Web of Lies (2014–…): Season 3, Episode 7 - Stolen Youth - full transcript

A LONELY EIGHTH GRADER
LOOKS FOR FRIENDSHIP ONLINE.

SHE WAS JUST BECOMING
MORE SECURE WITH HERSELF.

SHE TRUSTED PEOPLE.

HI.

BUT A SINGLE MISTAKE...

MOM?

...LEADS TO
INNOCENCE BETRAYED.

THEIR METHODS
ARE DIABOLICAL BUT SIMPLE.

WHILE
HER DESPERATE MOTHER...

DID SHE TELL YOU
SHE'S ONLY 14 YEARS OLD?

...SEARCHES FOR ANSWERS...



I NEVER THOUGHT PEOPLE
ACTUALLY THOUGHT THAT EVIL.

...UNTIL A TERRIBLE
SECRET IS UNCOVERED.

IT'S A DARK WORLD.

FREEZE!

I WAS SCARED.

WE WERE NOT ABOUT
TO LET THIS GO.

THERE WAS TOO MUCH AT STAKE.

EIGHT GRADER
HOPE VOTAW IS ABOUT TO GRADUATE

FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL
IN ALLEN, TEXAS.

IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR
FOR THE 14-YEAR-OLD.

GETTING OLDER,
HITTING PUBERTY, I JUST --

MY MIND WAS JUST NOT
ON THE SAME LEVEL AS,

YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE CHILDREN
THAT WERE THERE,

SO IT WAS HARD
TO GET ALONG WITH PEOPLE.



I FELT LONELY, AND I DIDN'T --

I DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE TO TALK TO.

WHEN HOPE'S PARENTS DIVORCED,

SHE AND HER MOM
LEFT SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS,

AND MOVED FOUR HOURS AWAY
TO START A NEW LIFE IN ALLEN.

AN OPPORTUNITY AROSE WITH
A TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY,

AND I WAS ABLE
TO WORK FROM HOME.

DENISE JUGGLES
HER JOB AND FAMILY

AS BEST SHE CAN AS A SINGLE MOM.

IT WAS TOUGH TO NOT BE ABLE
TO SEE MY DAD

AND NOT BE ABLE TO TALK TO HIM.

REGARDLESS
OF OUR DISAGREEMENTS

OR OUR DIFFERENCES,

SHE KNEW SHE HAD
TWO PARENTS THAT LOVED HER.

SHE MISSED HER DAD.

HER DAD WAS HER EVERYTHING
AT THAT TIME.

HOPE, YOU OKAY?

HOPE STRUGGLES TO
MAKE FRIENDS AT HER NEW SCHOOL,

SO SHE TURNS TO THE INTERNET

TO FIND PEOPLE WHO CAN RELATE
TO HOW SHE'S FEELING.

IT WAS A WAY FOR ME
TO BE SOMEONE

THAT I WASN'T AT THE TIME,

BECAUSE IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO,
LIKE, SAY THINGS IN PERSON.

IF I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM
OR IF I WAS DOWN OR SOMETHING,

THESE PEOPLE
WOULD PAY ATTENTION TO ME.

IT BECAME MORE OF LIKE
A COPING MECHANISM

RATHER THAN JUST,
YOU KNOW, SOCIAL MEDIA.

I THINK
THAT SHE FOUND THE INTERNET

AS A WAY TO ESCAPE FROM REALITY,

A WAY TO ATTRACT ATTENTION

WITHOUT FEELING EXPOSED
OR VULNERABLE.

SHE HAD BEEN MAKING FRIENDS
AND MEETING PEOPLE ONLINE

THAT WERE OLDER THAN HER.

HOPE RESPONDS
TO ONE PARTICULAR FRIEND REQUEST

FROM 19-YEAR-OLD SINGLE MOM
SHAYLA WILLIAMS.

THIS GIRL, SHAYLA,

ENDED UP
MESSAGING ME ON FACEBOOK.

I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT
OF FEMALE FRIENDS,

SO I JUMPED ON IT.

SHAYLA WAS VERY FRIENDLY.

SHE WAS SWEET AND OPEN.

LIKE, SHE TOLD ME A LOT OF,
YOU KNOW, THINGS ABOUT HER.

SHE TOLD ME ABOUT HER LIFE

AND SHE HAD A SON
AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF.

WHENEVER HOPE
GOES ONLINE,

SHAYLA IS THERE TO CHEER HER UP.

HOPE IS DELIGHTED
TO HAVE A FRIEND

WHO SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND HER.

HOPE, SHE WAS JUST
BECOMING MORE SECURE

WITH HERSELF.

SHE WAS VERY IMPRESSIONABLE.

SHE TRUSTED PEOPLE.

WITH SHAYLA
BY HER SIDE, AT LEAST ONLINE,

HOPE'S CONFIDENCE IS BLOSSOMING.

BUT THE MORE TIME
SHE SPENDS CHATTING WITH SHAYLA,

THE LESS TIME
SHE SPENDS DOING HER HOMEWORK.

HOPE HAS ALWAYS
BEEN REALLY SMART,

BUT I STARTED
SEEING LESS INTEREST FROM HER

IN HER EDUCATION.

HOPE IS SUPPOSED
TO GRADUATE FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL

IN COUPLE OF MONTHS,

BUT THE ONCE STRAIGHT-A STUDENT

IS AT RISK OF FLUNKING
THE EIGHTH GRADE.

IT SEEMED LIKE
I WAS LOSING CONTROL

AND HER FRIENDS
IN THIS OUTSIDE WORLD

WAS GETTING HER.

DENISE GETS A CALL
FROM HOPE'S SCHOOL

TO TELL HER THAT HER DAUGHTER
IS SKIPPING CLASS.

I WAS ANGRY.

IF THEY SKIP ONE CLASS,
YOU KNOW, YOU GET A REPORT OUT.

HELLO.

HI.

