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18 Is Not Just a Number: A Mother’s Anguished Search

Missing since the day after her 18th birthday, a teen’s disappearance raises suspicions about human trafficking.
18 Is Not Just a Number: A Mother’s Anguished Search
Police tape in a file photo. Kriston Jae Bethel/AFP via Getty Images
Sean Tseng
Sean Tseng
1/7/2024|Updated: 1/12/2024
0:00

Carla, a single mother juggling two jobs in the service industry, faces a heart-wrenching ordeal: her daughter, Anna, vanished the day after her 18th birthday. Despite desperate calls to multiple police departments and even the FBI, Carla has encountered frustrating roadblocks, prompting her to ask, “How do I get a militia together to get my daughter out of the place she’s in?”

Carla, like all the names used in this article, is a pseudonym.

A Talented Soul With a Tumultuous Past

Anna, Carla’s elder daughter, shines with artistic talent. Starting at 14, she channeled her creativity into the furry community, crafting elaborate animal costumes and building a sizable online following through platforms like X, TikTok, and Instagram. Notably, these platforms cater to various communities including furries, anime enthusiasts, LGBT individuals, and transgender people.
Sean Tseng
Sean Tseng
Author
Sean Tseng is a Canada-based writer for The Epoch Times focusing on Asia-Pacific news, Chinese business and economy, and U.S.–China relations.
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Related Topics
Human Trafficking
Furry
transgender
National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
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