Source: island.com
By CATHY CARTER HARLEY
charley@beaufortgazette.com
843-706-8248
By CATHY CARTER HARLEY
charley@beaufortgazette.com
843-706-8248
Published Saturday, September 18, 2010
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lores was a drug-free teen who attended church and had a normal life. She lived with her parents and three older brothers in an upper-middle class neighborhood. What she didn't know at the time, was that she was being watched by a group of boys from her high school.
When she was 15, she accepted a ride home from a male friend whom she trusted. He drugged her soda, and she became unconscious. She was raped. The boy had others with him at the time and he took pictures of what happened.
"When I became conscious, they said I had to earn the pictures back or else," Flores said. "It is a very common technique guys use today. They spend a lot of time getting to know a girl, gain her trust, then drug her and blackmail her."
Flores was told she and her family would be killed if she didn't cooperate. For two years, Flores complied with the group's orders even though she still lived with her parents.
"My dad was gone all the time, and my mom was busy in clubs, groups and stuff," Flores said. "It looked like a good family on the outside, but there was not a whole lot of connection."
Finally after two years and with the help of law enforcement, Flores was able to break the bonds placed on her by what later was discovered to be an organized crime ring. Victims of human trafficking can be sexually exploited or forced into marriages, labor markets or domestic service, according to the humantrafficking.org project.
"I wouldn't be here today without God," Flores said. "I wouldn't be here today without him. It was a miracle I was able to escape. I am very lucky. Most girls don't escape it."
As for how she escaped? Flores said to read the book or come to her presentation.
Flores will give a free program open to the public from7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Hilton Head Island High School's Visual and Performing Arts Center, 70 Wilborn Road, Hilton Head. Due to the content, it is asked that no children younger than 13 attend the evening session.
"Almost every time I've talked there is at least one person who knows somebody it is happening to," Flores said. "There are so few homes for girls and women who have been trafficked."
Today, Flores is a 45-year-old mother of three and a licensed social worker with a master's degree in counseling. She is the author of "The Slave Across the Street: The true story of how an all-American teenager survived the world of human trafficking." Flores gives talks across the country to raise awareness on the subject. For the past 2 <00BD>years, she has worked toward opening group homes for young victims across the country.
While on Hilton Head Island, she will be discussing the possibility of a shelter in the Beaufort County area. Flores' visit is sponsored by the Lowcountry Coalition Against Human Trafficking, a nonprofit group formed earlier this year to raise local awareness of forms of modern-day slavery that occur throughout the United States. The coalition was ozed by the Hilton Head Island Zonta Club in collaboration with members of law enforcement, the legal community, social workers, victim assistance providers and health care professionals.
Copies of Theresa Flores' book, "The Slave Across the Street: The true story of how an all-American teenager survived the world of human trafficking," will be sold for $10 at the event, with a portion of money raised benefiting the Lowcountry Coalition Against Human Trafficking.
Flores will appear on the new Discovery Channel series "Hostage" in January. Her story is also the basis for a Lifetime movie, set to premiere in late 2011.
Details: 843-255-5911, jmgd@hargray.com
RED FLAGS OF TRAFFICKING
Theresa Flores said some commons signs that someone might be a victim of human trafficking include:
• Teenagers dating much older, abusive or controlling men
• Having large amounts of cash, jewelry and new clothes
• Recurrent sexually transmitted diseases and or need for pregnancy tests
• Signs of physical assault including branding, tattooing, broken bones, black eyes, marks on wrists, neck or ankles
• Having pagers or cell phones not paid for by parents or guardians
• Extreme weight loss
• Numerous school absences
Items for Harley's column should be sent at least two weeks in advance of event via fax to 843-706-3070 or e-mail to features@beaufortgazette.com.
When she was 15, she accepted a ride home from a male friend whom she trusted. He drugged her soda, and she became unconscious. She was raped. The boy had others with him at the time and he took pictures of what happened.
"When I became conscious, they said I had to earn the pictures back or else," Flores said. "It is a very common technique guys use today. They spend a lot of time getting to know a girl, gain her trust, then drug her and blackmail her."
Flores was told she and her family would be killed if she didn't cooperate. For two years, Flores complied with the group's orders even though she still lived with her parents.
"My dad was gone all the time, and my mom was busy in clubs, groups and stuff," Flores said. "It looked like a good family on the outside, but there was not a whole lot of connection."
Finally after two years and with the help of law enforcement, Flores was able to break the bonds placed on her by what later was discovered to be an organized crime ring. Victims of human trafficking can be sexually exploited or forced into marriages, labor markets or domestic service, according to the humantrafficking.org project.
"I wouldn't be here today without God," Flores said. "I wouldn't be here today without him. It was a miracle I was able to escape. I am very lucky. Most girls don't escape it."
As for how she escaped? Flores said to read the book or come to her presentation.
Flores will give a free program open to the public from7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Hilton Head Island High School's Visual and Performing Arts Center, 70 Wilborn Road, Hilton Head. Due to the content, it is asked that no children younger than 13 attend the evening session.
"Almost every time I've talked there is at least one person who knows somebody it is happening to," Flores said. "There are so few homes for girls and women who have been trafficked."
Today, Flores is a 45-year-old mother of three and a licensed social worker with a master's degree in counseling. She is the author of "The Slave Across the Street: The true story of how an all-American teenager survived the world of human trafficking." Flores gives talks across the country to raise awareness on the subject. For the past 2 <00BD>years, she has worked toward opening group homes for young victims across the country.
While on Hilton Head Island, she will be discussing the possibility of a shelter in the Beaufort County area. Flores' visit is sponsored by the Lowcountry Coalition Against Human Trafficking, a nonprofit group formed earlier this year to raise local awareness of forms of modern-day slavery that occur throughout the United States. The coalition was ozed by the Hilton Head Island Zonta Club in collaboration with members of law enforcement, the legal community, social workers, victim assistance providers and health care professionals.
MORE DETAILS
Theresa Flores will give a free presentation about human trafficking from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Hilton Head Island High School's Visual and Performing Arts Center, 70 Wilborn Road, Hilton Head.Copies of Theresa Flores' book, "The Slave Across the Street: The true story of how an all-American teenager survived the world of human trafficking," will be sold for $10 at the event, with a portion of money raised benefiting the Lowcountry Coalition Against Human Trafficking.
Flores will appear on the new Discovery Channel series "Hostage" in January. Her story is also the basis for a Lifetime movie, set to premiere in late 2011.
Details: 843-255-5911, jmgd@hargray.com
RED FLAGS OF TRAFFICKING
Theresa Flores said some commons signs that someone might be a victim of human trafficking include:
• Teenagers dating much older, abusive or controlling men
• Having large amounts of cash, jewelry and new clothes
• Recurrent sexually transmitted diseases and or need for pregnancy tests
• Signs of physical assault including branding, tattooing, broken bones, black eyes, marks on wrists, neck or ankles
• Having pagers or cell phones not paid for by parents or guardians
• Extreme weight loss
• Numerous school absences
Items for Harley's column should be sent at least two weeks in advance of event via fax to 843-706-3070 or e-mail to features@beaufortgazette.com.
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