Combating Human Trafficking in South Carolina- Tuesday, January 24, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Megan Fowler, Director of Communication, (202) 745-1001, ext. 123

Activists Join South Carolina Officials to Combat Human Trafficking

Columbia, SC (January 24, 2012) – Dozens of activists descended on South Carolina’s capitol today to speak out for new state legislation against human trafficking, one of the fastest-growing criminal industries in the United States. At a press conference highlighting today’s Lobby Day, State Representative Nelson Hardwick (R-106), the lead sponsor for a newly introduced anti-human trafficking bill (H. 3757), expressed his commitment to reducing trafficking in South Carolina.

“I am committed to making sure that our communities have the tools to fight human trafficking in South Carolina,” said Representative Hardwick. “All over the country, tens of thousands of people have been brutally exploited for the profit of others. Today’s efforts show that we can all come together to support these victims, hold traffickers accountable, and ultimately, end this crime.”

In addition, Attorney General Alan Wilson, State Senator Brad Hutto (D-40), Solicitor Duffie Stone, and victim service organizations from around South Carolina also joined the activists to express support for aggressive efforts to support victims of human trafficking and prosecute traffickers.

H. 3757 is a comprehensive bill that would criminalize sex trafficking, support trafficking victims, and raise awareness of the problem. The bill gives more tools to law enforcement to combat human trafficking, including asset forfeiture. The bill also creates a civil cause of action for victims of trafficking and establishes mandatory restitution for those who have been victimized.  Finally, H. 3757 creates a task force to fight human trafficking through the Office of the Attorney General. 

"Human trafficking is a crime that often involves domestic violence, kidnapping, solicitation, and sexual assault," said Attorney General Wilson.  "Law enforcement in this state is ready and willing to arrest and prosecute human trafficking offenders, but there currently is no law on the books for them to use.  We must do better in South Carolina, and that means immediately passing a law to allow authorities to crack down on this growing crime problem."

Last August, Polaris Project ranked South Carolina as one of nine states in the country whose laws had failed to adequately address the growing crime of human trafficking. In 2011, the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline, which helps connect trafficking victims to services, received 163 calls related to trafficking in South Carolina, including 16 tips and 6 crisis calls.

“Over the last year and a half our agency has seen a dramatic increase in the number of human trafficking victims here in South Carolina,” said Tricia Ravenhorst, Director of the South Carolina Immigrant Victim Network. “Having a stronger state human trafficking law that supports widespread training of local law enforcement and supports collaborative efforts to combat this crime is long overdue.”

To report a tip, connect with anti-trafficking services in your area, or request information, call The National Human Trafficking Resource Center, operated by Polaris Project, at: 1-888-373-7888.

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Susan Murphy Milano is a staff member of the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education as a educator and specialist with intimate partner violence prevention strategies directing prevention for high risk situations and cases.

 A national trainer to law enforcement, training officers, prosecutors, judges, legislators, social service providers, healthcare professionals, victim advocates and the faith based community and author.. In partnership with Management Resources Ltd. of New York addressing prevention and solutions within the community to the workplace. Host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show,"Time'sUp!" . She is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated "The Roth Show" with Dr Laurie Roth and a co-host onCrime Wire. Online contributions: Forbes : Crime, She Writes providing commentary about the hottest topics on crime, justice, and law from a woman’s perspective, as well as Time's Up! a blog which searches for solutions (SOS) for victims of crime.

What is Missing in Brittanee Drexel's case: The Truth

All a missing person's family asks is for answers when their loved one goes missing. Some missing cases, come with no answers at all. Perhaps it was a random abduction or criminal act. Or law enforcement simply has no suspect or clues. The family continues to search and maintain contact with law enforcement while continuing to keep the case in the public eye.

But what happens when there are answers in a case and those involved or know what happened and flat out refuse to cooperate?

One case in particular comes to mind, Brittanee Marie Drexel. She was 17 years of age, traveling with kids older then she from Rochester, NY to Myrtle Beach, SC, over spring break. On April 25, 2009, she went missing. Those who arrived with her to Myrtle Beach, made sure she had enough money for food, took the underage teen to clubs and basically watched over her.

Yet, they pack up leaving Myrtle Beach, without her? It simply does not compute. Unless of course out of fear, they are not coming forward. But still, who would put a family through such hell? I also wonder about the parents of those kids. Wouldn't you question your daughter or son who went on a trip with a person who did not return? Or is it better to live under a rock with the truth hoping nothing will ever come of it?

In this case, the kids in my opinion, hold the answers for Brittanee's family. They refuse to talk. They refuse to assist police. They refuse to look her mother in the eye. They refuse to act like adults and tell the truth.

And they refuse to give Brittanee Marie Drexel's family the peace they so rightfully deserve!

Dawn Drexel, her mother, on the show "Time's Up" during the second hour, from 3-4 pm on April 21, 2011. To listen to the re-broadcast here is the link:http://herewomentalkradio.com/home/archives_details/710

Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Myrtle Beach Police Department
(843) 918-1963

or CUE Center For Missing Persons 24 Hour Tip Line 910-232-1687

Foul Ball in the case of Rebecca Lynn Simmons

On May 8, 2011, Rebecca Lynn Simmons vanished. A report was not generated on the 45 year old missing woman missing until May 31st. Although she had a colorful past of drugs and arrests, Rebecca was still a missing person.

It was not enough for law enforcement in South Carolina to do much of anything. When she vanished from a Walmart parking lot on the May 8, she had no cell phone, keys or money with her.

