If you or someone you know is being trafficked or suspected of being trafficked please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888) or submit a report at WomensLaw.org.
Life Before the Bronx: A Childhood in Liverpool, NY
Every person has a story and a testimony to share. Casey Ingersoll is one of those people. Her parents divorced when she was three years old, and she grew up with her mom and her grandma on her dad’s side. Casey describes having a very happy and loving childhood. She admits she was probably a little spoiled, but she was raised very well.
Things began to change during her adolescent years when her family moved to Liverpool, NY. Before moving to that city, they had lived in a very small town, so it was quite a change for her. Casey began not caring about school and eventually ended up on probation at the age of sixteen. During this time, she was in an abusive relationship with her first boyfriend for about a year before they finally stopped communicating.
The Betrayal: How a “Friend” Became a Trafficker
At seventeen, about a month before her eighteenth birthday, Casey was frustrated with her parents and made the decision to leave home. She moved in with a new “friend” who promised to take her to New York City for her birthday. Casey was young and naive, and she truly believed him.
Instead of a celebration, she ended up in the Bronx. This “friend” left her at a stranger’s house for a few days where she barely ate or drank. The room she was kept in was filthy, with mice running around, and the shower was so gross she didn’t even feel clean using it.
At approximately 3:20 a.m. on December 27th, she was woken up by someone saying, “You have a visitor.” A strange man she didn’t know came in and started talking to her. He eventually realized she had no idea why he was there. He told her the truth: her friend was trying to sell her for $2,000, and he was a pimp. When her friend finally returned, he simply told her, “Happy Birthday.” Casey says she had never felt so low in her life.
The Escape: Moving from the Bronx to North Carolina
Fearing that her friend would sell her to someone even more dangerous, and knowing she had no phone and no other contacts in the city, Casey felt she had to go with the pimp. He treated her well at first to gain her trust, but soon the reality of her situation set in. She was forced into sex work, and the pimp took all the money. There were strict rules: she had to answer the phone at all hours, work through her menstrual cycle, and face physical abuse or withheld food if she didn’t make enough money.
Eventually, Casey managed to reach out to her mother. Her mom was tremendously supportive and bought her a bus ticket to North Carolina. Casey waited until the pimp was asleep, packed a bag, and told him she was going on a “date.” She fled to the bus station, ignored his threatening calls and texts, and made it to safety. Her mother’s support is the reason she is safe today.
Life After: Healing and Growing into an Advocate
Since her escape, Casey has built a new life. She found a job at a fast-food restaurant called Biscuitville, where she is thankful for the kind-hearted environment. She has also achieved the milestone of moving into her own home.
Casey is honest about the fact that healing takes time. She still thinks about the situation more than she likes to admit, and she acknowledges that such trauma can affect how you relate to others. However, she believes in the power of growth. Her message to anyone in a similar situation is: “Get out NOW!! You are beautiful and bright individuals that deserve respect and appreciation.”
She now advocates for self-investment, recommending that survivors seek help from family, therapists, or resources like WomensLaw.org. She also finds strength in educating herself through books and podcasts, emphasizing that when your mind is at ease, everything around you is too..