14-Year-Old Sex Trafficking Survivor Speaks Out
CHICAGO (CBS) -- It could happen in your neighborhood, on your street. Young girls are being lured from their homes and forced into prostitution. CBS 2's Pamela Jones spoke with a 14-year-old girl who escaped that life and now has a warning for other kids.
"He said I can do whatever the BLEEP I want to you now. So, he punched me in my mouth."
A final act of violence against a girl just 14-years old by a man now charged with raping her and forcing her into sex trafficking.
We'll call her Hannah, a girl who ran away from family Chicago's South Side in August. That's when prosecutors say 21-year-old Donzell Mintz befriended Hannah, later raping her and moving to Evanston - where Hannah says he pimped her out for almost a month.
"He had me selling drugs, doing drugs and prostituting," she said.
Her uncle is an activist who helps find young runaways.
"Just tears started flowing down anger, because it hits home. And you have a different feeling when it hits home," he said.
The National Runaway Safeline says more younger girls are reaching out now - admitting to being pushed to sell their bodies.
"I think sometimes we feel like that's not really our problem. Sex trafficking and victimizing young people is very, very serious and is a problem here in the U.S.," said Maureen Blaha.
The safeline has just launched a live chat system to attract younger victims and find them help.
Hannah is now poised to heal.
"I'm still standing strong and tall. You didn't break me."
She hopes to help other girls avoid trouble on the street.
"Don't runaway to someone you do not know because you never know what they'll do to you or what they'll make you do."
The suspect has been charged with involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, aggravated criminal sexual abuse and aggravated domestic battery.
Hannah still needs surgery to replace her teeth - her jaws is still held together by wire.
