Jean Marie Davis is an author, speaker, and follower of Christ who is passionate about using her past experiences to help others.
After being forced into sex trafficking for more than 20 years, Davis shares her testimony all over the world in the hopes of raising awareness about human sex trafficking, how to spot the signs, and how people can get involved to help victims find hope, healing, and freedom in Christ.
Jean’s Story
Groomed for Abuse
Jean Marie Davis was raised in an abusive household where sexual molestation by family members and neighbors, verbal insults, and drug use were commonplace. At the age of two, she remembers being passed around men’s laps during football parties and being given her first beer at four. By the age of twelve, she was doing hard drugs like LSD and mushrooms.
Throughout her entire childhood, she recounts being taken to bars, where she encountered strangers having sex and doing drugs in the bathroom. Having been repeatedly called “fat” and “unlovable” by her parents and beaten, Jean equated the verbal and physical abuse with love.
By the age of eighteen, Jean was making minimum wage at a pizza place and in a same-sex relationship. After her partner invited her to a party where naked women, money, and drugs were plentiful, she questioned how she could make that kind of money—envisioning a sense of freedom from her current struggles. However, her questioning immediately threw her into bondage, as she was given drugs, gang-raped, and forced into prostitution.
Over the course of ten years, Jean moved from pimp to pimp and felt stuck in the cycle of prostitution and abuse. While some might wonder why she couldn’t just walk away, she recounts having felt groomed to equate abuse with love. To leave the abuse would be to leave the only kind of love she’d ever known.
Finding a Way Out
However, as Jean was nearing thirty, she found out she was pregnant. Feeling desolate, alone, and suicidal, she knew something had to change. She escaped her situation and sought out a homeless shelter. While most denied her, claiming that her situation was “too severe,” one finally accepted and directed her to a pregnancy center, where she was greeted with the words, “How can I help you?”
Jean recounts that this was the first time she truly felt an ounce of love. However, it wasn’t just the woman’s words that were loving; it was the look in her eyes. Jean knew that whatever love was behind that woman’s eyes, she wanted it.
After receiving an ultrasound and finding out she was five months along in her pregnancy, the woman said that although she couldn’t help her, she knew a man named Jesus who could.
Rescued to Rescue Others
Despite her abusive childhood and being trapped in sex trafficking for most of her young adult life, Jean has found hope and freedom in Jesus Christ. While others intended to harm her, she knows that God is using her experience for good and allowing her to help free other victims of sex trafficking in the process.
In the News
How to Report Suspected Human Sex Trafficking in Your Community | Jan 16, 2026
Human sex trafficking can occur close to home, often in familiar settings such as hotels, residential neighborhoods, or shopping centers. Many people hesitate to report suspected activity due to uncertainty or fear of being mistaken, but understanding the appropriate steps can make a critical difference in community safety and victim protection.
Between 2007 and 2024, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received nearly 1.5 million signals, including phone calls, text messages, Webchat, online tip reports, or emails, related to human trafficking. Almost 90,000 from potential victims seeking help, and nearly 115,000 potential trafficking situations were identified across the United States.
These figures underscore the importance of timely reporting and professional intervention.
Recognizing Potential Warning Signs
Trafficking is not always obvious. Victims may appear fearful, controlled, or unable to speak freely. Some common warning signs include:
- Being accompanied by someone who insists on speaking for them
- Signs of physical abuse, malnourishment, or poor hygiene
- Lack of personal identification or inability to access money
- Frequent movement between locations or unfamiliar areas
- Visible anxiety, fear, or submission around authority figures
Note: No single sign confirms trafficking. Look for patterns and avoid confronting the person directly, as this could place them at greater risk.
How and Where to Report Safely
If you suspect human sex trafficking, report your concerns to trained professionals who can respond appropriately:
- National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1‑888‑373‑7888 or text 233733 (available 24/7, anonymous reporting)
- Local law enforcement: Especially in cases of immediate danger
When reporting, focus on observable facts, such as locations, descriptions, and behaviors, rather than assumptions or conclusions. Avoid direct intervention; trained agencies are equipped to investigate safely while prioritizing the protection of victims and confidentiality.
Supporting Safety Through Awareness and Care
Community awareness plays a vital role in preventing exploitation. By understanding the warning signs and knowing how to report concerns, individuals can help protect those most at risk, particularly women and youth.
You can make a difference by:
- Educating yourself and others about human trafficking through credible resources such as the Polaris Project or the Blue Campaign
- Reporting suspicious activity to the National Human Trafficking Hotline
- Supporting survivors by volunteering with organizations like Shared Hope International, Love146, donating to survivor services such as Freedom Network, or local anti-trafficking nonprofits
- Advocating for stronger protections and awareness initiatives at the local or national level
- Remaining observant while prioritizing your own safety and the safety of others
Even small actions can have a meaningful impact in protecting vulnerable individuals and connecting survivors with critical support. Be alert and report any suspected human trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
How Human Sex Trafficking Affects Victims: The Mental and Physical Impact | Dec 15, 2025
Many people hear “human trafficking” and assume it happens somewhere else, far removed from their own community.
What Are the Legal Frameworks in Place to Combat Human Sex Trafficking? | Nov 27, 2025
“I thought human trafficking only happened overseas.”
“That kind of thing doesn’t happen in my town.”
