UPDATED Stepdaughter in a possibly very dangerous situation-HELP!

[smilie]

Little background: My stepdaughter does not have a very good relationship with her mother. Abusive physically and emotionally. I swear she has PTSD from her childhood. Because of this she always wants a fresh and new start somewhere. She's played around with the idea of moving to a new town with her best friend... just nothing ever came of it.

Fast forward to last night (Tuesday). At midnight her dad gets a call from her that she wants us to meet a couple tonight at midnight(Wednesday) when she gets off work. She works at a bar/restaurant at the beach and they've been talking with her all week when they went in to eat. She said the lady is a teacher at a tech school in WV (8 hrs away from us). They want her to come back with them TONIGHT after she gets off work. She can live with them and go to school and the lady would be her teacher. Apparently they've talked it up to be something very appealing to a 20 year old.

So she wants to leave tonight at midnight with a couple she met a few days ago, travel with them 8 hrs away and live with them?? Huge bells, whistles and red flags!!! I need help. We live in Myrtle Beach and there is a huge human trafficking problem here. I'm scared. I'm trying to get info on them before we meet with them. And I want to meet them before midnight and without stepdaughter there. None of this is a good idea and we're afraid if we just put our foot down right now and tell her NO, she will runaway with them before we can stop her. She is 20 but she's a very immature 20.

Any ideas on what to do??? I am really hoping we can talk some sense into her.

 

[larissawbb]

Call the police and share your concerns. They may have some idea of how to help.

 

[scoutie]

I agree to call the police and give them a heads up. Can you get names to share with them? At the least you can do your own sleuthing with names. I’m wondering if the police will be able to do anything since your stepdaughter is 20.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Little background: My stepdaughter does not have a very good relationship with her mother. Abusive physically and emotionally. I swear she has PTSD from her childhood. Because of this she always wants a fresh and new start somewhere. She's played around with the idea of moving to a new town with her best friend... just nothing ever came of it.

Fast forward to last night (Tuesday). At midnight her dad gets a call from her that she wants us to meet a couple tonight at midnight(Wednesday) when she gets off work. She works at a bar/restaurant at the beach and they've been talking with her all week when they went in to eat. She said the lady is a teacher at a tech school in WV (8 hrs away from us). They want her to come back with them TONIGHT after she gets off work. She can live with them and go to school and the lady would be her teacher. Apparently they've talked it up to be something very appealing to a 20 year old.

So she wants to leave tonight at midnight with a couple she met a few days ago, travel with them 8 hrs away and live with them?? Huge bells, whistles and red flags!!! I need help. We live in Myrtle Beach and there is a huge human trafficking problem here. I'm scared. I'm trying to get info on them before we meet with them. And I want to meet them before midnight and without stepdaughter there. None of this is a good idea and we're afraid if we just put our foot down right now and tell her NO, she will runaway with them before we can stop her. She is 20 but she's a very immature 20.

Any ideas on what to do??? I am really hoping we can talk some sense into her.

Ok that is weird and scary.
Can you get down there to meet with her and them? Hopefully if this couple is dangerous they'll run if they know you've seen them and could identify them.

Maybe their just nice people who think she's in a dangerous situation at home and are trying help her, but leaving at midnight, etc seems odd.also how would the woman be her teacher? Is the 20 year old still in highschool?

Maybe call her local police non emergency number and run this by them and ask for advice?

 

[smilie]

I agree to call the police and give them a heads up. Can you get names to share with them? At the least you can do your own sleuthing with names. I’m wondering if the police will be able to do anything since your stepdaughter is 20.

That's what I'm worried about as well. Her dad texted her and asked about names. I've been trying to research this tech school she talked about, but they don't list their staff members. I wonder if a police officer would be willing to be there at the meeting??

 

[smilie]

Ok that is weird and scary.
Can you get down there to meet with her and them? Hopefully if this couple is dangerous they'll run if they know you've seen them and could identify them.

Maybe their just nice people who think she's in a dangerous situation at home and are trying help her, but leaving at midnight, etc seems odd.also how would the woman be her teacher? Is the 20 year old still in highschool?

Maybe call her local police non emergency number and run this by them and ask for advice?

It's a tech school. She dropped out of college here but wants to further her education. We're supposed to meet with them tonight... I'm hoping that it's an actual meeting and they're not just going to disappear without us meeting them. None of this sounds on the up and up....

 

[NHdisneylover]

It's a tech school. She dropped out of college here but wants to further her education. We're supposed to meet with them tonight... I'm hoping that it's an actual meeting and they're not just going to disappear without us meeting them. None of this sounds on the up and up....

