A teenage night out turns into a nightmare when 15-year-old Nancy is trafficked hundreds of miles from home. Her story reveals how easily teenage rebellion and family conflict can be exploited — and how our justice system still fails to see children as victims.

Nancy was just a teenager — curious, restless, and searching for independence — when a party with older guys changed her life forever. Instead of coming home late, she was shipped to Southern California against her will and forced into the sex trade.

Her story exposes the vulnerabilities traffickers prey on: adolescent defiance, loneliness, and the longing to be seen. It also sheds light on how relentless pimps are, how other women in “the life” can become violent enforcers, and how police often misidentify exploited children as criminals instead of victims.

Through her brave and candid testimony, Nancy reminds us that what looks like “teenage mischief” can mask deep pain — and that every child deserves to be treated as one.

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🌐 Website: childrenofthenight.org

📲 Facebook & Instagram: @childrenofthenightinc

🕊️ X/Twitter: @COTNight

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This is Part 1 of Erika’s powerful two-part story.

At just 14 years old, Erika was one of nearly 100 girls pulled from the system and called by the FBI to help locate two men who had exploited them. Terrified and unsure who to trust, she nearly lied to protect herself — but with her mother watching, she found the courage to tell the truth.

In this first part, Erika shares how she was brought into “the life” by another girl, trapped by a pimp, and misled by federal agents who told her she was entering witness protection. Instead, they brought her to Children of the Night, where she found safety, compassion, and the foundation to begin healing.

Her testimony became a turning point — both in the case and in her own life.

Highlights:

• Testifying as a minor alongside nearly 100 other girls
• Being misled by the FBI and finding refuge at Children of the Night
• What safety and trust meant inside the COTN shelter home
• How telling the truth became the first step toward freedom

About Erika Today:

Now a mother of two teenagers, Erika is on track to become an account manager and is pursuing her calling through ministry, a podcast, and a forthcoming book — living proof that courage and compassion can transform lives.

Follow & Support:

🌐 Website: childrenofthenight.org

📲 Facebook & Instagram: @childrenofthenightinc

🕊️ X/Twitter: @COTNight

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this podcast to help us reach more listeners and protect vulnerable children.

Dr. Lois Lee speaks with Juli, a Children of the Night alumna whose story spans child trafficking, addiction, motherhood, and redemption — a powerful portrait of survival and purpose.

At just twelve years old, Juli fled abuse and hitchhiked down California’s I-5 — a desperate act that led her to the doors of Children of the Night. Over the years, she returned again and again: as a teenager seeking safety, and later as a young adult aging out of foster care. Each time, Children of the Night and Dr. Lee welcomed her home.

In this moving episode, Dr. Lois Lee and Juli explore the cycles of exploitation, resilience, and renewal that define so many survivor stories. Juli opens up about teen pregnancy, addiction, and the long road to sobriety — and how education became her path to empowerment. With a degree in criminal justice, she went on to work with the Portland Police Bureau’s Domestic Violence and Trafficking Team, supporting others once trapped by the same systems. Today, she continues her healing work as a therapeutic masseuse.

Listeners will gain insight into the realities of child exploitation, the failures of foster care, and the profound capacity of survivors to rebuild their lives.

Juli is a survivor, mother, and advocate who first came to Children of the Night at age twelve. After earning her degree in criminal justice, she worked alongside the Portland Police Bureau’s Domestic Violence and Trafficking Team and continues to serve others as a therapeutic masseuse.

• 🌐 Website: childrenofthenight.org
• 📲 Facebook & Instagram: @childrenofthenightinc
• 🕊️ X/Twitter: @LoisLee_COTN

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this podcast to help us reach more listeners and protect vulnerable children.

Dr. Lois Lee speaks with Michele about the court giving Lois custody of Michele and how that changed their lives.

Follow & Support:

🌐 Website: childrenofthenight.org

📲 Facebook & Instagram: @childrenofthenightinc

🕊️ X/Twitter: @COTNight

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this podcast to help us reach more listeners and protect vulnerable children.