SWHT. The Hunting Camp from Hell

 The Secret World of Human Trafficking, hosted by David J. Story, featuring an anonymous guest called “John.” John shares his painful childhood experiences of sexual abuse and exploitation, including repeated incidents connected to a hunting camp and other situations involving trusted adults. His story, shared to raise awareness and help others, inspired key elements of Omega II – A Cry for Help. The interview focuses on trauma, long‑term emotional impact, fear of repeating abuse, and the importance of speaking out and healing. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:14

Hello, welcome to the secret world of human trafficking. I'm your host, David J. Story. I'm also the author of the Omega book series. I hope you'll learn something from today's episode. So let's go ahead and get started. In this episode, we have a very special guest who we're going to call John. A little background on John and how this interview finally happened. I was struggling to determine the main theme of book two, A Cry for Help, when John sent me an email. I replied back and we started discussing what happened to him when he was younger. John's story was incorporated into book two of the Omega book series. Well, I should say a small part of the story. In fact, the main storyline was based on what happened to him. He asked that I would alter his voice to protect his identity. He didn't want any of his friends or co-workers to know about his past. Good evening, John. Welcome to the show. Good to be here, ain't it? You allowed me to include your story into my Omega book series.

SPEAKER_02 1:16

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 1:16

You contacted me after you read my first book. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 1:19

Uh when I read your first book, it touched me. And I wanted to tell my story. I was able to relate somehow to what you wrote.

SPEAKER_01 1:31

And you wanted to share what had happened to you when you were younger.

SPEAKER_02 1:36

Yes, uh, the parts that I could remember.

SPEAKER_01 1:40

And then you gave me permission to incorporate your story into my book. Is that correct?

SPEAKER_02 1:47

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 1:48

For those who have read Omega 2, A Cry for Help, the part at the hunting camp is where they can find your story.

SPEAKER_02 1:55

Some of it, like I said, what I could remember.

SPEAKER_01 2:00

I'm sure there is much more to your story than just that incident.

SPEAKER_02 2:03

Unfortunately. Luckily, my subconscious has uh blocked most of what uh what had happened.

SPEAKER_01 2:11

If you would like to discuss some of the other incidents, I'm sure our audience would appreciate hearing about them.

SPEAKER_02 2:19

Okay. I I think I'll be able to do that.

SPEAKER_01 2:22

I don't feel that you have to. I'm sure you would like to put all of this behind you.

SPEAKER_02 2:26

I would love to. But uh you can never put it behind you.

SPEAKER_01 2:31

It it will stay with you forever. I'm sure it does. From what you've told me, this incident at the hunting camp happened many years ago. Am I correct? That is correct.

SPEAKER_02 2:41

The best that I can remember, I was around ten or so at the time.

SPEAKER_01 2:48

I understand that you now have kids of your own.

SPEAKER_02 2:51

I have a boy and a girl.

SPEAKER_01 2:52

How old are they? I I'd rather not say. I understand. Well, let's get back to the hunting camp incident. Have you told anyone else about what happened to you?

SPEAKER_02 3:01

Only maybe one or two people, I believe.

SPEAKER_01 3:03

Why have you decided to come forward now?

SPEAKER_02 3:06

Well, to the best of my knowledge, everyone involved is gone.

SPEAKER_01 3:11

Gone, you mean dead? Yes. Or maybe old at this point. Would you like to tell us what happened at the camp?

SPEAKER_02 3:18

Sure. Much of it's still a little foggy. But um, I'll tell you everything that I can remember, which isn't a lot.

SPEAKER_01 3:29

Okay, please share with us whatever you can remember and feel comfortable with. If you need to stop or if it becomes too difficult, I completely understand.

SPEAKER_02 3:39

Okay. One of my memories was uh when my father took me to visit one of his hunting buddies.

SPEAKER_01 3:47

Was that the first time you were men listed?

SPEAKER_02 3:50

No. The first time I think was uh by one of my relatives.

SPEAKER_01 3:55

An uncle or someone like that?

SPEAKER_02 3:57

I'm not sure that memory is uh very faint. I don't think so. Uh he wasn't that much older than me. Maybe maybe in his teens.

