KTVB's parent company, TEGNA's digital-first investigation into sex trafficking, “Selling Girls,” will be the inspiration for a special episode of NBC’s Megyn Kelly TODAY.
Tuesday’s episode of the show will feature reporting on the epidemic of sex trafficking in the United States, interviews with a survivor, and a man who admits to being a buyer.
Selling Girls: Sex traffickers are targeting American children
Kelly said TEGNA’s “Selling Girls” led to Tuesday’s special.
“Your reporting on this has been gripping. And really importantly, caught our eye,” Kelly said. “It sparked our interest and we’re trying to … expand the discussion.”
KTVB asked Idaho State Police to look at the report and give us their insight on child sex trafficking and whether it's happening in Idaho.
Col. Kedrick Wills says he believes that it is, but it's difficult to know the extent of the problem.
As the investigation shows, the industry is underground. But Will says it's something that troopers are trained to look for.
"Our troopers spend a great deal of time on the interstate system, and so we have people not only from Idaho, but [people] passing through Idaho as well," Wills explained. "And we have some serious cases in Idaho where cases have been solved because troopers have looked beyond the obvious or the public noticed something that just didn't seem right and placed a call."
Wills says those tips from the public could make all the difference for a victim of trafficking.
"We want the public to know if they see something that doesn't seem right, please call and let's look into it further because that one phone call may, and in the past, has resulted in victims being saved."