LAKE COUNTY, Ohio — On Thursday, first responders in Lake County heard firsthand from a mother whose daughter died last month – a victim of human trafficking. Now, she’s the founder of a new program to help make sure others don’t have to go through a similar situation.
29-year-old Courtney Kinkoph went missing from a group home in Willoughby back in November. She was dealing with substance abuse issues and mental illness, so her parents had guardianship over her.
"I didn’t hear from her again until January 6th, when she texted me and said, 'Hey Mom, I’m ok. I’m travelling. Happy birthday.' And that was a couple weeks after my birthday that she was thinking of me. That was the last text I received," Carolyn Kinkoph recalls.
Sadly, Courtney was found dead last month at an abandoned apartment in Cleveland. In retrospect, her mother noticed signs that her daughter was likely a victim of human trafficking.
"I can’t imagine what it’s like to be a victim and not be believed and heard," Carolyn adds.
Across the country, there are more than 10,000 cases of human trafficking reported each year, although many cases go unreported. Ohio's case count is sixth in the nation.
To help combat the issue locally, Carolyn and two others founded the Lake County Collaborative to End Human Trafficking. Their mission is to connect all the people that deal with human trafficking firsthand.
On Thursday, first responders from across Lake County, including firefighters and EMS, all received lessons on what to look for and were given valuable information that can help save a life.
"Prior to this training, they’ve seen human trafficking but didn’t recognize it because they didn’t have the lens in which to see it," explains first responder Thomas Beer.
And if you suspect you know someone may be a victim, don't be afraid to get them help.
One of the key takeaways is that this can be happening anywhere. So collaboratives like this are key. Fire and EMS workers, law enforcement, prosecutors, advocacy groups and even viewers at home all working together to fix this complex issue.
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