Random Human Trafficking Survivors Tell Their Heartbreaking Stories (13 items)

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  (#1) Kendall Claims Her 'Owner' Told Her She Was ‘Made’ For Bondage

  One alleged survivor of the illegal sex trade, who calls herself “Kendall,” publicly announced that her parents only had her in order to sell her to an international trafficker. In March 2017, Kendall went on the Dr. Phil Show and shared her story. She maintains her life began with sexual abuse and that she was molested as a toddler, prior to developing verbal skills. 

  Kendall explained that the man, whom she refers to only as “the man who owned me,” said that she wasn’t allowed to use the word “trafficking.” Kendall, reportedly unsure of her own age, reiterated how the man told her she “was made for [sexual slavery], and trafficking is when girls who aren’t made for that get kidnapped or sold into it.”

  On the show, Kendall described her “clients” as powerful, rich men and women - from politicians, doctors, celebrities, and even law enforcement officials. 
   
• (#2) Mari Had 4 Children Over Her 16 Years Of Forced Prostitution

  Over the course of 16 years, “Mari” was in a relationship with “Darrell,” who fathered her four children. According to the Polaris Project, a non-profit organization that combats trafficking and operates a national hotline, Darrell was abusive in every way: verbally, physically, and sexually. 

  The survivor’s account maintains that Darrell forced Mari to have sex with other men for money. Darrell also recruited an 18-year-old named "Janice" to join his prostitution ring.

  Reportedly, a police officer pulled Darrell’s car over, and the two women were also in the vehicle. The officer noticed that the man had both Mari and Janice’s IDs in his wallet and asked to speak to each of the women privately. The officer realized that they were held against their will and connected the captives to the Polaris Project, leading to their rescue.
   
• (#3) Phalla’s Grandmother Sold Her Into Prostitution

  Until the age of 20, Phalla lived a relatively normal life in Cambodia. After her father died, with no one to support her family, she was forced to move in with her grandmother. According to Equality Now, a global network that advocates for gender equality and human rights, the grandmother sold Phalla to a brothel two months later. 

  The grandmother reportedly drove the girl to a brothel in the nearby city, Kampong Som, but Phalla was unaware of her grandmother's intentions. At the brothel, Phalla was locked in a room and assaulted several times a day. Her reality for the next several months included being sold from one brothel to another. 

  Then, she met a man who helped her back to her native Cambodia. It seemed like a new lease on life, but she was soon put to work in a karaoke bar, and her employers sold her to foreign tourists for days at a time. When she tried to leave, she was beaten. It took several more months before she was able to gain her captor’s confidence, escape, and turn herself over to authorities.
   
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  (#4) Sabine Went From Genocide Survivor To Human Trafficking Victim

  As the only surviving member of her family in the wake of the Rwandan genocide, “Sabine” was more than happy to accept an offer working for a wealthy American family. Upon her arrival in the US, the family held the girl captive and made her perfor forced labor. According to the Polaris Project, Sabine had neither a room nor a bed and slept on the floor. 

  It took six months before Sabine was allowed one hour off each Sunday to attend church services. While there, one of her fellow parishioners caught wind of her situation and helped her escape. At first, Sabine’s ordeal had left her traumatized. She was afraid to leave her new apartment or venture in the city alone.

  With the help of a devoted case manager, Sabine is reportedly now able to travel on her own and is learning English as she slowly works to rebuild her life.
   
• (#5) Loreta Was Forced Into Sex Work As A Teenager

  According to Equality Now, social workers removed Loreta and her 13 brothers and sisters from a negligent home environment. At a young age, she and her siblings were shipped off to Lithuanian state homes across the country, and she lost track of her family.

  Soon after she arrived at the state home, a man posing as her godfather visited Loreta. He began visiting her repeatedly. The other kids told her she was fortunate, and she initially agreed, until her “godfather” assaulted her at the age of 13. At 15, the state sent her to live with him.

  A young madam named Dana, posing as Loreta's sister, courted the 16-year-old. The 21-year-old befriended the teen with promises of fun before luring Loreta and her friends into a life of forced prostitution. For two years, Loreta lived with Dana before the madam sold her to a pimp in Ravenna, Italy.

  In Italy, she was forced to have sex with clients in the public restrooms within a 15-minute window. It wasn’t until she happened to have a client that spoke Lithuanian that Loreta dared beg for help. The john took Loreta and some of her friends to the Italian police. They helped get her some documentation and return back home.
   
• (#6) Cristopher Paid $5,000 Only To Be Sold Into Indentured Servitude

  "Cristopher" grew up in the Philippines but wanted to live and work in the United States. When a recruiter proposed an opening at a hotel in the Appalachians, Cristopher happily paid $5,000 for the opportunity to travel to the US and live his dream.

  According to the Polaris Project, Christopher quickly discovered that the job opportunity was a farce after he arrived. He was bused to a Gulf State against his will - a three-day journey without food or water. Once at his destination, he was forced to work 18-hour days cleaning hotels for a pittance.

  Concerned that the recruiter would retaliate against his family back in the Philippines for the initial debt, Christopher sought assistance from the non-profit.
   
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  (#7) After Being Arrested For Teenage Prostitution, Erica Was Never Once Asked If She Was In Trouble

  Forced into the world of prostitution at age 14, “Erica” says that human trafficking is shockingly common near the border. Erica maintains having had several interactions with police, but that officials never asked her if she was “a victim.” According to KTSM, the National Human Trafficking Hotline reported 2,000 calls from Texas in just the first three months of 2017.
  Erica adamantly describes trafficking as problem evident across the county, and not just in El Paso:

  You would never know how many guys are out picking up girls. Girls you might just see walking on the sidewalks, a 14-year-old girl can be out prostituting and you would not know that.