SPEAKER_01 4:10

I remember we were in a very dark place and very small, like a closet, uh and he and he forced me to take your time. If you don't want to talk about it, we can move on. Would you like to take a break?

SPEAKER_02 4:27

No. No, I'm fine.

SPEAKER_01 4:30

Tell us what happened.

SPEAKER_02 4:31

He made me masturbate him. At the time I didn't know what to do. Uh he had to shove.

SPEAKER_01 4:40

What what do you mean?

SPEAKER_02 4:42

Well he he took my hand and uh I I get the picture.

SPEAKER_01 4:46

You don't have to go any further. Can you remember anything else about that incident?

SPEAKER_02 4:52

I I remember someone calling our names and I stopped uh what I was doing.

SPEAKER_01 4:57

Then what?

SPEAKER_02 4:58

We stayed uh very quiet for a few seconds.

SPEAKER_01 5:01

Did that person discover you and the other person? To the best of my recollection, yes. Do you remember who that other person was?

SPEAKER_02 5:11

All I remember is it was a female.

SPEAKER_01 5:13

Your mother, maybe?

SPEAKER_02 5:15

No, I don't think so. Uh I'm not sure. Maybe it was his mother, I'm not sure, really sure. I think we were visiting their house. I know it wasn't my house. It uh it was someone else's.

SPEAKER_01 5:28

Did she know what was happening?

SPEAKER_02 5:30

Uh no, I don't think so. I I I don't know really. Uh no what I was doing, felt uh very wrong. I I remember running. I thought uh I was in trouble.

SPEAKER_01 5:42

Did you get in any trouble?

SPEAKER_02 5:44

Not sure, but uh I probably did.

SPEAKER_01 5:47

Can you remember anything else?

SPEAKER_02 5:48

There seemed to be maybe an another person there with us.

SPEAKER_01 5:54

Are you talking about being in the closet with you and your molester?

SPEAKER_02 5:59

Yes, but I'm I'm not 100% sure. I just vaguely remember another voice.

SPEAKER_01 6:06

Any anything else?

SPEAKER_02 6:07

No, uh nothing that I can recall at the time.

SPEAKER_01 6:10

Was this at the hunting camp?

SPEAKER_02 6:12

Well, it was uh somewhere else. I don't remember where it was. I remember him making me touch him.

SPEAKER_01 6:20

Okay, okay, we can move on if it's okay with you.

SPEAKER_02 6:23

Sure.

SPEAKER_01 6:24

Was it before or after the hunting camp incident?

SPEAKER_02 6:28

Um before maybe a few years before.

SPEAKER_01 6:35

Not not totally sure. Okay, let's get back to the hunting camp incident. Please tell us what you can remember about that.

SPEAKER_02 6:42

My father would uh take me hunting with him.

SPEAKER_01 6:46

When you say hunting camp, I'm assuming there were several other hunters. How many people would be there?

SPEAKER_02 6:53

Don't really remember. Uh maybe five or six, maybe four.

SPEAKER_01 6:57

So it was sort of like a hunting club.

SPEAKER_02 7:00

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 7:00

Were you camping overnight?

SPEAKER_02 7:02

At the times that I can remember, we did.

SPEAKER_01 7:05

What were the uh sleeping arrangements like?

SPEAKER_02 7:08

Everyone had their own uh camper or tent, uh the best that I can remember.

SPEAKER_01 7:14

Were there only men there?

SPEAKER_02 7:16

No, uh I do remember one woman there. Uh the rest uh were men, I think.

SPEAKER_01 7:23

How about were there any other children there besides you?

SPEAKER_02 7:27

Yes, uh, I think so. I think I remember some others there.

SPEAKER_01 7:32

Were they younger or older than you?

SPEAKER_02 7:34

I only really remember one other kid there, for sure.

SPEAKER_01 7:39

Is that other kid a boy or girl? It was a boy. You remember how old he was?

SPEAKER_02 7:43

Maybe a teenager. Not really sure. Yeah, he was he was older than me.

SPEAKER_01 7:49

Well, tell me what happened at the hunting camp. Take your time. If you need to take a break, uh we can stop. Oh, no, I'm fine. Let's keep going. Uh please tell me as much as you can about what happened. And remember, we can stop at any time you you want to.

SPEAKER_02 8:08

After everyone's finished hunting, uh they would all come back to camp, eat and sit around talking about stuff.

