In the shadowy world of sex trafficking, pimps often use underage boys to lure younger girls.
In the shadowy world of sex trafficking, pimps often use underage boys to lure younger girls.
Emily’s parents were very protective. They even had parental controls on her phone and her computer. After all, she was only 14. Now she’d disappeared and they were frantic. What happened? Was she even alive?
Was there a boyfriend? No, Emily’s parents had insisted she was too young to date. Here’s what they didn’t know: Emily had a crush on a 16-year-old boy she met on Instagram and she snuck out of her house to meet him. As Emily got in the car she realized the boy’s older brother was driving and three older guys were in the back.
Emily’s parents filed a police report and the officers assumed this was just a brief runaway. However, one of Finding Kids’ private investigators recognized the signs that it might be more involved than that. The private investigator interviewed Emily’s friends, tracked down the “boyfriend,” and convinced him to bring Emily home right away. Emily was too scared and ashamed to tell the police and her parents the full story, however, because of our private investigator’s exceptional training and patience, Emily revealed to him that she had been raped and sold for sex.
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.