  These days, Erica is working to correct that institutional problem. She believes that if police were more sympathetic to certain “offenders,” authorities could shine a light on human trafficking in the Texas area.
   
• (#8) Natalia Wanted An American Education But Ended Up A Slave

  A family living in a remote Ghana village struggled to make the money needed to send their daughter “Natalia” to school. A New Jersey man offered to have Natalia educated in the United States, and her family agreed, happy to send her overseas for the opportunity.

  According to the Polaris Project, Natalia was imprisoned upon her arrival. Over the course of the next six years, she was repeatedly abused, both physically and sexually. She was forced to work 18-hour days cooking and cleaning for her “host” parents and their three children. Not only did the family not enroll Natalia in school, but they refused to even allow her outside.

  Natalia eventually escaped and exposed the goings on to a neighbor, who called the authorities. A month after connecting with Polaris, Natalia was finally able to attend school.
   
• (#9) Kevin Took A Job That Turned Him Into A Literal Slave

  When a man came to the door selling magazines, he was dismayed to find that “Kevin” was out of a job and suffering from financial troubles. He immediately offered Kevin a traveling sales job on the spot, promising a regular salary and a signing bonus.

  The signing bonus never showed up. On the job, the managers refused to pay any money to their people unless they met their allotted sales goals - and often compensated the staff with drugs. The team was forced to work grueling 16-hour days and pay the “company” for any hotel or gas costs they accrued. 

  According to the Polaris Project, the duped employees were worried about leaving because the management team - who all boasted about their arrest records - would assault them in retaliation. Kevin was coerced into not attempting to leave. His managers subsequently confiscated his ID. When Kevin ultimately failed to make enough sales, he was abandoned on the side of the road without documentation. Kevin contacted the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC), and they helped him put his life back together. 
   
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  (#10) Alma’s Brother Set Her Down The Path To Sex Trafficking Work

  In 1984, Alma left her hometown of Manila to move to Olongapo City because her brother offered to pay for her education. When she arrived, her brother confessed that he was simply hoping to use her to hook a “rich American” from the nearby military base who might help support Alma’s family.

  Alma refused and instead was forced to take a job as a waitress. According to Equality Now, the bar owner allowed US military and other visitors to pay a “bar-fine” in order to have sex with the establishment's waitresses. Alma was offended, but the bar owner threatened to fire her and withhold her documentation if she didn’t let the men sleep with her. 

  For fear that her children might go hungry, Alma agreed, taking her first step down a path of forced prostitution. She was in bondage for three years until she joined a support group and escaped.
• (#11) Natalie Found No Solace In A Legal Brothel

  When she was 20, Natalie moved to a large city in her native Southeast Asian country. She didn’t know anyone and ended up sleeping in a bus stop. An act of kindness from a stranger, however, allowed Natalie to get a job and a room in a hostel.

  According to Equality Now, one of the friends Natalie made at the hostel took her out to dinner with a stranger. At first, things were fine. Then the friend who’d brought her said he’d gotten a phone call and left the restaurant. When he didn’t come back, the stranger offered to let Natalie wait for her friend at a nearby hotel. The hotel turned out to be a brothel. Natalie had been sold into slavery.

  After a few months, Natalie managed to run away, taking a job in a legal brothel in Australia. There, she was told that she was in debt to the brothel for more than $6,000, arrears that just grew larger over time. She was allowed only three hours of sleep each night, and she wasn’t allowed to turn down any customers. She worked for seven more years until she was able to escape the industry. 
   
• (#12) Life With a Foster Family Led Keisha To Years As A Prostitute, Twice

  For the first 10 years of her life, “Keisha” was raised by her aunt. Then, she was placed in Florida’s foster program. When a member of her foster family began making unwanted advances, 14-year-old Keisha ran away, coming into contact with a man who identified himself as “Mastur D.” 

  According to the Polaris Project, the 26-year-old promised to get Keisha back to her family, but only if she agreed to have sex with other men to raise the money to make it happen. Keisha agreed but was unaware of the abuse he intended to inflict upon her. Mastur D began to beat her and force her to have sex with whomever he wanted.

  A few months later, she was arrested for prostitution. Upon Keisha’s release, she was placed back in the care of her original foster family. That situation led her, once again, to rely on Mastur D to help her return to her family. Then, she was arrested for prostitution a second time. While serving her juvenile sentence, Keisha contacted Polaris to help break the cycle of abuse. 
   
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  (#13) Lynette’s Impoverished Upbringing Was Used To Enslave Her

  “Lynette” grew up in a developing country. Although she managed to obtain an education, a large portion of her time was spent working in her home and looking after her younger siblings. When she finished school, Lynette took a job in Qatar in the hopes of sending money back home to her family. 

  Soon after her arrival, Lynette quickly accepted another job in the United States. The opportunity promised room and board, as well as enough money to help support her family. However, the American family immediately stole Lynette’s documentation, preventing her from leaving. 

  Lynette faced physical and emotional abuse, and the family denied her, as well as the other foreign workers, access to adequate food, sleep, clothing, and medical care. The captive workers, with the help of Lynette, escaped the home. The authorities contacted Polaris, which assisted Lynette in obtaining a legal teaching position in the US.
   

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