Latest news with #LindseyRayl
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Human Trafficking Conference inspires community action, education, and awareness
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — The South-Central U.S. Human trafficking Conference brought a sense of awareness. It was a free event with sessions on recognizing the signs of human trafficking, reporting suspicious activity, supporting survivors, and understanding the complex trauma. Human trafficking has no demographic, as many traffickers look for vulnerable citizens. 'It's not age, race, or even gender specific. My daughter is 17, and so that does hit home for me as well, because that's something I always look at. Because there are so many social media platforms now, and you don't know who they are talking to,' said Brandy Foshee, a judge's assistant at the Caddo Parish Juvenile Court. With social media, people can be groomed over the course of years before they are trafficked. Lindsey Rayl, a human trafficking advocate, shared her personal story of being trafficked at 15 years old. Additionally, the conference moderators were individuals who work directly with agencies combating human trafficking. Watch: Human Trafficking in Our Community 'We see that there are the social workers, there are the attorneys, there are multiple people doing multiple things, including the survivors, and so when we all come together, it's a big piece of the puzzle that creates a community for not only addressing the issue, but moving forward to make strides,' said Helen Marrs, assistant district attorney at the Caddo Parish District Attorney's Office. The mission of the Free Coalition to End Human Trafficking is to rescue victims and empower them to live full, meaningful lives beyond their trauma. The coalition says having knowledge of the risks, as well as open and honest communication with loved ones and children, can prevent the inhumanity that is human trafficking. Heather Courtney, president of the Free Coalition to End Human Trafficking Board of Directors, said, 'Being aware of who your loved ones are with, who they are around, what they are doing, you know, video games. Everybody's kids play video games, but I think like the chat features on these video games, it's terrifying. The access people have to your children, so I think being vigilant about who has access to your children. Being aware of what they're looking at, what they're playing.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Human Trafficking: U.S. Attorney's Office says it's closer than you think
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — While many associate human trafficking with major cities like New York or Los Angeles, federal prosecutors say the crime is often rooted in smaller, rural communities — including right here in Louisiana. Survivor Lindsey Rayl shares story of human trafficking 'There's this notion that human trafficking only occurs in big metropolises,' said Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell. 'But a lot of the small rural venues are where trafficking can take place, especially if there's an interstate corridor nearby with lots of hotels. That's where traffickers often set up.' Campbell says the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana focuses on prosecution, prevention, and protecting victims. Their primary tool for prosecuting traffickers is U.S. Code Section 1591, though other laws — including the Mann Act and child pornography statutes — are used as well. But securing a conviction is only part of the process. Campbell says gaining the trust of a victim is often the most critical and difficult step. Tips for parents to protect children from human trafficking 'These survivors are going through trauma,' he explained. 'They're in recovery, and then we ask them to testify in court. That's why we need more than just law enforcement. We need people victims feel safe talking to.' Support often comes from advocacy groups like Purchase, the YWCA, and local organizations that provide shelter, medical care, counseling, and job placement. A victim witness specialist helps coordinate these services and build a bridge between survivors and the justice system. 'We will prosecute vigorously and investigate aggressively,' Campbell said. 'But we also want to make sure victims get what they need to move forward.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Survivor Lindsey Rayl shares story of human trafficking
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – During the South Central U.S. Human Trafficking Conference, Lindsey Rayl, a human trafficking survivor and now advocate, shared her story. At 15, Lindsey Rayl traveled from Dallas, Texas, to San Bernardino, California, to meet a boy who groomed her through a forum. Tips for parents to protect children from human trafficking Rayl says she grew up in a nice area. She made straight A's, never got in trouble, and always followed her parents' rules. She says her parents were always aware of what she was doing, but she received a new computer without parental control or tracking. 'One day, I got on something called (which has since been closed), and it was a forum, and I met somebody named Johnny. And for a year, he groomed me into believing that I was unlovable, that my friends and my family were against me, and so when the time came that I had a big enough disagreement with my parents, I left,' says Rayl. When she arrived, she was kept in the truck of a car and experienced sexual abuse for three days. Meanwhile, Rayl's parents were able to afford a private investigator, Logan Clark, from California, who would cost $15,000 to find their daughter. CPSO juvenile detective shares complexities of fighting human trafficking 'Typically, you've got about 48 hours. I was very fortunate; I got to a third day. They got me before noon on a third day, but typically you've got about 48 hours to assist, so I got lucky,' says Rayl. In a previous telling of her story, Rayl says if she had not been found, emails revealed that she was going to be sent to a facility in Guadalajara, Mexico, and hooked on heroin. This way, if she ever wanted to leave her captor, she would go into withdrawal. Rayl details that in the aftermath of her experience, she was treated like a 'bad kid' rather than a victim who was taken and put in a situation she had no control over. Her story highlights that bad people exist who wish to hurt innocent lives, and it is important to be aware of the signs. 'Educate kids on the dangers and kind of signs to look out for. Things that people should never say to a child and letting them know that hey, if somebody says this to you or this to you, you need to come tell me, even if they say not to tell me,' said Rayl. Today, Rayl is on her city council, and she is working with Logan Clarke, the private investigator who saved her life. Louisiana conference tackles human trafficking prevention 'I'm getting my P.I. and I'm going to be able to hopefully one day start helping victims like myself, to get out of those situations and be someone hopefully that can come into that with the understanding of how to interact with someone like that,' said Rayl. Rayl advises that when talking to victims or survivors of human trafficking, be a listening ear and read the room. Ask the person what you can do for them or what do they need. 'Every trafficking experience is different, and how it impacts every human is different. And so just bringing awareness to the fact that he,y if you're only looking in one area for people that have been through this, then you're doing the wrong thing. Because it's all over the place and it looks different almost every time,' said Rayl. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
