alicia kozakiewicz transcript alicia kozakiewicz transcript

Because I'd lost all hope I thought they were there to kill me, so I rolled underneath the bed to try to hide from them and stayed as quiet as possible. For more on the missing persons case of Sofia Juarez, subscribe now to PEOPLE or pick up the current issue, on newsstands now. "The Internet has unfortunately become an easy avenue for predators to find unsuspecting victims," said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash. "That is why I have introduced legislation, the Sex Offender Internet Prohibition Act of 2007, which imposes mandatory penalties, five to 10 years in prison, for individuals who are required to register as sex offenders and knowingly access a Web site with the intent to communicate with an unsuspecting child. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., cited a "dearth of federal resources devoted to investigating and prosecuting child exploitation and crimes. It was my older brother who introduced me to the internet. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? A tearful and at times angry Alicia Kozakiewicz stood feet from the man who abducted and raped her 17 years ago and begged a federal judge on Friday to keep the man from moving into her hometown. Wasserman Schultz has introduced the Protect Our Children Act of 2007. That all changed on New Year's Day 2002. "Even if you are somewhere that should be safe, you're letting your child wander around that dark alley.". [6] Her story and message have been chronicled on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, Dr. Phil,[7] CNN, MSNBC, and the A&E Biography Channel. She must have given this presentation a hundred times, but one slide still makes her stumble. Over the years, Alicia has spoken about everything from safely traveling solo, to getting through the holidays when youre facing past trauma, to putting new tools in place to fight child pornography. There, he chained her by the neck, sexually assaulted her, and live-streamed her torture. Ms Kozakiewicz explained she was a frequent internet user in 2001, mostly using it to play games and chat with friends. Its powerful, beautifully designed and comes with everything you need to engage your visitors and increase conversions. Over the course of four days, she was held captive, shackled, raped, and tortured in Tyree's basement dungeon. I knew my only chance of survival was to stay alive long enough for somebody to come find me. [28], In 2018, it was reported that Alicia's Law had assisted in the arrest of over 1,000 online predators in Wisconsin alone. She is also the namesake of "Alicia's Law," which provides a dedicated revenue source for child rescue efforts. Most recently, she has prevailed in her efforts to get the term child pornographychangedto child sexual abuse material(CSAM) andchild sexual abuse imagery(CSAI). I met him on the evening of January 1st, 2002. Finally, the car stopped, he pulled me out of the car and dragged me into this house - and continued to drag me down a flight of stairs that seemed to go on forever in my mind. Even today, people are shocked when they hear a story like mine. "Although current law prohibits the possession, trafficking or transport of child pornography, a person who uses a computer to knowingly access child pornography intending to view it, and who then views that child pornography, can arguably avoid criminal liability as long as he or she does not download or print the images. Ms Kozakiewicz, soon to graduate and be married, now works to educate children on the dangers of online exploitation through her group The Alicia Project. Alicia knows all too well: At 13, she was lured into conversation by an online predator who groomed her for months with flattery before abducting her. "I had been given this second chance, and I wasn't going to waste it," she says about her decision to talk about what happened to her. Today, you will hear from . Behavior Analysis Program Promotes Positive Change, The Chicago School Mental Health Summit: Improving Wellness for All, Lindsay Fleming: Talking to teens in troubling times, Annual Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute Conference Tackles the Teen Mental Health Crisis. Scott. Alicia Kozakiewicz, who was abducted by a man she had met on the internet when she was 13, said the lack of follow-through was disheartening. In September 2003, Tyree was sentenced to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison. He said I'm beginning to like you too much'," she said. More than most, Alicia knows how dangerous the Internet can be. In 2001 and 2002 there were very few people educating children that the internet could be dangerous. This is not pornography, she says emphatically. [6], On New Year's Day in 2002, Tyree lured Kozakiewicz into meeting him near her Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, address. There is still a deeply held belief that human trafficking happens elsewhere, when in fact, it happenseverywhere, including your neighborhood. He'd already kidnapped a child, he'd already done unspeakable things to me, why would murder be something that he couldn't do?," she said, However, before Tyree returned from work, Ms Kozakiewicz was rescued by FBI agents, whom she describes as my angels.. es in similar circumstances are not recovered. [6][7] In 2016, Kozakiewicz graduated from Chicago School of Professional Psychology with a master's degree in forensic psychology.