Nashville Sex Trafficking Victim Speaks Out

Posted: Nov 29, 2011 6:13 PM CST
Updated: Nov 29, 2011 8:49 PM CST

by Kim Gebbia

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A startling new study shows human sex trafficking has been reported in 78 of Tennessee's 95 counties over the last two years. It's a growing problem that targets minors, runaways and homeless teens.

The study was conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Tuesday, a special legislative committee met to talk about what to do next and how to help the thousands who are being forced into prostitution.

"Let's not forget what's truly important about the issue, and that is the victims. There are a lot of them out there. Let's make sure they get the adequate resources help and support that they need," TBI director Mark Gwyn told the committee.

One of those victims decided to speak out and sharing her powerful and sometimes disturbing story for the first time with NewsChannel 5.

She did not want to reveal her name, but she does think it's important that people know what is happening in the Nashville area, and hopefully prevent at least one other teen from getting sucked into the underground world of human trafficking.

She's now a student at a Tennessee university and looks like any other college co-ed.

"It's weird. I look around and {the other students have] not experienced anything like what I've been through," she said.

At the age of 23, she can hardly believe how far she's come – especially considering where she has been.

"I am a year from graduating and I never thought when I was 16 or 17 I was going to college. That was never in my plans," she said.

Before ever walking onto a college campus, she walked what's known as "the track" in downtown Nashville at just 16 years old. She went back to the area with reporter Kim Gebbia.

"When I think of 2nd Avenue, I think of money and sex," she said as she stood near the road.
It's the street she was forced to walk… forced to prostitute herself for several months as one of the many sex trafficking victims in Nashville.

"They are basically slaves – modern day slaves," she said.

Like most victims, she came from a disruptive home, but never thought a new group of friends as a teen would lead her into a disturbing underground world most people don't believe exists in America, much less in the Music City.

"People need to know what these men are doing to these young girls – in Nashville and all around the country," she said.

Trying to escape only left Jessica full of fear and her body full of scars.

"There is a scar on my face because he took a potato peeler and took the skin off my face and ate it... and said, ‘you are mine forever,'" she said.

The area of the street where she was forced to prostitute herself is near ATMs, busy bars, on any corner of downtown Broadway. All are within in a short walk or drive to a hotel.

It has been six years since Jessica walked the track, that life is what brought her to a college campus and into the classroom. She did what victims fear the most: spoke out and put her traffickers in federal prison.

With a political science degree nearly completed, she's ready to help other girls walk away from a lifestyle they never chose to begin with.

"If I could pull one girl out… for me that would be a godsend," she said.

After she graduates she plans to get her masters in criminal justice and go to law school. Her goal is to be an advocate for sex trafficking victims in the court system.

TBI Director Gwyn said all state troopers with the Tennessee Highway Patrol have been getting 40 hours of training to help identify and question traffickers and the victims.

Anyone who suspects someone is a victim of human sex trafficking and needs help can call 1-855-55-TNHTH.

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