A fast-thinking Florida teen miraculously saved herself from human traffickers by secretly sending a voice memo to her sister — alerting her that she was being held captive in a motel room.
The victim’s sister immediately reported the news to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and told them about the frantic voice message. In it, her missing 13-year-old sister said she was in danger and trapped in a room at the A-1 Motel in Tampa.
It is unclear how the teenager was able to send out the miraculous SOS without alerting her captors.
Deputies swarmed the motel and found two suspects — Marlon Alfaro-Alvarez, 28, was in the midst of trying to escape out the bathroom window, while Floyd Amaya Garvin, 25, was still in the room with the girl.
Both men were taken into custody and face a laundry list of charges, including human trafficking for commercial sexual activity. Alfaro-Alvarez was also charged with lewd and lascivious molestation and exhibition.
The 13-year-old fell into their hands after being lured to a pickup spot through social media “under false pretenses,” according to the sheriff’s office.
She was brought to the motel room and repeatedly asked to go home as the suspects allegedly offered her money in exchange for sex, according to authorities.
“This child was lured, isolated, and targeted by adults who made the deliberate choice to exploit her. Their actions were not impulsive — they were predatory and calculated,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Thanks to the bravery of this young victim and the swift response of our deputies, we stopped these men before they could cause even more harm.
“Let this be a clear message: In Hillsborough County, we don’t turn a blind eye to those who prey on children — we turn the full force of the law against them.”