[34]. Now 27, Alicia has made it her mission to protect other children from what she went through, and has had a law named after her in several US states. "A predator's goal is to make you feel like you are enough. He was sentenced to 19 years and seven months in prison. At the age of 13, I was groomed and lured from my home by an internet predator, she says with complete candor. [18][19][20][21] and was assigned to a halfway house in Pittsburgh; protests against the location of his placement[22] eventually involved members of Congress in an unsuccessful effort to pressure the Federal Bureau of Prisons to move him farther away from Kozakiewicz's family. What shocked me the most and what compelled me to get involved in this issue is that due to a lack of resources, law enforcement is investigating less than two percent of these known 500,000 individuals. This is it." I was raped and beaten and tortured in that house for four days. I felt safe. Hours before she feared her kidnapper intended to kill her, she was rescued by the FBI. Alicias extraordinary life story exemplifies the strength of the human spirits ability to overcome adversity and to deny defeat, reads her bio on the projects official site. We train airline employees, both in the air and on the ground, how to be aware and act when they notice the signs of trafficking., For Alicia, the goal has always been to help and prevent what happened to her from happening to. And call the police and this whole thing will be over.". Alicia Kozakiewicz was held for four days by her kidnapper, former computer programmer Scott Tyree, at his home in Virginia. On the walls were all these devices that my 13-year-old mind just couldn't comprehend. The buying, selling and using of people children, women, men makes more money than the combined annual revenues of Starbucks, Google and Nike combined. Sometimes, a road sign can send her into a panic attack. But instead of going upstairs to her room, she slipped past the Christmas tree and out the front door to say a quick hello to her new friend, who was waiting in a car parked down the block. Nearly 20 years later, Alicia is still sharing her story,travelingacross the globe to speak to audiences of children, families, teachersand law enforcementin an effort toraise awareness of online predators, child abduction and child sexual exploitation. He contacted the FBI, anonymously and via a payphone because he feared being charged as an accessory to the crime. [12][13][14], After her rescue, Kozakiewicz was examined at a hospital and released to the custody of Fairfax County Child Protective Services. Online grooming is very effective. Kozakiewicz, like Jayme Closs, was 13 when she was abducted. Good has to speak up louder.. Kozakiewicz will advocate for its passage in all 50 states. Read about our approach to external linking. He sped off down my street and past my house. re trafficked within their own country, as well as to countries near and far. While many victims are, young girls, victims of all genders and demographics are trafficked. Alicia, granddaughter of former Allegheny County Jail Warden Charles Kozakiewicz, had no life-threatening injuries and was examined at a Fairfax, Va., hospital and then was released to custody. They had talked to me about "stranger danger" but there is a difference between a stranger you meet on the street and the stranger you meet online. He came for a 13- year-old girl for a sex slave. You are the smartest. One such tool is education., Postdoc Secures Support for Innovative Work, New Ph.D. [2], In 2007, she testified before the House Judiciary Committee in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of internet laws to protect children. He chained me to the floor with this dog collar next to the bed. I decided in that moment that I was going to do anything to get away, that I was going to risk my life. Enroll in one of our more than 30 academic programs today or request more information by filling out the form below! Kozakiewicz is now 29, an actress and model, a forensic psychology graduate and an experienced public speaker. I remember standing on the corner and this little voice finally spoke up - my intuition - and said, "Alicia what are you doing? VELEZ-MITCHELL: Police eventually found Alicia tied to a bed in a Virginia townhouse. "Save us from the pedophiles, the pornographers, the monsters. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin, Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Published on September 2, 2022 09:56 AM. Then the man turned around and I saw FBI on the back of his jacket, and all of these law enforcement agents rushed into the room. After some time the car reached a toll booth and in my mind I remember thinking, "This is my chance, this is when I'm going to be rescued because this person in the booth is going to see a crying child and think, 'What is going on?' Most recently, she has prevailed in her efforts to get the term child pornography, (CSAI). If you have been affected by any of the issues in this piece, you can call the Samaritans for free on 116 123. She has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Phil, Good Morning America and in the New York Times. Law enforcement knows who they are and where they are. Now an advocate for laws preventing crimes