SPEAKER_01 8:15

When you say uh sit around and talk, what what do you mean?

SPEAKER_02 8:21

I'll sit around a campfire.

SPEAKER_01 8:22

What what what would you talk about?

SPEAKER_02 8:24

I didn't didn't talk about anything. They they did uh most of the time.

SPEAKER_01 8:29

What would they talk about?

SPEAKER_02 8:31

I remember they uh mainly talked about their days, honey, and uh sex?

SPEAKER_01 8:40

What would what what would they say?

SPEAKER_02 8:43

I I don't remember, but I do recall being embarrassed uh while sitting there listening to listening to their stories.

SPEAKER_01 8:53

Was your father sitting there too?

SPEAKER_02 8:57

Yes, he was. And he joined in on the storytelling too.

SPEAKER_01 9:04

He didn't have a problem with his ten-year-old son hearing grown men talk about sex in front of you.

SPEAKER_02 9:13

I guess not. Maybe this son of a bitch got out on her. I I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 9:20

Okay, what else?

SPEAKER_02 9:22

After a while they would all stop talking. Then what everyone would go back to their campers. After a few minutes. After a few minutes I would be taken to one of the other campers.

SPEAKER_01 9:43

My father He would take you to one of the other campers and do what?

SPEAKER_02 9:51

He would leave me there with one of the other adults.

SPEAKER_01 9:56

And that's when the molesting took place. Yes. Do you recall what happened? We're gonna take a break right now and we'll be back shortly.

SPEAKER_00 10:12

If you have been or know of someone who has been a victim of sex trafficking or sexual abuse, please contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 800-373-7888. To report all missing children, contact National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-the-Lost. 1-800-843-5678.

SPEAKER_01 10:39

Okay, we're back. John, would you like to continue now? Uh you don't have to. We can start now if you want. Let's keep going. Tell us as much as you can about what happened. That part uh likely is still very hazy. Okay, we don't have to go into any details. We all know it wasn't something that someone at your age should have been subjected to.

SPEAKER_02 11:12

No, they shouldn't. I remember the touching and and other stuff. Afterwards, I remember laying there and looking out the window of the camper. I would lay there watching the uh campfire slowly burn itself out.

SPEAKER_01 11:33

I can't imagine what you went through.

SPEAKER_02 11:37

I would like to add something.

SPEAKER_01 11:41

Go ahead, any anything you want.

SPEAKER_02 11:44

Unlike in your book, I didn't have a Jack Davison to come in and rescue me.

SPEAKER_01 11:55

I really don't know what to say.

SPEAKER_02 12:05

But uh in real life, uh it doesn't always have a happy ending.

SPEAKER_01 12:12

Unfortunately, that's very true. How many times did this happen?

SPEAKER_02 12:18

What what do you mean?

SPEAKER_01 12:20

How often did your father take you take you hunting?

SPEAKER_02 12:26

A couple times every season.

SPEAKER_01 12:30

Did this happen every time you went to the hunting club?

SPEAKER_02 12:33

What are you talking about, the middle?

SPEAKER_01 12:37

Yes. How long how long did this last? More than two times?

SPEAKER_02 12:52

Yes, I I believe so.

SPEAKER_01 12:55

Why did why did he stop taking you?

SPEAKER_02 12:59

I think the uh the club uh disbanded or or something.

SPEAKER_01 13:05

Do you remember anything else that uh you would like to share?

SPEAKER_02 13:11

I I remember my father taking me over to uh one of his friends' house.

SPEAKER_01 13:19

What happened there?

SPEAKER_02 13:21

We were out in his friend's workshop and they were they were talking. Talking about what? I don't remember. Probably some perverted shit or something. I'm sure. I was busy looking around at all the things in his workshop. What happened? Then my father's friend came over and started uh fondling me.

SPEAKER_01 13:50

What do you mean fondling you?

SPEAKER_02 13:54

Touching me in my private areas.

SPEAKER_01 13:59

Really? And what did you do?

SPEAKER_02 14:01

I pushed his hand away. Then what? He kept he kept doing it. I moved away and then he just kept on following me and touching me and and chasing me. I remember, you know, running around his workshop while he chased me.

