers have been targeted for arrest. We are in touch with the family and continue to monitor and support Julia’s journey to restoration and well being.
Finding Kids hires undercover private investigators to rescue vulnerable runaways who are most at risk of being exploited into trafficking and drugs. To date, Finding Kids helped recover over 290 missing youth between the ages of 11 and 17 across Northern California and Northern Nevada. We have partnered with more than 80 law enforcement agencies and contributed to the arrest of over 50 traffickers.
Join Finding Kids and let’s stop the exploitation of children together.
Today, predators can reach vulnerable children through phones, social media, gaming platforms, and the internet, often before families realize something is wrong. Finding Kids responds through three core programs: Recover. Care. Target. We help locate missing and exploited children, support families during and after recovery, and work with law enforcement to identify and disrupt those who exploit youth. Our work continues after a child is found because recovery is only the beginning. By combining investigations, aftercare, and prevention, we help children return safely to their homes, schools, and communities while building a future where every vulnerable child receives help before crisis becomes exploitation. We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and 100% of your tax-deductible donation goes directly towards keeping kids safe. We cannot do this work without your support.
*Names has been changed to protect the victim’s identity.