So the woman works at this school?

I'd try to arrive early. Like an hour early, before she'd even be thinking about leaving.

Also maybe get their plate numbers if you can.

And, seriously, call and chat with local police. Maybe someone will give you advice, or maybe they'd send a a patrol through to at least look at the people in case something turns up later.

 

[Shanti]

Little background: My stepdaughter does not have a very good relationship with her mother. Abusive physically and emotionally. I swear she has PTSD from her childhood. Because of this she always wants a fresh and new start somewhere. She's played around with the idea of moving to a new town with her best friend... just nothing ever came of it.

Fast forward to last night (Tuesday). At midnight her dad gets a call from her that she wants us to meet a couple tonight at midnight(Wednesday) when she gets off work. She works at a bar/restaurant at the beach and they've been talking with her all week when they went in to eat. She said the lady is a teacher at a tech school in WV (8 hrs away from us). They want her to come back with them TONIGHT after she gets off work. She can live with them and go to school and the lady would be her teacher. Apparently they've talked it up to be something very appealing to a 20 year old.

So she wants to leave tonight at midnight with a couple she met a few days ago, travel with them 8 hrs away and live with them?? Huge bells, whistles and red flags!!! I need help. We live in Myrtle Beach and there is a huge human trafficking problem here. I'm scared. I'm trying to get info on them before we meet with them. And I want to meet them before midnight and without stepdaughter there. None of this is a good idea and we're afraid if we just put our foot down right now and tell her NO, she will runaway with them before we can stop her. She is 20 but she's a very immature 20.

Any ideas on what to do??? I am really hoping we can talk some sense into her.

If I were her parent, I would insist on going along with her during the move. They aren't going to kidnap a girl along with her parents- they want an easy victim. I would notify the police, as well, but I would not sit back & count on them to handle it in a case like this, where nothing has actually happened yet.

If she's driving, I would insist on being in the car with her. If they refuse, I would tail the car, with a video monitor mounted on the front of my car.

If she's flying, I would get tickets & fly, too. Once there, I would check out where she's staying, etc.

Honest people will have no problems with parents wanting to help with the move and check out the daughter's living situation.

Do not be put off. You should also talk with the daughter, bluntly stating your trafficking concerns. Show her videos about trafficking while she's with you so you know she's watching them.

 

[Hikergirl]

Little background: My stepdaughter does not have a very good relationship with her mother. Abusive physically and emotionally. I swear she has PTSD from her childhood. Because of this she always wants a fresh and new start somewhere. She's played around with the idea of moving to a new town with her best friend... just nothing ever came of it.

Fast forward to last night (Tuesday). At midnight her dad gets a call from her that she wants us to meet a couple tonight at midnight(Wednesday) when she gets off work. She works at a bar/restaurant at the beach and they've been talking with her all week when they went in to eat. She said the lady is a teacher at a tech school in WV (8 hrs away from us). They want her to come back with them TONIGHT after she gets off work. She can live with them and go to school and the lady would be her teacher. Apparently they've talked it up to be something very appealing to a 20 year old.

So she wants to leave tonight at midnight with a couple she met a few days ago, travel with them 8 hrs away and live with them?? Huge bells, whistles and red flags!!! I need help. We live in Myrtle Beach and there is a huge human trafficking problem here. I'm scared. I'm trying to get info on them before we meet with them. And I want to meet them before midnight and without stepdaughter there. None of this is a good idea and we're afraid if we just put our foot down right now and tell her NO, she will runaway with them before we can stop her. She is 20 but she's a very immature 20.

Any ideas on what to do??? I am really hoping we can talk some sense into her.

She's 20 you can't really tell her no, but what you can do is explain to her how none of what this couple is telling her or planning to do is normal at all. Explain to her your concerns over the very real threat of trafficking , and these are the kinds of things they tell young girls to get them to go with them, and that it does happen in your area. Tell her teachers don't get to just enroll students, or get tuition waved so that when the woman says that she can she is lying.
Does she have their names, phone numbers, address in WV, school name- if she doesn't ask her if she thinks this odd?
I would also contact the police, if trafficking is an issue in your area maybe they will check things out.
I really hope she doesn't decide to go with these people, this really does sound like something sinister but agree with the pp. If she insists she is going, then your dh insists he is going with her, and that he will drive with his dd and follow the couple, or he will accompany them on the plane. Don't let her go alone.

