Aisling

In April of 2022, our daughter was lured out of a sports event she was attending with her Dad. This was all under the guise of “let’s go hang out” until the game ends. Instead of a fun night with a guy she met at this game, she was raped, drugged and sex trafficked locally before being transported to another state to be sold online for sex, as well. After 10 days, she was recovered in another state but not before trauma had taken place; a footprint on her life that would be devastating. She is not defined by this tragedy but, instead, is making beauty from ashes. While this tragedy is part of her story, it’s not the full story…and the story isn’t over.  

AISLING IS BORN OUT OF THIS TRAUMA

From the moment our daughter was recovered, we knew we had to make some changes – not just to our lives and everything we knew to be true; no, we needed to make changes that were going to impact other teens, adolescents and people all over this country that are being sold for another person’s gratification. One of our initial thoughts was – legislation! When our daughter was first missing, we were told by law enforcement in Dallas to go back to our home jurisdiction (about 30 mi away) to make a report. We knew she was in Dallas, she disappeared in Dallas, there was even footage of her…in Dallas. But they wanted another jurisdiction to take the case. We compiled as much as we could. Even our home jurisdiction couldn’t really help.  

 We were finally able to make a formal police report 6 months later in Dallas. When we were with our daughter at the hospital, I expressed frustration in that had they taken the report immediately, this could have all been avoided, perhaps, and that we needed to have the law modified so as not to just label someone a “runaway” and punt the case to another area - someone said “keep dreaming”. So, that’s exactly what we did.

WE KEPT DREAMING! 

And almost a year to the day, we were in Austin, TX discussing our story with the Texas Senate Criminal Justice Committee – approved by a 7-0 vote, there is now absolute clarity involving what jurisdiction is responsible for a missing child.

AND WE'RE NOT DONE YET!  

Following our daughters trauma, we were blessed beyond measure to have the resources to send her to the greatest wilderness therapy program, the greatest recovery centers and have the very best in trauma therapy. However, we know that is not the case for all. Without the proper after-care and treatment for trauma, substance exposure, etc., victims are more likely to re-enter the prostitution and exploitation lifestyle – not out of habit, but of necessity. 

We BELIEVE ACCESS TO TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE SHOULD NOT BE COST PROHIBITIVE

Become part of our network of organizations and individuals working to create a better future, STOP trafficking, and help those effected by trauma.