Editor’s note: The name of the victim has been changed to ensure her safety.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Kelly Owens is breaking her silence on her harrowing experience with human trafficking.
Owens told 10 On Your Side exclusively that the exploitation was done by her own family. Now in her thirties, she recalled it starting when she was 8-years-old.
“I was targeted for commercial sexual exploitation as a child.” she said. “Both myself and my older sister experienced labor trafficking as well. I was trafficked first by the man that was dating my mom. And later, my mom became involved in the trafficking.”
It’s what’s identified as familial trafficking, a type of exploitation making up 36% of human trafficking cases in the United States. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares said family-led trafficking is on the rise in the Commonwealth.
“The exploitation is simply horrific,” Miyares said. “It shows you how hideous the cycle of addiction can be, where somebody that’s in the throes of addictions are willing to traffic their own child or own sister or loved one to feed their addiction. So tragically, we have seen families exploit and traffic their own loved ones with tragic consequences as a result.”
Parallel to Owens’ experience, a recent study revealed that more than 60% of the traffickers were mothers, helped by a non-relative trafficker.
“I was working under the guise of having my own finances and independence, but I did not have access to that money,” she said. “And on a regular basis, that money was taken from me by my parents.”
Owens declined to share specifics on what she was asked to do, but she did mention she was enrolled in school at the time of her exploitation and was irregularly pulled out of class early or dropped off late by her parents. No teacher ever asked if she was OK, but Owens later discovered notes on her report cards saying she seemed exhausted often.
“From the very first incident of commercial sexual exploitation, I knew it was wrong,” Owens said. “My trafficker specifically said, ‘You know, you can’t tell anybody about this, right?'”
According to Owens, the forced labor was done periodically, but during peak season the demand would catapult, traveling up to three weekends per month for about five months out of the year.
Owens said the trafficking continued until age 17. She eventually escaped the abusive cycle, but never pressed charges against her parents. However, she and her sister did attempt to have a conversation with them when they were older.
“Anytime we’ve ever tried to initiate a conversation or have a discussion about anything related to our childhood, we were met with either, they don’t remember, they deny it happening or they excuse it,” she said.
Turning her pain into purpose, Owens now works with several human trafficking organizations, devoting her time advocacy and improving outcomes for survivors.
If you suspect someone needs help, contact the national Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. For those interested in better understanding human trafficking, the local organization Freekind offers a four-week virtual educational training. It also an opportunity for people interested in becoming volunteers to help survivors.