SPEAKER_01 14:21

Was your father there? Yes he was. He didn't try to stop his friend.

SPEAKER_02 14:29

No, the uh son of a bitch just sit there and and laugh. That's awful.

SPEAKER_01 14:36

That's some sick bastard.

SPEAKER_02 14:39

You'll get no argument from me on that.

SPEAKER_01 14:42

Was this guy a member of your father's hunting club too?

SPEAKER_02 14:46

I think so, but I'm not not totally sure.

SPEAKER_01 14:50

Did this incident occur before or after the hunting club incident you just that you just mentioned?

SPEAKER_02 14:59

I think it may have been before not really sure.

SPEAKER_01 15:06

Okay, well that that's not important. Anything else you'd like to share?

SPEAKER_02 15:10

Yeah, yeah, one other thing. What's that? When I was uh around 13 to 14, I was with my father and son of his best friend.

SPEAKER_01 15:22

Were you hunting this time too?

SPEAKER_02 15:25

I don't remember why we were all together. Uh I I remember sitting at this old-looking restaurant eating.

SPEAKER_01 15:33

Was this a uh a public restaurant?

SPEAKER_02 15:36

Yes, it was. Tell us what happened. Well, the waitress came up to the table and asked if we needed anything else. And my father told the waitress that uh he wanted her to uh take me out back and pop my cherry.

SPEAKER_01 15:56

You're kidding.

SPEAKER_02 15:57

No.

SPEAKER_01 15:59

What what did you do?

SPEAKER_02 16:02

Well, I was totally embarrassed. Everyone was laughing and you know, egging me on.

SPEAKER_01 16:09

Did she know how old you were? I'm su I'm sure she did. What did the waitress do?

SPEAKER_02 16:18

She said that uh she would love to. That uh she would pick his little boy and bring back a a man.

SPEAKER_01 16:28

You didn't go, did you?

SPEAKER_02 16:30

No, no. She she kept pulling my arm and tried to get me to go with her.

SPEAKER_01 16:38

What were the other customers doing in the restaurant when all this was going on?

SPEAKER_02 16:43

I vaguely remember uh we were in a room by ourselves. So they probably didn't see or or hear anything.

SPEAKER_01 16:53

I think I know what you're talking about. Some sort of like a side dining room for private groups.

SPEAKER_02 17:01

Yeah, so something like that.

SPEAKER_01 17:03

Then what?

SPEAKER_02 17:04

Well, she finally stopped pulling pulling on me and my father's friends just sat there laughing.

SPEAKER_01 17:13

Was that the end of it?

SPEAKER_02 17:15

No, she she gave me a big old kiss on the lips.

SPEAKER_01 17:19

I'm shocked she did this while everybody was watching. Me too. Let me ask you this. I'm sure everyone is is wondering. Did your mother know about any of this?

SPEAKER_02 17:35

I I I don't know. She never said anything about it.

SPEAKER_01 17:40

And you never said anything to her about it? No. I'm sure you still have nightmares because of all of this.

SPEAKER_02 17:49

Yes, I do. But uh they're not as frequent now, but I I still have them.

SPEAKER_01 17:58

Did your father ever force you to have sex with him?

SPEAKER_02 18:03

No, uh not that I can remember.

SPEAKER_01 18:06

Going back to the hunting club, was your father having sex with other children there at the hunting club?

SPEAKER_02 18:15

I guess so. I'm I'm not not sure. He he probably did.

SPEAKER_01 18:20

Do you have any brothers or sisters?

SPEAKER_02 18:24

I had a younger sister. She she passed away when I was uh I believe I was 21.

SPEAKER_01 18:33

Sorry to hear that.

SPEAKER_02 18:35

Thank you. She was uh killed in a car accident. It was at night and it was raining. They said she lost control of her car, went off the road and hit a tree.

SPEAKER_01 18:50

Awful. Was anyone else in the car with her?

SPEAKER_02 18:55

No, huh. Luckily she she was alone.

SPEAKER_01 18:58

Did you ever discuss what your father did to you with her?

SPEAKER_02 19:04

No, never did.

SPEAKER_01 19:06

Do you think he molested her?

SPEAKER_02 19:09

Not sure, but uh I wouldn't be surprised.

