>> Rachel Sabella was found and was reunited with her family.
was reunited with her family.
Deputies tell us that she is
safe.
>> Human trafficking occurs in
every corner of Houston.
Really no neighborhood is
immune.
>> And during our midday show,
Zac lashway showed us how to
identify human trafficking and
how to stop it. Now he’s going
to introduce us to a woman who was trafficked when she was
was trafficked when she was
just 10 years old. Here’s Zach
with the rest of her story.
When I was 10 years old.
>> In the safety of her home,
Rhonda Kirk and all reflects on
the most painful part of her life. I was visiting my dad at
life. I was visiting my dad at
an apartment complex and I was
down at the apartment pulled
by myself.
>> A man came up to me and
asked me if I wanted to be a
model. And I just remember
thinking how glamorous that
would be. And so, of course,
the said yes. >> No questions asked. He would
>> No questions asked. He would
first drive to Fort Bend County
and pick me up and take me into
Houston and then eventually I
would be flown from
Intercontinental Airport out to
love it. It’s part of an airplane ticket. I think it’s
airplane ticket. I think it’s
actually luggage that was used
when I was flown back in 81
that be picked up on a Friday
by Monday morning. Rondo was
back in her seat at school.
I mean, I came home and I told
no one. Did your parents ever ask about these photos? These
ask about these photos? These
modeling shoots now, did you
ever get to model? No, it was a
front for a child. Pornography
ring is what it was.
>> During those weekend trips, Rondo was sexually assaulted.
Rondo was sexually assaulted.
>> I stayed silent for about
24 years. When I decided to
come out and speak, I found
that I was past the statute of
limitations and that I couldn’t
press charges.
>> Rhonda says the man who
trafficked her now free was
eventually convicted in 3
states, including Texas. Rondo worked tirelessly to
Rondo worked tirelessly to
abolish the statue of
limitations on child sexual
assault, a law which took
effect in Texas in 2007, but
her work continues today.
We know with the social media, the Internet.
the Internet.
>> Now anyone is susceptible
to trafficking and the way that
traffickers use social media as they may throw out a net of
they may throw out a net of
300 messages want someone male
or female adult or child
response. That’s the first
step. You know, you fall into a
trap of you. Love them. They’re
your best friend or, you know, they’re going to help you
they’re going to help you
become a model. And so there
are so many different tactics
that traffickers use.
>> Renewing dependency.
>> While perpetrators don’t let go caring citizens don’t
let go caring citizens don’t
give out.
>> Heard about human
trafficking and what was
happening section or into
businesses right near my house.
>> Kristin EU lives in North
Harris County. She visits people working at businesses
people working at businesses
that are often fronts for
trafficking. I thought, well,
what I have in my hand on the
baker, I have cookies. I
started giving cookies away.
Everybody gets cookies and a
little love notes and they get
a hotline number. If they need
emergency help through this
work.
>> Edi found the Arc Bakery and Cafe a nonprofit that
and Cafe a nonprofit that
raises funds and awareness for
anti-human
trafficking initiatives.
To date the effort bakes and
delivers more than 700 cookies
a month to sexual oriented businesses throughout Houston,
businesses throughout Houston,
its missions like these.
That means so much to survivors
and victims who are not yet
free. I can tell you that the
trauma of trafficking is
devastating.
>> But it was the silence that killed me.
killed me.
♪
>> For adults who are
trafficked often their
perpetrator is a loved one, a
significant other. Maybe
someone they feel indebted to,
according to city and county
leaders last year, more than
100 people were charged with
human trafficking in Harris
County.
>> Unbound now, Houston says
it’s helped more than 300
survivors. Now, keep in mind,
though, this is one
organization in one county
doing this where you think to
to the woman’s story who you
brought us just now. And it’s
it’s easy to say while that was
1981, that could never happen
again. But
>> a child sitting alone in an
apartment pool very easily
could happen. Today goes
upstairs, had got a model in
job. Parents are busy. Sure
have it could totally happened
today.