>> HER LIFE WOULD CHANGE FOREVER AFTER YEARS OF ABUSE
AND ONE GUNSHOT.
>> Kimberly: TONIGHT INTRODUCE
YOU TO JURISDICTIONS HOUSTON IS
A HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIM WAS
BRUTALLY ABUSED.
BRUTALLY ABUSED. AFTER 11 DAYS WAS RELEASED BACK
TO HER TRAFFICKERS.
>> IT WAS THEN SHE REALIZED
THERE WAS A CHOICE TO MAKE THAT
WOULD CHANGE EVERYTHING FOR HER
AND HER TRAFFICKERS.
HERE IS LOCAL 4 DEFENDER KAREN
DREW WITH HER STORY.
>> Reporter: JOE’S WAS IN A NO
WIN SITUATION IS A PRIOR
TRAFFICKER WOULD PUT HER IN A
SCENARIO THAT ALMOST GOT HER
KILLED.
KILLED. IN HER MIND IT DID NOT CHANGE
SOMETHING SHE WOULD BE DEAD
SOON.
SOON. SO SHE DID THE ONLY SHE THOUGHT
SHE COULD.
SHE COULD. >> Woman: I GOT A GUN BUT IT
BACK 2000 IN UPSTAIRS BATHROOM
HE DID NOT USE.
WAITED FOR OPPORTUNITY CAME
DOWNSTAIRS BUT WAS STRESSED OUT
ON THE SOFA.
I STOOD UP, LOOKED AT HIM, SHOT
HIM ONCE.
HIM ONCE. I SHOT HIM AND I STOOD THERE
AND WATCHED HIM DIE.
IT IS A BAD FEELING TO KNOW YOU
TOOK SOMEBODY ELSE’S LIFE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME I DO NOT
APOLOGIZE FOR LIVING.
SO WHEN IT WAS OVER THE JUDGE
SAID HE WOULD DIE IN PRISON.
AND SENTENCED ME TO ACTUAL
LIFE.
LIFE. THAT IS PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE.
MANDATORY LIFE SENTENCE.
SO I WENT TO PRISON.
THE PRISON MINISTRY CAME.
THERE WAS THIS LITTLE OLD LADY.
SHE WAS 85 BY 85-YEAR-OLD
LITTLE BLACK LADY.
SHE SAID HOW MUCH TIME ARE YOU
DOING?
DOING? AND I SAID I AM DOING ACTUAL
LIFE.
LIFE. SHE SAID NATURAL LIFE?
I SAID YES, M. THAT WOMAN
LOOKED AT ME AND SAID AS LONG
AS THERE IS BREATH IN YOUR BODY
THERE IS HOPE.
AND YOUR HOPE IS IN JESUS.
IT WAS NOT WHAT SHE SAID IT WAS
THE WAY SHE SAID IT.
WITH AUTHORITY AND SHE KNEW
WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
AND JUST LIKE THAT BOX WHEN I
DID NOT WANT TO STAY AT THE
CARNIVAL AT THE CHURCH SERVICE.
I WENT BACK TO MY ROOM.
AND I FELL DOWN ON MY FACE.
AND IN MY OWN SNOT AND MY OWN
TEARS I SAID GOD, IF I TYPE IN
THIS PRISON IS OKAY.
YOU JUST SAVED ME.
IF I DIE RIGHT HERE IT IS OKAY.
EVENTUALLY A JAILHOUSE LAWYER
FOUND IN ISSUE IN MY CASE.
I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK TO
COURT.
COURT. AFTER 17 YEARS AND 120 DAYS I
WENT BACK TO COURT.
AND I WAS FREED AFTER 17 YEARS.
AND BY THE WAY I WAS ONE OF
THREE WOMEN SELECTED TO BE IN
FRONT OF A PILOT PROGRAM FOR
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.
I AM JUST SO HAPPY TO SAY I AM
THE FIRST WOMAN TO GRADUATE
FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
WHILE BEHIND BARS.
GO BLUE.
GO BLUE. AND I WENT RIGHT INTO THE
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.
FINISHED MY MASTERS, EVERYTHING
ELSE IS HISTORY.
I AM NOT AFRAID NOW.
I AM NOT AFRAID TO BE PROUD OF
ME.
ME. I AM NOT AFRAID TO GIVE MYSELF
PERMISSION TO SAY CHOICE, GOOD
JOB, WELL DONE.
GOOD JOB, JOYCE.
>> Reporter: JOYCE IS A
CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER AND
THERAPIST BASED IN ROYAL OAK.
HER STORY IS SO DETAILED AND
YOU CAN SEE IT ALL ON OUR
WEBSITE ON CLICKONDETROIT.com
/STOP THE TRAFFICKING.
I AM KAREN DREW LOCAL 4
DEFENDERS.
DEFENDERS. >> Reporter: SHE HAS SUCH A
COMPELLING WAY OF TELLING HER
STORIES IT IS RIVETING.
>> Devin: IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE
WHO NEEDS A HELP CALL