Sara’s Story

One of the most common misconceptions about human trafficking is that people are often trafficked by strangers. Because trafficking can be heavily reliant on simulated trust between the trafficker and their victim, it's often perpetrated by people who are close to the victim.

For 21-year-old Sara, a college student in Southwest Florida, it was her boyfriend. They met through mutual friends and at first, he seemed perfect. He was attentive, sweet, and romantic.  He even learned her class schedule and would pop into her job at the mall to say hi. Until one day, he mentioned that a friend of his was looking for models. He pushed her to take the modeling job, and eventually she gave in. So, he drove Sara to a hotel, told her where to go, and told her he'd wait outside. That night, she was sexually assaulted. She was eventually able to get help from the Shelter for Abused Women and Children in Florida.

Click here to read more about her story and how trafficking is handled in Florida.