Karina's Story

Karina has worked for Gracie for about a year and a half as her Victim’s Advocate.  She is 24-years-old, but she got married for the first time when she was 16-years-old to a guy who was very violent and mean.  They got a divorce, and Karina went back to school and did very well.  When Karina was 18, one of her older friends asked if she wanted to work in a restaurant.  She and her family thought it was a good idea, so they agreed to let her do it.  Around 11pm one night, her friend took her to catch a bus, but put her in the back of a truck with a bunch of other girls and two men in the front seat.  The men took the girls to a club called “Dance in the Night.”

Karina was very scared, but could not get away.  The men made her wear skimpy clothing, and wanted her to strip and have sex with the men.  Karina said that some of the men who were at the club were police officers and prominent men in the community.  Karina’s “friend” was eager for Karina to pick a man to have sex with because if she agreed to have sex with any of the men, Karina would get some money, and her friend would get a bonus.  Karina refused to have sex with anyone, and was able to escape from the club.  She ran to the nearest phone and tried to call her boyfriend, Joe, but the connection was bad.  She then called her mom and told her to tell Joe that she was trapped at the “Dance in the Night” club.  Her mom had never heard of the place and did not understand that her daughter was in trouble, but Joe did and rushed to get her out.

When Joe arrived, the owners of the club locked all the girls inside, and made Joe pay them money to get Karina out.  Joe was extremely angry because he had told Karina that her “friend” was trouble, and should not be trusted.  When, Karina 21, she and Joe got married and they now have a son.  She told me that her “friend” is now living somewhere in the United States, and actually had the audacity to call Karina and offer her work.  Needless to say, Karina was not interested.

Karina and me at the Special Crimes office