I NEEDED TO BASICALLY NIP IT
WHILE I STILL COULD.

- WHAT'S GOING ON?
- I DON'T...

SHE TOLD ME THAT
SHE DIDN'T WANNA GO TO SCHOOL.

IT'S NOT YOUR CHOICE.

IT IS MY CHOICE.

I DECIDED I DIDN'T WANNA GO,
SO I DIDN'T GO.

YOU'RE GROUNDED.
THAT'S IT.

YOU TREAT ME
LIKE A LITTLE KID.

AND THAT'S WHEN
SHE THREATENED TO RUN AWAY.

- IF YOU STEP OF THE HOUSE, I --
- I'M LEAVING RIGHT NOW.

MY ADRENALINE HAS JUST,
YOU KNOW, HIT THE FAN,

AND IT WAS JUST HARD TO,
LIKE, CALM DOWN.

IF YOU LEAVE,
I'M CALLING THE COPS.

I DON'T CARE.

SHE WAS HEADED
OUT THE FRONT DOOR,

AND THAT'S WHEN
I DECIDED TO DRAW THE LINE.

I DON'T CARE.

BACK OFF, HOPE.

TERRIFIED
THAT HER DAUGHTER

WILL DROP OUT OF SCHOOL,

SHE CALLS THE ONLY PEOPLE SHE
THINKS HOPE WILL LISTEN TO --

THE POLICE.

HELLO?

IT'S A DECISION
THAT WILL CHANGE THE COURSE

OF BOTH OF THEIR LIVES.

I WISH I WOULD'VE
HANDLED THINGS DIFFERENTLY

SO WE WOULD BE ABLE
TO JUST TALK IT OUT.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

WHEN THE POLICE OFFICERS
CAME TO THE SCENE,

SHE BOLTED
TOWARDS THE FRONT DOOR.

HOPE!

MOM?

I NEVER FELT MYSELF
KICK THE COP,

BUT I BROKE THE LIGAMENT
IN HER LEG.

MOM?

I DON'T BELIEVE
IT WAS HER INTENT

TO ACTUALLY HARM ANYBODY.

MOM?

BUT THEY TOOK HER IN FOR
ASSAULTING A CIVIL SERVANT.

NOW THE REBELLIOUS
MIDDLE-SCHOOLER

IS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE.

HOPE IS CHARGED
WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

AND GIVEN SIX MONTHS PROBATION.

IT'S A DEVASTATING TURN
OF EVENTS,

BUT IT MAY FINALLY FORCE HOPE
TO CONCENTRATE ON SCHOOL

INSTEAD OF HER ONLINE FRIENDS.

THE CONDITIONS
OF HER PROBATION

WAS TO ATTEND TO SCHOOL,

REPORT REGULARLY
TO HER PROBATION OFFICER,

AS WELL AS SHE COULD BE OUT,

I THINK, UNTIL 6 P.M.,
HER CURFEW.

I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO
CONTACT ANY OF MY FRIENDS.

I WASN'T ALLOWED
TO USE A CELLPHONE

OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

HOPE'S PROBATION

HAS PUSHED HER ALREADY FRAGILE
RELATIONSHIP WITH HER MOM

TO BREAKING POINT.

WANNA TALK ABOUT THIS?

NOW MORE THAN EVER, SHE NEEDS
HER ONLINE FRIEND, SHAYLA.

I DIDN'T WANNA
BE THERE ANYMORE,

SO I WENT ONTO SOCIAL MEDIA,
AND I PUT THAT,

YOU KNOW, I HATE MY MOM.

WORDS OF SUPPORT
AND SYMPATHY

FLOOD IN
FROM HOPE'S ONLINE FRIENDS.

AND THEN SHE GETS A MESSAGE

FROM THE PERSON
WHO UNDERSTANDS HER BEST,

SHAYLA.

SHE SAID,
"IF YOU WANNA COME OVER

AND STAY WITH ME FOR A LITTLE
WHILE, WE COULD HANG OUT."

AND I COULD STAY WITH HER
FOR A COUPLE DAYS.

YOU KNOW, JUST BEING NICE.

AND AT THE TIME, I THOUGHT
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED,

SOMEONE TO BE AROUND.

I TOLD HER THAT, YOU KNOW,

"I WOULD LOVE IT IF YOU'D COME
GET ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."

HOPE TAKES DOWN
SHAYLA'S PHONE NUMBER

AND GIVES HER HER HOME ADDRESS,

THEN GRABS AN OVERNIGHT BAG
AND SOME CLOTHES.

HI, SHAYLA. IT'S HOPE.

YEAH, I'M READY.
ARE YOU ON YOUR WAY?

PERFECT. OKAY.

SEE YOU SOON.
OKAY, BYE.

THAT NIGHT,
DENISE IS WORKING LATE.

SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD LEFT
HER PURSE IN HER FRIEND'S CAR.

COULD I GO GRAB IT?

AND I SAID, "FINE."
I SAID, "OKAY.

SHE'S JUST GONNA
GO GET HER PURSE."

THANKS.

AS I CONTINUED TO WORK,
SOMETHING INSIDE JUST SAY,

"STOP."

I GOT UP,
AND I DECIDED TO FOLLOW HER.

WHEN SHAYLA GOT THERE,
I JUST LEFT.

HI!

LET'S GO.

BUT WHEN
I FOLLOWED HER OUT,

BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE DOOR,
SHE WASN'T THERE.

SHE WAS ALREADY GONE.

HOPE IS EXPECTING
TO GO TO SHAYLA'S HOUSE,

BUT SHAYLA ABRUPTLY
PULLS UP AT A MOTEL

JUST 10 MINUTES
DOWN THE FREEWAY.

AT FIRST, I WAS KIND OF LIKE,
"WHY ARE WE AT A MOTEL?

I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW,
YOU WOULD LIVE IN A HOUSE

OR AN APARTMENT."

YOU KNOW, SOMETHING MORE NORMAL.

