Latest news with #CSEC
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Yahoo
Girl left Milwaukee mental health facility, trafficked, family says
The Brief A 14-year-old Illinois girl went missing from a mental health center in Milwaukee. While the girl is now safe, her mother said she was trafficked. In a statement Lad Lake said it is a "treatment program—not a secure facility." MILWAUKEE - A 14-year-old Illinois girl went missing from a mental health center in Milwaukee. While the girl has been found and is safe, her mother told FOX6 News the healing and fight for justice are just beginning. What they're saying Virginia Attaway marched outside the Lad Lake St. Rose Campus – the very place her daughter vanished – to raise awareness and seek accountability on Saturday. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android "What happened to her while she was gone is something that no children should ever have to go through," she said. Attaway said her 14-year-old daughter was trafficked after she walked out of the inpatient mental health facility near 88th and Vienna. She also said there's a criminal investigation into the people who trafficked the girl. "We were day and night, spreading flyers, going to new stations," she said. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Attaway said it led to a tip last week from a man who said he saw her daughter. "My whole body was shaking from head to toe," she said. "How remarkable is it that we were able to find one child in a city with almost a half a million people in it?" Attaway said she's relieved to reunite with her daughter, but the fight for justice is far from over. "Now I'm concerned about any other child that comes to Lad Lake," she said. Dig deeper Attaway said her daughter isn't the only child who experienced this at the facility; she said there are others whose parents did not have the resources to come and look for their kids. "(Lad Lake) said sometimes they'll go chase them or follow them in a vehicle or something. Well, why wasn't that the case for our daughter?" said Stephen Pate, the 14-year-old's stepfather. The other side FOX6 News reached out to Lad Lake for comment. In a statement, the facility said: "At Lad Lake, our mission is to help young people overcome trauma and build safer, healthier futures. We specialize in working with girls who have experienced significant trauma, including trafficking and exploitation. Through programs supported by the CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children) grant, we offer specialized, trauma-informed care for youth impacted by sexual exploitation "Our approach is grounded in evidence-based practices and strengthened by the voices of survivor leaders, who help guide program development, staff training, and service delivery. Every aspect of our work is designed to uphold dignity, empowerment, and the lived experiences of survivors "Lad Lake is a treatment program—not a secure facility—where youth are supported in open, restorative environments intended to rebuild trust, foster resilience, and reclaim hope. We remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting survivors and working closely with families, law enforcement, and community partners to ensure every young person has the opportunity to heal, thrive, and live free from exploitation." The Source FOX6 News interviews the 14-year-old's parents and reached out to Lad Lake for comment on this report.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
Deputies rescue sex trafficking victims in San Joaquin County
( — Two sex trafficking victims including a minor were rescued and three people were arrested during an operation in San Joaquin County. On Jan. 29, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office and local agencies carried out an operation they said focused on combating human trafficking and protecting vulnerable victims. According to SJSO, the operation included five traffic stops, resulting in a total of three arrests. More than 2,500 grams of fentanyl seized in Northern California traffic stop Among the arrestees were individuals facing a range of charges, including felony kidnapping, felony evading, felony robbery, and misdemeanor disorderly conduct related to prostitution. Notably, two victims were recovered during the operation—one adult and one juvenile, according to SJSO. 'A key moment of the operation involved the recovery of a 17-year-old juvenile victim, who had been missing from her placement in Southern California,' SJSO said on social media. 'The victim, who had been exploited as part of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), was spotted jumping from a moving vehicle at a truck stop near Charter Way and Navy Drive in Stockton around 9:50 p.m.' Woman pleads guilty as accessory in 2021 North Lake Tahoe murder case SJSO said law enforcement quickly responded with the help of an air unit that tracked the suspect vehicle. The pursuit lasted about nine miles and led to the arrest of Carl Price, 30, who now faces multiple charges, including felony kidnapping and felony evading. Both victims were interviewed during the operation, and victim services were offered. The juvenile victim reportedly accepted the services, ensuring her safety and providing support for her recovery. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