against . Kozakiewicz is now a motivational speaker and advocate. This bill sends a clear message to sex offenders that if they use these Internet sites to contact children, they will go to jail.". Stars Jimmy Bacon Rachel Gray Marshall Shirley See production, box office & company info Watch on True Crime Files by ID with Prime Video Channels More watch options Its not to terrify them and make them afraid of the world, its to empower them.. I am now working on a masters degree in forensic psychology and am graduating in just a few months (yay!). Thank you. After my own period of healing, at the age of 14, I began going into schools, giving presentations, and sharing my story, she continued. He held her captive in the basement of his Virginia home, where he raped and tortured her. Alicia doesn't have a clear memory of what happened next, except that she heard her name called out and the next thing she knew, she was in the man's car. Alicia Kozakiewicz never gave up hope, and now shes spreading awareness after her horrifying experience. "You need to act as though you are in a scary alley on the Internet," she says. If they say they're using it as an alarm, buy them a [separate] alarm. I watched those boots, one set of them walk from one side of the bed that I was hiding under. ered internet safety and sexual awareness presentations for children, testified before Congress for the Protect Our Children Ac. This is her story in her own words. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is dedicated to providing you with an exceptional education rooted in innovation, service, and community. At that time the internet was really just entering the home and my parents had thought that they had given my brother and me this wonderful gift. I thought: "When was the last time that I told them I loved them? I knew in that moment there was nothing I could do. He was named "Kozak" in honor of Kozakiewicz. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Today, she recounted for Congress how an online sexual predator befriended her in an Internet chat room, then kidnapped her, drove her across state lines and locked her in a cage in his basement, where he beat her, tortured her and raped her. Recently teaming up with the Investigation Discovery network, Kozakiewicz provides insight on internet safety and awareness. In reality, Kozakiewicz was speaking to Scott Tyree, a 38-year-old man who used those conversations to groom . I thought, "Maybe he'll just drive around the block." They gave me a second chance at life. While many victims areyoung girls, victims of all genders and demographics are trafficked. Kozakiewicz has trained the FBI National Academy, offering insight as part of the "Youth Violence: Victims and Perpetrators" program. The law must be amended to ensure that these offenders do not escape liability because of a technicality in the law, and this is something my bill does. At first, she thought that was it, but then she saw the bright, yellow letters on the backs of the mens jackets: FBI. By creating this new revenue stream, Alicia's Law builds permanent capacity for child rescue teams - revenue that will not fall victim to yearly fights over or cuts to the general budget. In response, I began to work alongside the nonprofit PROTECT and together we passed Alicias Law in twelve states, which helps to fund the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, providing resources, training and boots on the ground., The fight continues for Alicia,on multiple fronts. And the reason we do that is because its going to hurt them. I was terrified. "[33], At the time of her abduction, Kozakiewicz was a student at Carlynton Junior/Senior High School. [15], In the aftermath, Kozakiewicz has developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)[4] and significant memory loss. And as a parent, Alicias story is a hard look at the importance of educating children about internet safety especially in light of social media and addiction and how to hopefully avoid ever being in that kind of situation. I remember crying and praying, really praying and I thought about all the things I would do if I were stronger, if I were a character in a superhero movie. Don't let them have a phone late at night in their bedroom. Miraculously, I was rescued by the FBI. Sometimes, the sight of a stranger wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers cap triggers horrific memories. Kozak was involved in the search for Jayme Closs. Waters. There was one guy, a boy who I thought was around my own age, that I didn't know, and he was into all the things that I was into, Ms Kozakiewicz wrote in the BBC magazine. [6] Over the course of nearly a year, Tyree groomed the 13-year-old Kozakiewicz. Simply, they blamed the victim, which sadly, is not much different from sexual assault cases of present day. In 2001, at age 13, she was lured into conversation by an online predator who groomed her for nine months with flattery before abducting her. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless, Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican, A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California, A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho, Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open, Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally, A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. By MATTHEW JAFFE January 7, 2009, 10:41 PM Oct. 17, 2007 -- Six years ago, Alicia Kozakiewicz says she was just a normal 13-year-old girl. Tyree, then aged 38, proceeded to kidnap her and drove five hours to his house in Herndon, Virginia. Now, She's Determined to Keep Other Kids Safe Now, 20 years later, Alicia Kozakiewicz says educating parents and children is part of. I paid attention to the street signs and they went from being very familiar names to names that I couldn't recall being anywhere near my home. I knew that they were looking for me and that they loved me. "We are overwhelmed, we are underfunded and we don't have the resources we need to save these children," said Waters. While the Protect Our Children Act was passed into law, it was never fully funded, leaving law enforcement overworked and underfunded and children in danger. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? My family and I vowed that we would make a difference and help to save other children and families, Alicia wrote in a piece for BBC News in 2016. You are the coolest. Nothing could hurt me ever again because my dad wouldnt let anything hurt me again. Alicia Kozakiewicz was 13 years old when she slipped out of her home in Pittsburgh to meet someone she had been chatting to online. These men and women, they are my angels. And that was when the nightmare was over; being in my familys arms.. "And now they know exactly where the children . I must have made some noise because I heard a man say, "Movement over there!" By Elaine Aradillas. How could I get out of this, let them know that I'm in danger?". The question was whether they would find me alive, or dead. At 13, She Was Abducted and Tortured by an Online Predator. The most loving gentle touches could suddenly seem evil and full of harm. He listened to what I had to say day and night, giving me advice. These arecrime scene images and videos of children being sexually abused., Alicia also works withAirline Ambassadors International asahuman traffickingawarenesstrainer and spokesperson. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. I said I had a stomach ache. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month, Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Kozakiewicz has been featured in numerous national and international publications, such as People and Cosmopolitan. Ms Kozakiewicz said she remains convinced she would have been killed that evening. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. And so I started speaking out in schools, and sharing my story with kids.". The committee also heard testimony from federal officials, as well as experts in the fight against online sex crimes. I started to accept my own death. Victim of online predator tells Congress of horrific ordeal and urges action. ", Waters cautioned lawmakers that a lack of resources is harming efforts to address this problem. arly 20 years later, Alicia is still sharing her story, across the globe to speak to audiences of children, families, teachers. ALICIA KOZAKIEWICZ, KIDNAPPING AND RAPE VICTIM: I walked out the front door and found that the bogeyman is real and he lives on the Web. Alicia Kozakiewicz Shares Dangers of the Internet After Being Abducted by an Online "Friend" at 13. Now, I would know exactly what that meant but at that time I had no idea. "'Tonight we're going to go for a ride. I knew he was going to kill me.. It's OK, cry.". Miraculously, I was rescued by the FBI. I remember crawling out from underneath this bed. I want to make it clear that you cannot define pain by time, or what happened, it's how the experience affects the person. While I did what I could to survive, no matter how humiliating or painful or disgusting, I had no control over my fate. Alicia Kozakiewicz was 13-years-old when she slipped out of her parents house in Pittsburgh to meet a friend she had been chatting to online for the past six months. I remember the Christmas of 2001 was really wonderful and so was the first half of New Year's Day 2002. Tonight were going to go for a car ride. And I knew that was when he was going to kill me.. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology at Point Park University. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st, The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. So we were - and still are - a very close family. Tyree was arrested half an hour later at his workplace in Herndon. "The price we pay for coming up short will be measured in children lost. 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That's really all I thought it was. I resolved to begin sharing my story and experience to highlight the existence and prevalence of online predators and to empower others to keep themselves and their families safe.. In the US, the averageage a child is first entered into human trafficking is between 12 and 14 years old. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. 2023 BBC. There was one guy, a boy who I thought was around my own age, that I didn't know, and he was into all the things that I was into. They cut the chain from around my neck and helped me up. 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And she saw handcuffs and ropes in the back seat. Alicia Kozakiewicz, 19, testified at the Judiciary Committee about surviving, and transcending, her own experience as a child victim of an Internet predator.