BUT I DIDN'T WANT THERE
TO BE ANY JUDGEMENT.

AS HOPE ENTERS,
SHE GETS A SHOCK.

THEY ARE NOT ALONE.

HOPE, THIS IS
MY FRIEND WILLIAM.

HI.

ISN'T SHE CUTE?

WHEN I HAD MET WILLIAM...

...THAT'S WHEN --
THAT'S WHEN THINGS CHANGED.

HI!

DESPITE BEING
ON PROBATION

AND UNDER STRICT CURFEW,

TROUBLED 14-YEAR-OLD HOPE VOTAW

HAS WALKED OUT ON HER MOM

AND VANISHED INTO THE NIGHT.

I WAS FRANTIC.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.

I DIDN'T WANT TO OVERREACT,

BUT THEN I ALSO,
AT THE SAME TIME,

I DIDN'T WANT
TO UNDERESTIMATE THE SITUATION.

MAYBE SHE WENT TO FRIENDS
FOR A COUPLE HOURS

AND SHE'S COMING BACK.

DENISE IS TORN.

IF SHE REPORTS HER DAUGHTER
AS A RUNAWAY,

HOPE WILL BE PICKED UP
AND ARRESTED

FOR VIOLATING HER PROBATION

AND SENT STRAIGHT
TO JUVENILE DETENTION.

BUT DENISE IS DEEPLY WORRIED
FOR HER DAUGHTER'S SAFETY.

THE NEXT MORNING,
THERE IS NO SIGN OF HOPE.

STILL RELUCTANT
TO INVOLVE THE POLICE,

DENISE WILL HAVE TO DO
HER OWN DETECTIVE WORK.

I STARTED LOOKING
FOR NOTEPADS, NOTEBOOKS,

EVEN LITTLE SCRATCH PIECES
OF PAPER

WHERE SHE COULD HAVE BEEN
MAYBE ON THE PHONE WITH SOMEONE

AND WRITTEN A NUMBER.

I GET A PENCIL AND JUST SCRIBBLE
ON TOP OF THE PAPER

TO SEE IF YOU CAN SEE
THE IMPRINT OF THE PHONE NUMBER.

I KNOW IT SOUNDS CRAZY,
BUT IT WORKED.

DENISE CAN JUST
MAKE OUT THE INDENTATION

OF A PHONE NUMBER.

SHE MAY BE ON THE VERGE
OF GETTING HER DAUGHTER BACK.

HELLO? WHO IS THIS?

THE LADY ON THE END OF THE PHONE

SAID THAT SHE HAD MY DAUGHTER

BUT SHE DIDN'T WANT
TO SPEAK TO ME

AND THAT SHE WAS
VERY ANGRY WITH ME.

IT'S A BREAKTHROUGH,

BUT DENISE IS STILL
FURIOUS WITH THE WOMAN.

DID SHE TELL YOU
SHE'S ONLY 14 YEARS OLD?

MY DAUGHTER HAD TOLD HER
THAT SHE WAS 18.

AND I SAID, "THAT'S INACCURATE."
I SAID, "MY DAUGHTER'S A MINOR.

SHE'S 14.

ALL I WANT IS MY DAUGHTER HOME."

OKAY, THEN.
I'LL BE WAITING AT 1:00 P.M.

BUT SHE AGREED TO BRING
MY DAUGHTER HOME BY 1:00.

IT'S A HUGE RELIEF.

NOW MAYBE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER
CAN REPAIR THEIR RELATIONSHIP

AND HOPE CAN GRADUATE
FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL.

I FELT THAT I HAD A BREAK,

SHE WOULD BE BROUGHT HOME,

AND THAT ALL MY FEARS AND
CONCERNS COULD BE PUT TO REST.

I LITERALLY WAS GOING OUTSIDE
EVERY 10 MINUTES.

I WANTED TO SEE THE PEOPLE,

AND I WANTED TO SEE
A LICENSE PLATE,

AND I WANTED TO GET
A DESCRIPTION.

AS THE 1:00 DEADLINE PASSES

AND THERE'S NO SIGN
OF HOPE OR THE MYSTERY WOMAN,

DENISE BEGINS TO PANIC.

WHEN SHE NEVER SHOWED,
MY HEART SANK.

I WAS FRANTIC.

DENISE
KEEPS CALLING THE NUMBER,

BUT NO ONE PICKS UP.

THEN THE PHONE STOPS RINGING.

IT'S BEEN DISCONNECTED.

I WAS DEVASTATED.

STILL RELUCTANT
TO INVOLVE THE POLICE,

DENISE CONTINUES TO
PLAY DETECTIVE ON HER OWN.

I CALLED FRIENDS,
CALLED NEIGHBORS,

DROVE TO PEOPLE'S HOUSES.

THE MORE I DID IT,
THE MORE CONCERNED I GOT.

I JUST WANT MY DAUGHTER
BACK HOME AND SAFE.

BUT EVENTUALLY I HAD EXHAUSTED
ALL THE OPTIONS THAT I HAD.

IT'S NOW BEEN THREE
DAYS SINCE HER DAUGHTER RAN AWAY.

DENISE HAS A TOUGH DECISION
TO MAKE.

I CONTACTED
THE PROBATION OFFICER,

AND HE ADVISED ME TO CALL
INTO THE POLICE,

REPORT HER AS A RUNAWAY.

ALLEN POLICE
RECORD THE INCIDENT,

BUT THEY FILE IT
AS A LOW PRIORITY.

DESPITE DENISE'S PANIC,

THEY BELIEVE THAT HOPE WILL
RETURN OF HER OWN FREE WILL.

MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADUATION
HAS COME AND GONE.

IT'S BEEN TWO WEEKS.

DENISE HAS NO WAY
TO CONTACT HER DAUGHTER

AND HAS RECEIVED NO HELP
FROM THE POLICE.