Immediately dismissed and labeled because of her past, a crime of the worst kind was committed by the law enforcement agency in which a report was finally, generated.

"...investigators say they don't believe foul play is involved or that she is in any danger. Please know I realize you and your family are still concerned about her well being. Because she is an adult and investigators don't believe she is in harms way (at this time) there's nothing I can do story wise." (June 30, 2011)

On July 13, the first news report surfaced that Rebecca was missing. Oh and did I mention that Rebecca Simmons had told her family (considered hearsay of course) that if anything ever happened to her that they need to tell authorities to go and search the well on "Hurricane road off Liberty highway." Rebecca was in a very abusive and dangerous relationship at the time she vanished. But the deaf and dumb process of checking out the information entered in the picture. Law enforcement could not be bothered. Again, this was someone who was not important in the eyes of society and law enforcement. Foul Ball!

Finally on July 15, after continued persistence by the family, law enforcement moseyed on out to the well. You know where the family said she would be all along. Guess What? When police checked the well at the bottom of the 50 foot drop, it was Rebecca Lynn Simmons.

It will be several weeks after toxicology reports come back from the lab to determine her cause of death. My question is if it is determined she was murdered, will there be an investigation? Or will the death certificate be stamped "undetermined" as the cause of death so that money is not wasted out of the tax payer budget for someone who choose to use drugs and was an addict?

In the story that appeared after her body was discovered, a reporter from Anderson, South Carolina wrote about the tragedy in a manner I frankly found offensive. Instead of perhaps offering hope to victims of possible intimate partner violence that could lead to homicide and ways in which to get help, the news coverage talks about her criminal past. A real slap in the face for all families of missing persons. Forget the fact that Rebecca was finally found. Forget the fact that law enforcement turned their heads. Forget the fact that she was a victim of an abusive relationship. Forget the fact that she did not deserve to die. Forget the fact that the person who was the last known person should be considered a suspect or at the very least a person of interest by law enforcement.

Forget the facts and justice in this case will never see the inside of a court of law!!

After my mother was murdered in 1989, by my father a Chicago violent crimes detective, I looked at what worked and what did not as it related to violence in the home. Spending 18 years on a perpetual crime scene allowed me to cultivate strategies and techniques that worked to keep victims alive. Through the years more victims of intimate partner violence simply went missing. Cleverly erased by a boyfriend or husband who played a masterful game with law enforcement and prosecutors of "catch me if you can." Between the murders and those who go missing not much in the way of assistance for victims was in place. Until, now.

Created because of women like my mother Roberta Murphy, or Stacy Peterson who went missing on October 28, 2007, without a trace is the book, or the safety "prescription" as it is called Time's Up: Guide on How to Leave Abusive and Stalking Relationships"

The guide is a life raft providing structure in the midst of chaos and it has kept many victims of intimate partner violence, to date, alive.

Among the tools and forms, is the procedure of an “Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit”, a sworn statement detailing the facts of an individual’s victimization, preserving the specifics so they are not lost even if the victim is reported missing. It is difficult to think about speaking from the grave, but no different than any life insurance policy obtained in consideration for those left behind.

An “Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit" and video has the additional psychological benefit of being forced to face reality and admit that the potential for the ultimate kind of violence exists…and that if it occurs the perpetratorwill be held accountable.

The Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit: A Victim’s Voice(c)
Domestic violence or intimate partner victims now are able to provide information, in their own words, about the fears, dangers, experiences they have had at the hands of their abuser. The" Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit" or "EAA" records victim's stories, histories, and experiences which are preserved and stored on their behalf. These videos will provide answers to the many questions, allegations, and fears that arise when a person has disappeared, gone missing, or been found dead.

Recent cases, such as missing mother Susan Powell of Utah, Kelly Rothwell of Florida, and women like StacyPeterson, where the victim’s police officer husband is the person of interest, is the classic example of the benefits of this type of evidence. If Stacy Peterson, or any woman found murdered or is missing, had done an Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit, ON TAPE, from following the information in the “Time’s Up" book on a flash drive, they would be able to describe:

- threats made against her life or wellbeing, including details of how the perpetrator would carry out the threat
- incidents of past abuse that the victim has endured
- admissions or comments made to her about other victims or people abused
- where evidence or weapons would or could be located
- possible alibis that the perpetrator would make up in his defense (including identification of people who could be co-defendant’s or co-suspects)
- portray visible injuries or marks

Just think if we incorporate an effective plan and have it available for every prosecutor, law enforcement, church, family law office and social service agency across the country, lives would be saved. And I wouldn't be writing about women similar to Kathy Brados, killed by a man hell bent on power and control.

http://murphymilanojournal.blogspot.com/2011/07/house-on-highland-street-crime-scene.html

http://murphymilanojournal.blogspot.com/2011/07/keeper-of-silent-secrets.html

Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit by Susan Murphy Milano from the Book "Time's Up" from Courage Network on Vimeo.

Susan Murphy Milano is with the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education. She is an expert on intimate partner violence and homicide crimes. For more information visithttp://www.saferelationshipsmagazine.com/

Susan is the author of "Time's Up A Guide on How to Leave and Survive Abusive and Stalking Relationships," available for purchase at the Institute, Amazon.com and wherever books are sold. Susan is the host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show, "Time's Up!" on Here Women Talkhttp://www.herewomentalk.com/and is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated The Roth Show with Dr Laurie Roth. Susan is a survivor- the daughter of a police officer family intimate partner homicide by her father who murdered her mother before committing suicide.