Throughout her childhood and adolescence, Heidi Evensen said she was exploited by adults who took explicit photos and sexually abused her.
Years of physical and mental abuse took their toll on Evensen, and she felt invisible.
Until one day, when Evensen was 9 years old, one of her abusers approached her, looked Evensen in the eyes and actually talked with her. She still is not sure to this day why.
“It was one of the worst times of my life, … (but) she squatted down, and she said, ‘I see you,’” Evensen said. “… And if you think those three words are not enough for a child that you see in harm’s way, even if you don’t know what to do, you can say those three words. You can say, ‘I see you,’ and you can follow it up with, ‘Is there anything I can do to help you?’ … (Those words meant) enough to me.”
Evensen said it was well into her adulthood before she could escape the abusive situation, in part due to a lack of general awareness about the inner workings of human trafficking or a place to go for help.
Now, with modernized resources both locally and nationally, Evensen hopes she can inspire others to help children in similar situations.
Evensen shared her story Thursday as part of the Exchange Club of Columbus’s hour-long community awareness program Thursday for child abuse and human trafficking, where Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Rhonda Sanders and John Almond, founder and executive director of the Dream Center Golden Triangle, also discussed resources and challenges for victims in Lowndes County.
Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery where people profit from the exploitation of others. Victims include all people of all backgrounds, genders and ages.
The United States broadly recognizes two primary forms of human trafficking: forced labor and sex trafficking. Sex trafficking occurs when a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud or coercion, or when the person performing the commercial sex act is a minor.
According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline website, the hotline received 303 signals from Mississippi in 2024 and 45 of those were received from victims of human trafficking. From those calls, 195 cases were identified, with 300 victims involved.
Evensen, who now serves as an advocate for victims of human trafficking, said that there are several signs to look for in children who are victims.
Typically, a child who is being trafficked tends to be more reserved and secretive, or may have sudden influxes of money or health changes, Evensen said. Child victims are most often trafficked by an adult they know or trust, she said.
“It’s someone that has a relationship with the child,” Evensen said. “And that can be your family. … I’ve dealt with even a judge and an attorney. … And all of those are involved in the trafficking.”
Evensen said a good place to start for anyone concerned about a child potentially being trafficked is by contacting a local law enforcement agency, like a sheriff’s office or police department.
Concerns can also be directed to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888.
For children who may find law enforcement officers intimidating, Evensen suggested she and other advocates can serve as a go-between to help walk with them through the process and make it less daunting.
Child abuse
Similar to human trafficking, cases of child abuse can often stem from a trusted adult taking advantage of a child, Sanders told Exchange members.
“Most of the children that we’re dealing with here in Lowndes County are abused by family members,” Sanders said. “… We’re going to take the statement, and we’re going to look for the evidence. … It’s going to be investigated. We’re not going to make an immediate arrest right then.”
LCSO typically responds to dozens of cases of child abuse each year in Lowndes County, Sanders said.
To support children going through cases of abuse, Annunciation Catholic Church made a donation of 75 stuffed animals to LCSO to provide as gifts to victims. Samantha Edwards, the church’s Catholic youth organization director, said she was glad Annunciation could find a way to support local youth going through difficult situations.
“These may seem like small gifts, stuffed animals, but they carry a much larger purpose,” Edwards said. “In difficult moments, especially for children, something as simple as a stuffed animal can provide comfort, security and a sense of peace where everything else feels uncertain.”
For reporting issues of child abuse, Sanders said victims of concerned adults can call the Mississippi Department of Child Services at (800) 222-8000, along with 911 if there is an immediate threat to a child.
Evensen said that through having open discussions like the one on Thursday she hopes more people can start to recognize the signs in victims of child abuse or human trafficking and help provide the aid she never received.
“I’ve come to learn that justice is shedding light on that darkness,” Evensen said. “It’s accountability. Once it’s been reported, I’ve done my part, I shed the light, and every time I stand up here and do this, this is justice.”
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