SHE IS BEGINNING
TO FEAR THE WORST.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF SHE WAS ALIVE.

THEN, A LIFELINE.

SHE HAD CONTACTED
HER GRANDMOTHER.

HOPE TELLS HER
GRANDMOTHER THAT SHE'S OKAY

AND THAT SHE'S WITH FRIENDS.

SHE DIDN'T HAVE
VERY MUCH TIME TO TALK,

BUT SHE WAS JUST CALLING
TO JUST MAKE SURE

THAT EVERYBODY KNEW
THAT SHE WAS OKAY.

AND IT WAS A MATTER OF HER
NOT WANTING TO COME HOME.

THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW.

I WAS JUST HAPPY
THAT SHE WAS ALIVE.

BUT STILL CONCERNED ABOUT,
HOW IS SHE FENDING FOR HERSELF?

NOT KNOWING
IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR.

THE FOLLOWING WEEK,
HOPE'S GRANDMOTHER

CALLS WITH SEVERAL MORE UPDATES.

HOPE WON'T GIVE DETAILS
ABOUT WHERE SHE IS

BUT INSISTS THAT SHE IS FINE.

IT'S NOW BEEN THREE WEEKS SINCE
DENISE LAST SAW HER DAUGHTER

OR SPOKE TO HER DIRECTLY.

HELLO?

HOPE?

I DON'T KNOW
HOW SHE OBTAINED THE PHONE,

BUT SHE DIALED DIRECTLY TO ME.

HOPE! HELLO?

AND SHE SOUNDED FRANTIC...

- MOM!
- HOPE?

...AND WAS CRYING
BECAUSE SHE WAS BEING BEATEN.

HOPE!

AS A MOTHER, TO HEAR THAT
SOMEONE'S PUTTING THEIR HANDS

ON YOUR CHILD,

IT'S HORRIFYING.

YOUR HEART DROPS.

YOU CAN'T BREATHE,
YOU CAN'T THINK

AND YOUR THING IS WHETHER OR NOT

YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO HER
IN TIME.

HOPE!

THE PHONE NUMBER WASN'T BLOCKED,

AND THE NUMBER HAD CAME
THROUGH ON THE CALLER I.D.

AND MY IMMEDIATE REACTION WAS
TO CONTACT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

AND ENSURE THAT THEY LIFT
THE RUNAWAY STATUS

TO AN ABDUCTION.

POLICE, PLEASE.

305618
COPY OF WARRANT SERVICE.

WE'VE HAD A REQUEST
FROM ALLEN P.D.

TO ATTEMPT TO LOCATE A RUNAWAY
OUT OF THEIR CITY.

DETECTIVES
AT ALLEN POLICE DEPARTMENT

RUN THE PHONE NUMBER PROVIDED
BY DENISE THROUGH THEIR COMPUTER

AND GET A TRACE
TO A LOCAL HOTEL.

THERE WAS A RUNAWAY

POTENTIALLY LOCATED
AT A HOTEL IN LEWISVILLE

AND SHE HAD
AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT

FOR AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
OF A POLICE OFFICER.

THE HOTEL IS IMMEDIATELY
OFF OF I-35.

IT WAS PROBABLY
ABOUT 7:30 AT NIGHT.

YOU SEEN THIS GIRL?

NIGHT CLERK WAS PRETTY HELPFUL,

ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH
ALL OF THE INFORMATION,

ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ROOMS
FOR US,

AND WE WERE ABLE TO
KIND OF CENTER IN

ON ONE PARTICULAR ROOM --
ROOM 322.

WE HAD THE KEY CARD IN HAND,
THEN PROCEEDED UP THE STAIRS

TO THE THIRD FLOOR.

ONCE WE GOT TO THE THIRD FLOOR,

DREW OUR WEAPONS,
THEN SECURED THE HALLWAY.

WE WERE ABLE TO LOCATE ROOM 322,

THEN POSTED UP
ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ROOM.

POLICE.
ANYBODY IN HERE?

ONCE WE HAD THE DOOR OPEN,

WE THEN MOVED IN
AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

MOVING INTO THE ROOM,
OUR WEAPONS WERE DRAWN.

ROOM WAS DISHEVELED,

AND SO SOMEONE
HAD BEEN LIVING IN THERE.

I IMMEDIATELY NOTED THE SHAPE
OF A BODY UNDERNEATH THE SHEETS

ON THE BED...

NOT MOVING.

YOU KIND OF HAVE TO EXPECT
THE WORST IN THESE SITUATIONS.

I TOOK AHOLD
OF THE TOP OF THE SHEET

AND THEN PULLED BACK TO REVEAL
THAT IT WAS A YOUNG FEMALE.

SHE WAS ALIVE
BUT APPEARED LETHARGIC.

IT'S OKAY, YOU'RE SAFE.

SHE WASN'T HERSELF.

SHE WAS CERTAINLY
UNDER THE INFLUENCE

OF SOME SORT OF NARCOTIC.

ARE YOU HOPE VOTAW?

NO, I'M SOPHIA BURNS.

27 DAYS SINCE 14-YEAR-OLD
HOPE VOTAW RAN AWAY FROM HOME,

POLICE HAVE TRACED
HER DISTRESS CALL

TO A MOTEL IN LEWISVILLE,
JUST 20 MILES AWAY.

ARE YOU HOPE VOTAW?

NO, I'M SOPHIA BURNS.

WELL,
THEN WHO THE HELL IS THIS?

I KNEW THAT
THAT WAS ME IN THE PICTURE,

BUT I JUST --

I DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE ME.

I WAS SCARED.

WHAT I HAD GONE THROUGH,
IT FELT BIGGER THAN ME.

UNABLE TO FACE
THE REALITY OF HER SITUATION,

HOPE TELLS THE POLICE SHE'S JUST
BEEN PARTYING WITH FRIENDS.

BECAUSE SHE HAD A WARRANT
FOR HER ARREST,

WENT AHEAD
AND HANDCUFFED HER.

