Traffickers even go after kids in rehab
We received the following email through our website in April: “I believe my 14-year-old daughter is involved with an online predator, and worse, a possible trafficker. I’ve taken the case to ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) and was assigned to a local detective. It feels like they are not taking the case seriously enough. I would appreciate speaking about this with someone on your team.”
Our investigators interviewed the mother and learned this case involves a domestic dispute. According to the mother, the father is emotionally and physically abusive and both daughters are in counseling. Court records and law enforcement confirmed that Mom is not exaggerating about Dad’s inappropriateness. Isabelle was recently moved to a treatment facility for an eating disorder as well as an anxiety disorder and has been so traumatized that a forensic exam needed to be postponed (a counselor suspects sexual abuse.) Our investigators obtained Isabelle’s phone and can confirm that somebody is sending her pornography while she is in rehab. The suspect has been sexting and grooming her in Instant Messages. Furthermore, our team met with the mother after the facility received packages in padded envelopes for her daughter. They opened the packages in such a way as to preserve evidence and checked the packages for drugs. The packages included a teddy bear and a love note from a man in Georgia. Our team responded immediately when the suspect reportedly showed up at the treatment facility.
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.