Forsyth Police warn of child trafficking dangers after multiple indictments
After the recent indictments of Kelly Garrett Ivey on 17 counts, including alleged kidnapping and human trafficking of minors on the dark web, the Forsyth Police Department is urging the community to stay vigilant and recognize the warning signs of exploitation.
FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – After the recent Monroe and Jasper County indictments of Kelly Garrett Ivey on 17 counts, including alleged kidnapping and human trafficking of minors on the dark web, the Forsyth Police Department is urging the community to stay vigilant and recognize the warning signs of exploitation.
“They groom them into the position and then essentially blackmail them from that point on to get what they want out of fear of getting in trouble and of other actions and consequences happening,” Support Services Commander, Lt. David Asbell, said.
In 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) tip line received 36.2 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation online. Reports of online enticement increased by more than 300% between 2021 and 2023.
Lt Asbell says there are some immediate signs you need to be on the lookout for in your children, including a change of behavior, becoming secretive, skipping school, staying out late and sneaking out.
And there’s something else.
“A second cell phone,” he said. “Be aware and look for it, because that could be where the communication is coming from. When you get into actual child trafficking, there’s a way they book the child out to individuals, so that second cell phone becomes very vital in understanding what’s going on.”
According to NCMEC, there were 687 missing children cases in Georgia in 2023. 556 were resolved and 131 are still active.
Lt. Asbell says we need to be even more attentive in today’s world.
“If they suddenly start getting games for Playstations or Xboxes or anything else and don’t have a job, where are all the games coming from?” he said. “‘Well, my friend is giving them to me.'”
He adds we must teach our kids body boundaries.
“A teacher to be able to do, they come up and place their hand on your back, and go, ‘You’re doing good or, you know, and so they know where people should stop and what the child’s comfortable with, because it’s different with each child, but create those body boundaries and make sure the child’s aware and will vocalize if someone breaks that boundary.”
One more piece of advice: disable cameras on computers and consider placing a piece of tape over laptop cameras. Those steps reduce the way predators can get images and make contact with kids.
He adds there are good people out there who can help, and he wants everyone to know you can go to the police department if you ever need help.