AND BECAUSE SHE WAS UNDER
THE INFLUENCE OF SOMETHING,

WE HAD TO TRANSPORT HER
TO THE HOSPITAL

AND GET HER CHECKED OUT
AND MAKE SURE SHE WAS OKAY.

DISPATCH,
WE PICKED UP THE GIRL.

UM, SHE'S WITH THE MEDICS
RIGHT NOW.

ALLEN POLICE DEPARTMENT
LET ME KNOW

THAT SHE WAS AT THE HOSPITAL

BECAUSE SHE SEEMED LIKE SHE WAS
IN REALLY POOR CONDITION

BUT SHE WAS SAFE
AND SHE WAS ALIVE.

HOPE IS RELEASED
BACK INTO THE CUSTODY

OF THE LEWISVILLE
POLICE OFFICERS.

WHEN I HAD
PUT THE HANDCUFFS BACK ON HER

AND WE WERE THEN GOING UP NORTH
TO THE DETENTION CENTER,

SHE SEEMED LIKE
A DIFFERENT PERSON.

SHE WAS JUST ACTING
MORE LIKE, JUST, HER AGE.

HOPE CAN'T BRING
HERSELF TO TELL THE POLICE

THE TRUTH
ABOUT HER TERRIBLE ORDEAL...

EVEN IF THAT MEANS FACING
JUVENILE DETENTION.

WHEN THEY TOOK ME TO JDC,
I DIDN'T TALK TO ANYBODY

ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

I WAS SCARED.

IT WAS HEARTLESS.

BUT THE PROBATION OFFICER
SAW HOPE AS A FLIGHT RISK,

AND THE ONLY WAY TO AVOID THAT

IS TO PUT HER
IN A FACILITY THAT'S ENCLOSED.

BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW
THE WHOLE STORY.

HOPE FACES A GRIM CHOICE --

FIND THE COURAGE TO REVEAL
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER

OR RECEIVE SIX MONTHS DETENTION
FOR BREAKING HER PROBATION.

IT WAS PROBABLY NOT
THE BEST THING

TO BE ALONE WITH MY THOUGHTS.

IT'S KIND OF THE SCARIEST PLACE
YOU COULD BE.

LIFE IN THE JDC
REVOLVES AROUND EDUCATION

AND REHABILITATION
PROVIDED BY OUTSIDE AGENCIES.

ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT MAKES TRAFFICK911 UNIQUE

IS OUR WORK INSIDE THESE
JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS.

WHAT WE TRY TO DO HERE
AT TRAFFICK911

IS TO RAISE YOUR AWARENESS
OF THE DANGERS

OF WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN YOU SKIP SCHOOL

AND START HANGING OUT
ON THE STREETS.

ONE OF THE THINGS
WE TALK ABOUT A LOT

IS RUNNING AWAY
AND BECOMING HOMELESS.

THE STATISTIC IS THAT ONE
OUT OF EVERY THREE YOUTH

WHO EITHER RUN AWAY
OR BECOME HOMELESS

FOR WHATEVER REASON
ARE AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH RISK

OF GETTING INTO TROUBLE.

I WAS SCARED.

AND SO THAT'S
WHY IT MADE IT HARD

FOR ME TO TALK TO THEM
ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

THEY KIND OF, LIKE,
BEELINED STRAIGHT FOR ME.

I THINK THAT THEY KNEW
WHAT I HAD GONE THROUGH.

JUST, THEY WERE WAITING
FOR ME TO SAY IT.

THE WHOLE TIME I WAS AWAY,

I WAS FORCED TO SLEEP WITH MEN.

STAFF AT THE JDC

IMMEDIATELY CONTACT
HOMELAND SECURITY,

WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY
INCLUDES THE INVESTIGATION

OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

THE TOLD ME
THAT THEY HAD A PLACE

THAT I COULD GO
THAT THEY COULD ME SAFE.

HOPE IS TRANSFERRED
TO A UNIT FOR ABUSED CHILDREN,

AND HOMELAND SECURITY CONTACTS
HOPE'S MOM, DENISE.

THEY SEND IN VETERAN
SPECIAL AGENT KEITH OWENS

TO HEAD UP THEIR INVESTIGATION.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS
ONE OF THE MOST HEINOUS CRIMES

THAT HOMELAND SECURITY
INVESTIGATIONS INVESTIGATES.

IT IS AKIN
TO MODERN-DAY SLAVERY.

I -- I THINK IT'D BE BEST IF,
I TALKED TO HOPE BY MYSELF.

HE SAID, "WHEN YOU LOOK
AT YOUR DAUGHTER,

YOU LOOK AT YOUR DAUGHTER
WITH INNOCENT EYES.

YOU LOOK AT HER
AS THE FIRST DAY YOU HELD HER

AND HOW YOU'VE SEEN HER GROW."

"IF YOU SUBJECT YOURSELF
TO THESE INTERVIEWS,

IT CAN DAMAGE THE RELATIONSHIP."

SO I OPTED NOT TO BE
A PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW
YOU'RE SAFE HERE.

OKAY?

TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED.
START FROM THE BEGINNING.

I WAS REALLY MAD
AT MY MOM,

AND, UM,
I MET THIS GIRL SHAYLA.

GRADUALLY, HOPE
OPENS UP AND TELLS HER STORY

ABOUT MEETING SHAYLA ONLINE.

SHE TOLD ME WE COULD TALK
AND HANG OUT,

AND IT SOUNDED --
SOUNDED GOOD.

THEIR METHODS ARE DIABOLICAL
BUT SIMPLE,

AND THEY KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

THEY KNOW HOW TO SAY IT.

THE VICTIM DOESN'T REALIZE

WHAT EXACTLY SHE'S TELLING
HER TRAFFICKERS.

SHE THINKS THAT HER --
THESE FOLKS ARE HER FRIENDS.

PIMPS ARE REALLY GOOD
AT WHAT THEY DO.

THEY'RE REALLY GOOD AT FINDING
THE VULNERABLE

AND EXPLOITING WHATEVER
VULNERABILITIES THEY HAVE.

THEY BEGIN
TO BUILD THEIR TRUST.

HI!

THE VICTIM
UNWITTINGLY DOES NOT KNOW

THAT THEY'RE BEING GROOMED,
IF YOU WILL.

BUT THEY MANIPULATE THAT VICTIM
IN THE LIFESTYLE

THAT THEY HAVE NO CLUE
THAT THEY'RE ABOUT TO ENTER.

IT'S A DARK WORLD
THAT THEY WILL BE ENGAGED IN.

HOPE, THIS IS
MY FRIEND WILLIAM.

HI.

ISN'T SHE CUTE?

WHEN THEY FIRST
ARRIVE AT THE HOTEL,

SHE'S REQUESTED
TO IMMEDIATELY DISROBE.

TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES.

TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES!

NO.

HOPE REALIZES
SHE IS IN WAY OVER HER HEAD.

AND THEN THE MOOD TURNS UGLY.

WELL, HE TOLD ME
THAT YOU COULD EITHER DO THIS

THE EASY WAY OR THE HARD WAY.

TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES.

NO.

I REFUSED, AND SO HE HIT ME.

EIGHTH GRADER HOPE VOTAW

IS REVEALING
THE TERRIFYING TRUTH

OF HER ABDUCTION AND CAPTIVITY

TO SPECIAL AGENT KEITH OWENS

OF HOMELAND SECURITY
INVESTIGATIONS.

WE WENT
ALL OVER THE PLACE.

IT WAS A LOT OF, UM,
DIFFERENT HOTEL ROOMS.

HOPE EXPLAINED TO ME
THAT THEY WENT TO A HOTEL,

A ROOM WAS RENTED,

AND PHOTOGRAPHS
WERE TAKEN OF HOPE.

THE FIRST TIME
THEY TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS OF ME,

I WAS KNOCKED OUT.

LIKE, LITERALLY
HE HAD KNOCKED ME OUT.

AND SO MY FACE WASN'T
IN ANY OF THE PICTURES.

AFTER HE HAD HIT ME,

I GUESS THE ONLY PLACE
THAT THEY CAN PUT ME

AND I COULDN'T LEAVE
WOULD BE IN THE CLOSET.

I THEN REALIZED
THAT I WAS IN A --

IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

THEY WOULD PUT A CHAIR
IN FRONT OF IT,

AND I WOULD BE STUCK.

WILLIAM JACOBS
UPLOADS THE PICTURES

A POPULAR CLASSIFIED
ADVERTISING WEBSITE.

IT'S PERFECT.

THE WAY BACKPAGE WORKS
IS WHEN YOU POST YOUR AD,

THE AD ONLY STAYS THERE
FOR SO LONG.

SO MAYBE AN HOUR OR TWO.

STILL, ALTHOUGH THE AD
DISAPPEARS FROM THE SITE,

IT CREATES
A PERMANENT CYBER TRAIL.

WHY DON'T WE CALL HER
SOPHIA FROM COLOMBIA?

I LIKE THAT --
SOPHIA FROM COLOMBIA.

THE NAME THAT THEY HAD
CAME UP WITH WAS SOPHIA BURNS.

AND WILLIAM TOLD ME, "THIS
IS GONNA BE YOUR NAME NOW."

AND I TOLD THEM THAT, "NO,
MY NAME'S NOT SOPHIA.

MY NAME'S HOPE."

AND HE GOT A BELT,
AND HE WHIPPED ME.

AAH!

THE NEXT DAY, THEY HAD
CRUSHED UP SOME SORT OF PILL.

IT MADE ME VERY TIRED,

AND IT MADE IT HARD
TO FIGHT BACK.

AND THEN THEY PUT ME
IN THE TRUNK OF THEIR CAR,

AND WE DROVE TO ANOTHER STATE.

WE WOULD STAY
IN ONE PLACE FOR ABOUT,

YOU KNOW, THREE OR FOUR DAYS
OR LESS THAN THAT.

AND THEN WE'D GO
TO ANOTHER PLACE.

EVERY STATE
THAT THEY WENT INTO,

THEY WOULD POST AN ADVERTISEMENT
IN THAT PARTICULAR STATE.

I WENT
TO EIGHT DIFFERENT STATES.

THE WHOLE TIME, I WAS FORCED
TO SLEEP WITH MEN.

I WENT TO GO TAKE A SHOWER,
AND I LOOKED IN THE MIRROR,

AND I DIDN'T SEE MYSELF.

I DIDN'T LOOK LIKE MYSELF.

AND I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE MYSELF.

AND SO I HAD TO ASK MYSELF,

YOU KNOW, "WHO AM I?

YOU KNOW, AM I STILL HOPE?

AM I -- CAN I EVER
BE HOPE AGAIN?"

BEING SOPHIA MADE IT EASIER
TO DEAL WITH WHAT WAS GOING ON.

SOPHIA COULD HANDLE, YOU KNOW,
BEING BEATEN,

BEING WITH JOHNS,
AND BEING DRUGGED,

UM...

AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT SHE
HAD TO ENDURE DURING THAT TIME.

SPECIAL AGENT OWENS
RUNS THE NAMES SHAYLA WILLIAMS

AND WILLIAM JACOBS THROUGH
THE NATIONAL CRIMINAL DATABASE.

GIVE ME ANYTHING
YOU'VE GOT ON SHAYLA WILLIAMS.

FEMALE, WHITE, 19-YEAR-OLD,

KNOWN TO ASSOCIATE
WITH A WILLIAM JACOBS.

THIS IS INNOCENCE LOST.

SHE'S 14 YEARS OLD.

I WAS GOING
TO GET JUSTICE FOR HER

AND GET THESE GUYS
OFF THE STREET.

