ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — A missing teenager from Charlotte was rescued from forced prostitution and human trafficking in Rowan County, investigators announced.
Rowan County deputies were working an undercover investigation into prostitution in Salisbury on March 13 when an agent found a 16-year-old who was reported missing from Charlotte. The girl was forced into prostitution by a 33-year-old convicted felon who was out of prison on parole, investigators allege.
Deputies have not identified the suspect they say was behind the trafficking operation.
No further information related to the case were released at this time. The Rowan County Sheriff's Office says it will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. on Monday, March 18 with an update on the case.
Project Light, an organization in Rowan County, says the number of human trafficking cases is growing day after day – with “Charlotte being the number one city in North Carolina and North Carolina being top 10 in the country.”
“Why do we have it in this area? All the interstates pass through. We have all the sports activities, all these things going on and perpetrators are bringing their victims into this area and they’re trying to get more victims in our area here,” explained Dr. Jim Duncan, the Executive Director for Project Light.
Duncan says there are some signs parents should be aware of like kids having additional phones, tiredness from staying up, or new and unexplainable clothing items.
However, he says there are preventative measures everyone can take that include parents being more involved in their kids’ lives and schools working with different organizations to start the conversation.
Contact Anna King at aking2@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X mand Instagram.
WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at WCNC Charlotte.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart
Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Listen to the podcast weekly.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || Google Podcasts || iHeart
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.