 

[smilie]

Her dad has already said if she insists on going, because she's 20 and legally we can't stop her, he is driving her himself and not leaving until he is 110% sure that she is safe. I've just contacted the local police. They told me they can't advise me on anything but I can come talk to them when I have more information. Like names, descriptions, etc....

 

[WishingOnAStar]

Call the woman's school and ask to leave a message for her. See if they acknowledge that she works there.

 

[Hikergirl]

Can you contact her boss and explain the situation and what you think is really going on and have him/her call you when the couple gets there. I would totally worry about them talking your sd in to leaving work early before your planned meeting. It will be easy they will just tell her since she is moving away it doesn't matter if she up and quits......
I'd even just go there at the beginning of her shift and wait until they came in.

 

[dclpluto]

Her dad has already said if she insists on going, because she's 20 and legally we can't stop her, he is driving her himself and not leaving until he is 110% sure that she is safe. I've just contacted the local police. They told me they can't advise me on anything but I can come talk to them when I have more information. Like names, descriptions, etc....

You can’t be sure she will be safe. If they are bad They will act very nice while her dad is there. I was thinking they want her for sex and have threesomes. Human trafficking is worse of course. Either way is bad of course. Is she pretty? If she is good chance it’s for sex or human trafficking

 

[kimblebee]

If it were me, I’d be on her like a shadow. Let these people know that she has a family that cares and is involved, not someone who can go missing without a fuss.

Be a pest to them until they move on.

 

[StephMK]

There is very little chance that it is a legit situation and I'd be extremely worried too. Do they know that she invited her family to meet them? I'm a little surprised thst the police couldn't be more helpful considering what an issue it is.

Could you call the hotline for Missing and Exploited Children? A human trafficking prevention organization? There has to be a group out there that could give you specific advice and i wonder if that same ploy has been used before.

Why the rush? Yes, they might have to get home but couldn't you stall her and tell her you'll drive her up later if it all somehow checks out.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

Little background: My stepdaughter does not have a very good relationship with her mother. Abusive physically and emotionally. I swear she has PTSD from her childhood. Because of this she always wants a fresh and new start somewhere. She's played around with the idea of moving to a new town with her best friend... just nothing ever came of it.

Fast forward to last night (Tuesday). At midnight her dad gets a call from her that she wants us to meet a couple tonight at midnight(Wednesday) when she gets off work. She works at a bar/restaurant at the beach and they've been talking with her all week when they went in to eat. She said the lady is a teacher at a tech school in WV (8 hrs away from us). They want her to come back with them TONIGHT after she gets off work. She can live with them and go to school and the lady would be her teacher. Apparently they've talked it up to be something very appealing to a 20 year old.

So she wants to leave tonight at midnight with a couple she met a few days ago, travel with them 8 hrs away and live with them?? Huge bells, whistles and red flags!!! I need help. We live in Myrtle Beach and there is a huge human trafficking problem here. I'm scared. I'm trying to get info on them before we meet with them. And I want to meet them before midnight and without stepdaughter there. None of this is a good idea and we're afraid if we just put our foot down right now and tell her NO, she will runaway with them before we can stop her. She is 20 but she's a very immature 20.

Any ideas on what to do??? I am really hoping we can talk some sense into her.

I have watched too many true crime shows and read too many true crime books to know that you should always trust your instincts. What these people propose sounds sketchy at best. Why would they take in a young woman they know nothing about?

Where in West Virginia are they from? I have family in wva and there are places where a body would never be found.

Police will not do anything because there is no crime being committed, but I would contact them anyway.

I would definitely go there and see what is going on with these people. Make sure you take a photo of them and make sure they know you are doing it. Send the picture to others so you have a record. Copy their license plate.

Crap happens all of the time. Most think it could never happen to them.

 

[abdmom]

https://humantraffickinghotline.org/

Teachers generally don't want to run into students outside the classroom, much less live with one. There are massive red flags.

 

[larissawbb]

https://humantraffickinghotline.org/

Teachers generally don't want to run into students outside the classroom, much less live with one. There are massive red flags.

This is so true. As a parent paying college tuition for two, I can be certain that instructors don’t wave tuition or get involved like that.

 

[cabanafrau]

https://humantraffickinghotline.org/

Teachers generally don't want to run into students outside the classroom, much less live with one. There are massive red flags.

Combined with the urgent! timeline.

If they show up at this meeting, lay everything on the line, face to face, black and white, bold as brass to get their reactions. Bring up your concerns about dangers and human trafficking, including letting them know you have already discussed this with law enforcement.

 

[wvjules]

Where in WV and what tech school? I'm from WV. Maybe I know the school or the town and can find out something.