CHASING
THE CYBER TRAIL,

FOR ALL THE DELETED ADS
RELATED TO HOPE,

AKA SOPHIA BURNS.

I WANTED
ANY AND ALL INFORMATION

RELATED TO WHO POSTED THE AD --

NAME, ADDRESS,
CELLPHONE NUMBER.

SPECIAL AGENT OWENS

TEAMS UP WITH VETERAN SPECIAL
INVESTIGATOR MANUEL REYES

FROM THE LOCAL FORT WORTH
POLICE DEPARTMENT.

KEITH OWENS
CAME TO ME AND SAID,

"HEY, I GOT A CASE HERE.

CAN WE GET SOMETHING
DONE ON THIS?

DO WE HAVE ENOUGH?"

AND I READ THE CASE
THAT HE HAD,

AND I TOLD HIM, "YES,
WE HAVE ENOUGH TO GO ON."

WHILE MANNY REYES COMPILES
TEXAS STATE ARREST WARRANTS,

KEITH OWENS IS TRACKING
THE PHONE NUMBER

FROM THE ONLINE ADVERTISEMENTS.

I PUT IN THE PHONE NUMBER
THAT THEY HAD,

AND THAT PHONE NUMBER
WENT BACK TO ADS.

CHECKING
THE NEW POSTINGS,

OWENS CAN IDENTIFY THE CITY
AND STATE THEY ARE WORKING IN.

I WAS TRACKING THEM
ON A DAILY BASIS

TO SEE WHERE THEY WERE,

BUT THEY WOULD ALWAYS
BE OUT OF STATE.

BECAUSE WE ONLY
HAD STATE ARREST WARRANTS,

NOT FEDERAL WARRANTS,

I WAS LIMITED
TO THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SO WE HAD TO WAIT
UNTIL THEY RETURNED.

THAT WAS THE FRUSTRATION.

JACOBS AND SHAYLA
KNOW HOW TO KEEP ON THE MOVE,

MAKING IT NEAR IMPOSSIBLE
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

TO CATCH UP WITH THEM.

WE ALWAYS TALKED
WHAT-IFs, YOU KNOW.

THEY PROBABLY WOULD BE HERE,
THEY MIGHT DO THIS.

THEY -- WHAT HOTELS
DO YOU THINK?

AND TRY TO THINK LIKE THEY DO.

IT'S A NAIL-BITING
WAIT FOR WILLIAMS AND JACOBS

TO RETURN TO TEXAS
WHERE THEY CAN BE APPREHENDED.

BUT THESE SEASONED CRIMINALS
WOULD NEED A BIG REASON

TO COME BACK TO THE STATE

WHERE THEY ARE MOST
LIKELY TO BE CAUGHT,

AND OWENS THINKS HE'S FOUND IT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

COLLEGE BALL GAME
IN ARLINGTON.

THERE WAS A BIG
COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME

THAT WAS GONNA BE PLAYED
AT THE COWBOYS' STADIUM,

AND THERE WAS CLOSE
TO 100,000 PEOPLE COMING.

THAT'S JUST INSIDE THE STADIUM.

IT'S GONNA BE BUSY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK
THE ODDS ARE

THEY'RE GONNA PLY THEIR TRADE
HERE?

FINALLY, A NEW AD IS POSTED.

WILLIAMS AND JACOBS ARE BACK
IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS.

EVERY HOTEL IN THE AREA
WAS BOOKED UP.

SO WE CALLED ALL THE HOTELS
TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT.

THIS WAS OUR CHANCE

TO APPREHEND THEM
AND TAKE THEM INTO CUSTODY.

AND THEN THE MANAGER
OF A HOTEL

REPORTS A COUPLE
FITTING THE DESCRIPTION

HAS JUST CHECKED IN.

WHEN DID THEY CHECK IN?

JUST ONE NIGHT?

OKAY, GREAT! THANKS.

I FELT VERY EXCITED.

I FELT LIKE, FINALLY, YOU KNOW,

THERE WILL BE
A DAY OF RECKONING.

WITH ARLINGTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT,

FORT WORTH POLICE DEPARTMENT,

AND HSI SPECIAL AGENTS,

I WAS ABLE
TO PUT TOGETHER A PLAN.

OKAY, SO I WANT TWO
COMING IN FROM THE FRONT.

ALL RIGHT?

PATRICK AND McCALLAHAN,
YOU COME IN FROM BEHIND.

LESS THAN A MONTH
AFTER FIRST INTERVIEWING HOPE

AND OPENING THE CASE
AGAINST HER SEX TRAFFICKERS,

OWENS FINALLY HAS THEM
WITHIN HIS GRASP.

WE HAD FIVE OR SIX
UNMARKED VEHICLES.

WE ALSO HAD A COUPLE
OF MARKED VEHICLES

FROM ARLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT

THAT WAS PARKED NOT TOO FAR
BUT OUT OF SIGHT.

AND EVERYONE
HAD RADIO COMMUNICATION.

ALL UNITS IN POSITION.

THE VEHICLE THAT WILLIAM JACOBS
WAS DRIVING

WAS NOT
IN THE HOTEL PARKING LOT.

WE HAD A PLATE NUMBER
THAT HE HAD PROVIDED

TO THE HOTEL CLERK.

THE VEHICLE ISN'T HERE YET.
LET'S SIT TIGHT AND WAIT.

THERE'S PEOPLE
COMING AND GOING,

AND WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERYBODY
THAT'S COMING AND GOING,

SAID, "NO, THAT'S NOT THEM.
NO, THAT'S NOT THEM."

THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD GET
THESE PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS,

MAYBE WE WOULD BE SAVING
ANOTHER GIRL'S LIFE

BECAUSE IT HAPPENS
EVERY SINGLE DAY

ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

AS THE TEAM WAITS,
IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE

THEY MUST HAVE
MISSED THEM AGAIN.

