TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Human trafficking is a rapidly growing crime in Indiana. Each year, the number of identified cases goes up in the Hoosier state.
Human trafficking is being called one of the most urgent crises of our lifetime. Earlier this month, a young Indianapolis mother was arrested and accused of trying to sex traffic her 7-month-old daughter over the social media platform Snapchat.
In the first two installations of WTWO/WAWV’s Patrece Dayton’s special report, we introduced viewers to April Inman—a Terre Haute native who is now living a safe life after being trafficked for decades—and the efforts of the “Wabash Valley Coalition Against Trafficking.”
Now in Dayton’s final part of her three-part special report, she shows us how music is being used to raise awareness on human trafficking in the Wabash Valley.
“I ran out of that grave,” sang Andrew Staggs of Vincennes, who is using his musical talents to teach others through song.
Staggs band—One Cause—often leads the worship service at the Linton First Christian Church. Guitars, drums and keyboards entertain the congregation with one mission in mind: teaching others about human trafficking.
“The number one misconception is that trafficking is overseas… It’s in Linton,” said Staggs.
One member of the congregation, Heather Mallett, is a Vincennes native and sex trafficking survivor. Mallet sat down with WTWO/WAWV’s Patrece Dayton to share her story.
Mallet said her mother sold her for sex to her mother’s boyfriend. Mallet was only 9 years old. She said it was all to pay the bills.
“My mom was told either he could have me or he would leave, and the bills wouldn’t get paid. My mom wasn’t working at that point, so from then on, for the next 613 days, every night I was laying with him and my mom slept on the couch,” Mallett said. …”I wasn’t even allowed to bathe alone. He would have to take a bath with me, and that’s when my mom would come in and ask for money.”
Mallett said she was abused for two years until the man eventually confessed and plead guilty in a Knox County courtroom.
Today, Mallett is sharing her story as a way of healing.
Lifting her hand in worship beside Mallett is her husband of 25 years and two of their four daughters. They have come here from Linton, Bloomfield and Jasonville to worship and hear Staggs’ message.
A tough message that human trafficking is happening here.
“When I say locally, I mean Terre Haute, I mean Evansville, I mean little Vincennes, I mean little Linton. These little towns are seeing it as well.” said Staggs. “Even though we want to believe it’s big cities and we want to believe it’s overseas, it is happening near us every day.”
Staggs believes bringing awareness to human trafficking is a calling for him. Now, he’s calling on local church communities to join the fight.
“We never want to drive fear. We never want people to be scared. What we want people to do is be ready,” said Staggs.
Advocates like Andrew Staggs and Heather Mallett are working together to educate the public about this horrific problem in our community. Working to be the light in the darkness for children in the Wabash Valley.
For more information on Staggs’ band One Cause, you can do so by clicking here.
Below are links to the first two parts of WTWO/WAWV’s Patrece Dayton’s special report series Human Trafficking in the Wabash Valley:
