Ashley had been taken into captivity at 15 years old, and since then, she had never seen a moment of freedom. She had been moved from one place to another, forced to cater to the whims of hundreds of men. Her trafficker had never allowed her to step out of the confined space of the bathroom without his explicit permission.
Suddenly one day, she heard a loud commotion outside, and soon afterward, she could hear the sound of police officers storming into the house. The trafficker’s voice could be heard, shouting and swearing as he tried to run. Then she heard the sharp sound of a stun grenade exploding, followed by a piercing burning smell that filled the air.
Despite feeling weak and disoriented, Ashley knew she had to act fast. She could hear footsteps outside approaching the door of the bathroom, and without a second thought, she started to scream loudly. The door was forced open, and with tears in her eyes, she saw the face of a police officer, who lifted her up in a tight embrace and whispered that she was safe now.
The aftermath of the raid was chaotic, with several people being apprehended and taken into custody. Ashley saw her captor being handcuffed and dragged away by the police. Suddenly, it all felt like a dream. As she was escorted to her car, she couldn’t help but feel like a prisoner who had been granted freedom after years of solitary confinement.
Ashley was taken to the Phoenix Dream Center, where she received the medical treatment she needed to recover from her physical injuries. The center’s staff gave her the emotional support and education she needed to begin her journey of healing. Finally, after years of torment, Ashley had another chance at life. She was determined to make the most of it and help people who had been through similar experiences.
While Ashely found freedom and healing, dozens of girls who are being recovered from human trafficking right now still need places to go.