Lara Logan’s latest episode of Going Rogue examines how traffickers exploit neurodivergent children and young adults, with one Texas mother sharing how predators targeted her daughter multiple times.
In Episode 81, titled “Traffickers Target Kids With Autism: A Mother Speaks Out,” Logan speaks with a woman who uses the name Jill. Jill said her daughter has Asperger’s, ADHD, and learning disabilities.
A Mother’s Warning
Jill said her daughter’s vulnerability, trust, and desire for connection made her an easier target for manipulation.
“She just wanted to be loved,” Jill said during the episode.
Jill said her daughter was first targeted after meeting people connected to the trafficking lifestyle, and later through Facebook. She described one period when her daughter was missing for two years before Homeland Security became involved.
“I spent two years not knowing if she was alive or dead,” Jill said.
Rescue And Federal Case
Jill said Homeland Security later rescued her daughter and a 14-year-old girl during an operation that led to federal sex trafficking charges.
She said the trafficker was ultimately sentenced to 365 months in federal prison.
The episode also features Brandi from Shepherds Watch, a Texas-based anti-trafficking organization that works with law enforcement and educates families about warning signs.
Online Safety Concerns
Brandi said parents need to pay close attention to who their children communicate with online, especially through social media, gaming platforms, and virtual reality devices.
“Be aware, be nosey,” Brandi said. “Put safeguards on their devices. Know how to use the apps your children use. Be proactive, not reactive.”
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, FBI Dallas recently warned parents, guardians, and teachers about violent online networks known as “764,” which authorities say target children through gaming apps and social media platforms before using coercion, blackmail, and threats to exploit them.
The episode also addresses warning signs parents may miss, including secret online communications, unexpected phones or devices, late-night messages, and children or young adults forming relationships with people their parents do not know.
Watch the full episode below.