SPEAKER_01 19:14

I'm sure it's it's it's been been hard on you all these years. Carrying carrying a secret.

SPEAKER_02 19:22

Yes, uh, very much so. I was afraid of what the future might hold.

SPEAKER_01 19:30

What do you mean?

SPEAKER_02 19:31

I was afraid that I would become my father.

SPEAKER_01 19:36

You may become a child molester too?

unknown 19:39

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 19:40

I'm I'm not sure that being a child molester is something that you inherit.

SPEAKER_02 19:47

Well, as a child, uh you just you just don't know. You're afraid of doing the same thing to others that were were forced onto you.

SPEAKER_01 20:00

I think I understand. Uh what were your what were your thoughts?

SPEAKER_02 20:06

I considered I considered I considered killing myself.

SPEAKER_01 20:14

Why?

SPEAKER_02 20:15

I thought that maybe it would stop the evil from going forward. I was afraid of what I might do in the future.

SPEAKER_01 20:25

Well, I'm glad you didn't follow through with that.

SPEAKER_02 20:28

It it's still in the back of my mind.

SPEAKER_01 20:31

What it what is?

SPEAKER_02 20:34

Um turning out to being like my father. Like it may be inherited.

SPEAKER_01 20:42

I I don't think there's any scientific proof that child molesting is inherited.

SPEAKER_02 20:49

I know, but uh, I still have those thoughts uh thoughts occasionally.

SPEAKER_01 20:54

Can I ask you a personal question, John?

SPEAKER_02 20:58

Sure, why not? Uh I don't think uh we can get any more personal. Uh I've opened up uh my past day so far.

SPEAKER_01 21:10

Have you ever thought about having sex with someone underaged?

SPEAKER_02 21:16

No. No, no. I I try not to put myself in into a situation where I'm alone with any underage children.

SPEAKER_01 21:28

I I don't want to take a chance. I'm sorry to hear that you have to live life that way. Always afraid that somehow you might become like your father.

SPEAKER_02 21:39

It's been very hard. It even affected by wanting to have children.

SPEAKER_01 21:46

Afraid that they would become like your father?

unknown 21:50

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 21:52

And that I might follow in my father father's footsteps. And, you know, maybe due to them what my

SPEAKER_01 22:00

My father did the baby and my sister. And that's why you thought about committing suicide when you were younger?

SPEAKER_02 22:07

Um yes. In the hopes that the sickness would uh prevent any teacher harm to children.

SPEAKER_01 22:15

Well, I'm glad that you didn't follow through on this. And that you've uh not followed through in your father's footsteps, so to speak. Is there anything else uh you would like to to add?

SPEAKER_02 22:33

No, I think that about covers everything that I can remember.

SPEAKER_01 22:38

Well, John, I really appreciate you sharing your story with us. I know it must have been uh very hard on you. It it helps sometimes to talk about it. Have you uh have you gotten any professional help?

SPEAKER_02 22:54

Some uh some years ago, but you know, nothing nothing recent.

SPEAKER_01 22:58

I'm sure this is something uh you'll carry with you the rest of your life. It has been hard. Does your wife know?

SPEAKER_02 23:07

Yes, I finally told her several years ago. She's helped me, you know, helped me work through things.

SPEAKER_01 23:16

It's great to have uh an understanding partner and not someone who would perhaps hold it against you.

SPEAKER_02 23:26

She's been very supportive, uh she knows it that what wasn't my fault.

SPEAKER_01 23:31

Uh no, it no, it wasn't your fault. Well, I want to thank you for sharing your story with us and for allowing me to include it in my Omega book series.

SPEAKER_02 23:43

It was my pleasure, and I hope that it will help someone to this maybe going through uh the same thing that I went through.

SPEAKER_01 23:53

I'm sure it will. Thank you again, John. You're welcome. You can read parts of John's story in Omega 2, A Cry for Help. That's it for our show for today. Thank you for joining in. I hope you were able to learn something today that maybe will help you understand what is going on around you and allow you to be aware of the dangers to yourself and perhaps a loved one, and maybe inspire you to get involved in the fight to stop human trafficking. Please follow me on Facebook, subscribe to my podcast, and email at DavidJstory at Hotmail dot com with your questions or comments. Music by ToonReal dot com. And please remember, always watch your six and others too.