WE HAD THAT ONE SHOT AT THEM.

WE REALIZED
IF THEY DON'T COME BACK

BY THE TIME THE GAME STARTS,
THEY MADE US.

AND IN A MATTER OF HOURS,

THEY COULD HAVE BEEN
IN ANOTHER STATE.

HOMELAND SECURITY'S
SPECIAL AGENT KEITH OWENS

IS CLOSING IN
ON SUSPECTED SEX TRAFFICKERS

SHAYLA WILLIAMS
AND WILLIAM JACOBS.

IT WAS
VERY NERVE-WRACKING

TO MAKE SURE
THAT THIS WENT DOWN RIGHT.

WE WERE NOT ABOUT
TO LET THIS GO.

THERE WAS TOO MUCH AT STAKE.

POSSIBLE TARGET ARRIVING.
STAND BY.

JACOBS DRIVES UP
IN HIS VEHICLE,

AND IN THE CAR
IS SHAYLA WILLIAMS.

TARGET ONE CONFIRMED.

TARGET TWO CONFIRMED.
STAND BY.

WE DID NOT KNOW
WHETHER HE WAS ARMED OR NOT.

IS IT NORMAL
FOR THEM TO HAVE GUNS?

YES, WELL, OF COURSE.

HE HAS TO PROTECT HIMSELF,
HIS GIRLS, AND HIS MONEY.

GO, GO, GO, GO!

WE DREW OUR WEAPONS
AND RAN TOWARDS THE CAR.

FREEZE! POLICE!

I MEAN, WE CAME DOWN ON THEM
LIKE THE LORD'S FURY.

WHOA!

IS HE GONNA FIGHT?
IS HE GONNA RUN?

THEY DIDN'T EVEN SEE IT COMING.

THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE
WAS VERY IMPORTANT.

CATCH THEM OFF GUARD,
AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

DON'T SAY ANYTHING!

EVERYTHING THAT COULD HAVE
WENT RIGHT, IT WENT RIGHT.

I FELT, I GUESS,
REDEEMED, IF YOU WILL.

DESPITE THE OVERWHELMING
EVIDENCE THEY AGAINST HIM,

DETECTIVES NEED AN ADMISSION
OF GUILT FROM JACOBS

TO SPARE HOPE THE ORDEAL
OF A PUBLIC TRAIL.

AFTER WHAT
THEY'VE DONE TO ME,

I DIDN'T WANNA SEE THEM AGAIN.

YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T BE THERE.

TELL ME WHAT YOU KNOW.

WILLIAM JACOBS WAS INTERVIEWED
BY DETECTIVE REYES

AND SPECIAL AGENT OWENS,

AND HE ACTED LIKE HE DIDN'T EVEN
KNOW WHO HOPE WAS.

WE HAVE INTERNET SEARCHES.

WE HAVE PHONE RECORDS.

THAT'S NOT EVEN
MY PHONE NUMBER, MAN.

THAT'S NOT ME, MAN.

NAH, NOT ME.

WITH JACOBS
REFUSING TO COOPERATE,

OWENS TURNS HIS ATTENTION
TO SHAYLA.

SO WHAT DO YOU KNOW
ABOUT HOPE?

SHAYLA WAS MORE FORTHCOMING
WITH THE POLICE

THAN WHAT -- THAN WHAT
WILLIAM JACOBS WAS.

HE WOULD SELL US FOR SEX

AND PUT OUR PICTURES
IN THE ADS ONLINE.

SHE ADMITTED TO POSTING
PICTURES OF HOPE.

SHE ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS
PROSTITUTION GOING ON.

SHAYLA CONFESSES
TO HER ROLE IN THE CRIME

AND PINS JACOBS
AS THE MASTERMIND.

WILLIAM JACOBS
AND SHAYLA WILLIAMS

MET ON THE INTERNET.

AND THE TWO AGREED TO GO
OUT THERE, SELL HER BODY,

AND TO MAKE MONEY.

SHE WENT FROM VICTIM
TO OFFENDER.

WITH HER TESTIMONY,
SHAYLA WILLIAMS

RECEIVES A REDUCED
PRISON SENTENCE OF FIVE YEARS.

WILLIAM JACOBS
FINALLY PLEADS GUILTY

AND GETS 20 YEARS FOR ASSAULT
AND TRAFFICKING A MINOR.

I HAVE PITY FOR THEM
BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO

THINK ABOUT
WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO PEOPLE

AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO ME.

IT'S GONNA HAUNT THEM,
JUST THE WAY IT HAUNTS ME.

HI.

I WISH I COULD UNDO
WHAT'S BEEN DONE.

BUT I BELIEVE
THAT WE ALL HAVE A CHOICE,

THAT WE CAN BE A VICTIM

OR WE CAN OVERCOME IT
AND BE SURVIVORS.

HOPE WILL BE A SURVIVOR.

HOPE'S CASE
IS NOT UNIQUE.

UNFORTUNATELY,
THOSE KIDS ARE IN DEMAND.

THE CLIENTS?
THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT.

THEY WANT THE YOUNGER GIRLS.

SO TO GO OUT HERE
AND HELP THESE FOLKS,

THIS IS RIGHTEOUS WORK.

IT SAYS IN THE BIBLE
TO FORGIVE AND FORGET.

UM...

I CAN'T FORGET WHAT HAPPENED.

I WISH THAT I COULD TAKE BACK
WHAT THEY TOOK,

MY HEART,

YOU KNOW, WHAT MADE ME HUMAN,

WHAT MADE ME NORMAL,

OR WHAT MADE ME FEEL THE WAY
THAT OTHER PEOPLE FELT.

THEY TOOK THAT AWAY FROM ME.

SOPHIA HAS A BIG PART
IN MY LIFE.

SHE'S NOT GONE.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'LL TAKE
TO MAKE HER GO AWAY.

I STILL FIGHT TO BE HOPE.