Human trafficking survivor working to save Indiana kids

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – A woman who survived human trafficking is now telling others what signs to look for to protect their children.

Theresa Flores founded an organization called S.O.A.P., which stands for Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution.

She was 15 and living in the suburbs, when she was drugged, raped and blackmailed into human trafficking for two years.

Her mission is to raise awareness. In particular, she wants parents to know this is happening in every zip code.

“This can happen to any kid,” said Flores. “It’s not just happening to foreigners, minorities in the inner city or women who are addicted to drugs on the streets. This is happening to everybody because sex is all around us, and we’ve gotten used to that. It’s become normal and because of that these guys are kidnapping, taking our children, tricking them into making them a lot of money and doing things that no person would ever choose to do.”

Flores says since the Super Bowl, the Attorney General here in Indiana has done a great job of training taxi drivers and hotels on what to look for, but she says there is still more work to be done.

She says there needs to be tougher laws here in Indiana and more safe homes are needed.

For more information on human trafficking, and Flores’ story or SOAP program, click here.