WAKE FOREST, N.C. — The Wake Forest Police Department’s first-ever victim advocate is bringing resources to those in need in a unique way.

Through a podcast called "Victims Vibe," Carly Reavis with the Wake Forest Police Department explores topics of domestic violence, sexual assault and other family-related issues.  

Almost a month ago, two Amber Alerts within days of each other were tied to human trafficking. While both victims were found safe, and the topic of human trafficking is top of mind for many North Carolinians after the separate scares, both involving 15-year-old girls.

“A lot of times we have to worry about victims reaching out for services, and their abuser finding out and being mad about that, escalating their behavior,” Reavis said. 

Her most recent episodes are on human trafficking. 

“One of the big things I want to get across with the podcast is that human trafficking is really not what it's depicted as in movies and shows. It's really a lot different,” Reavis said. 

Victims Vibe podcast page on Spotify.

Before coming to the Wake Forest Police Department, Reavis worked at the Wake County District Attorney’s Office. She covered a range of cases, including in the felony domestic violence unit. Now, she's combining her knowledge of advocacy work with her experience in criminal law through her podcast. 

“Usually, this is the first time they've ever been kind of on the criminal side of things. Knowing how to move forward, just because charges were taken out, does it mean that anything is even remotely like over or closed for them?” Reavis said. 

For years, Reavis has released weekly podcasts, providing information and resources to victims, families and others that are affected by these crimes.

“I've had assistant district attorneys, federal prosecutors, different types of law enforcement, advocates. We've had some SANE [Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner] nurses come on and talk about their role,” Reavis said. 

The Human Trafficking Hotline lists North Carolina in the top ten states for human trafficking. 

Reavis' most recent series on human trafficking has a variety of guests, including those in the field, such as Detective J. Moody with the Wake Forest Police Department. He said a lot of times human trafficking victims are also victims of sexual exploitation. 

“They'll start talking electronically, whether that be, any kind of internet chat platform, even video games, where the offender will reach out to either you know, children in most cases, and begin to build a rapport with them, talk to them,” Moody said. 

He said offenders will spend a lot of time building this relationship and may even send them gifts. 

“Know your child's possessions, if they're getting anything new, and you know who they're talking to online,” Moody said. “Don't be afraid to have the conversation, to look through chat messages and really just be involved with your children and know what they're doing online.”

In future episodes, she speaks with a human trafficking survivor from Durham who said her almost three months in captivity was the most purposeful pain she ever experienced. 

“I walked in that house thinking that I had a choice in whether or not I was going to be able to leave, and quickly, within the first, I mean, within the first two days of me being there, I learned opposite,” Calyn Weber, a survivor of human trafficking, said.

Weber said the fear of the financial aspect of her captors taking her money and the fear of being safe kept her trapped. 

Related article: Durham man accused of human trafficking receives six life sentences

“She pulled me down the hallway by my hair, beat me in the face, and I, I knew, like, right then and there, that I needed to do what I could to survive that situation,” Weber said. “Had I not experienced the things that happened inside of that house, I don't think that I would be the woman that I am today.” 

The N.C. Department of Administration lists trafficking into three categories: labor trafficking, sex trafficking and domestic servitude. 

It is often portrayed that those taken into human trafficking are abducted by a stranger. Joey Hehn with A21, a international anti-human trafficking organization in Charlotte, said that is not always the case. 

“Most often people are exploited by someone who knows them very well, whether they were groomed by a family member or friend, an employer, etc. there is a relationship there that it's almost never a stranger,” Hehn said. 

At the A21 office in Charlotte, Hehn gets to work directly with survivors and other community partners. 

Lee Anna Stoker with First Fruit Ministries on the Victims Vibe podcast. (Spectrum News 1/Sydney McCoy)

“In Charlotte we have aftercare services, which are direct tailored support services for survivors of human trafficking, both sex and labor trafficking,” Hehn said. 

Hehn said human trafficking is becoming recognized more since it is understood more and sees familial trafficking in North Carolina more often than not. 

The North Carolina Department of Administration said the state is prone to human trafficking due to numerous rural agricultural areas with demand for cheap labor, major highways and a large military population, surrounded by sexually oriented business and an increasing number of gangs. 

Traffickers look for someone who fits their criteria to take. Some vulnerable communities can include women, youth, people of color, immigrants and homeless people. 

If a victim is rescued, they still have a long journey to recovery. 

“It's kind of retraining their brain that they are in control of them. They have power over their life because they've been told for so long that, you know, like someone else has power or someone else is in control,” Reavis said. “Letting them realize that they have that autonomy and what they can do, what they need to do for them now is, is a big piece of it.”

For a full list of vulnerable communities, myths and signs of human trafficking, visit the NCDOA’s website. 

Reavis’ first episode of the series will be out Monday, and the following episodes should be released over the next few weeks.

Monday’s episode will feature Lee Anna Stoker with First Fruit Ministries and Erin Blondel, the assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of N.C.

Episode two will consistent of Weber’s story. 

Episode three will feature Hehn and Shelby Thompson with Gate Beautiful. The final episode of the series will have guests SAC Kevin Roughton, ICAC coordinator with NCSBI, and Chief Jarryd Rauhoff with the Biscoe Police Department. 

If you suspect or have confirmation of a trafficking situation and victims are not in immediate danger, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline:

• Chat online with a representative
• Call 1-888-373-7888
• Text 233733

Visit the Wake Forest Police Department's website for a link to submit anonymous questions or topics for a future episode.