A 15-year-old schoolgirl who was filmed purportedly being raped by a group of male students in a Florida school toilet was a victim of human trafficking, it has been claimed.
Twenty-five male students were identified using CCTV going into the Lee County high school's main boys’ bathroom while the girl was inside last week.
Lee County Sheriff's Office spokesman Tony Schall said a video of the incident was then posted on Snapchat and Twitter.
Authorities initially decided not to pursue the incident, as neither the girl nor her parents were willing to press charges.
But after the video of the incident emerged online, the Florida Department of Children and Families launched an investigation.
The girl's family has since contacted a local charity. Megan Estrem, the CEO of Be The Light, an anti-trafficking organisation which had worked with the girl, said: "I had heard a lot about the incident through the news. I heard it, and thought there're some red flags," Ms Estrem told NBC. "What's upsetting about this is this behaviour is not uncommon for human trafficking victims, it’s a very traumatizing experience.
"She was only 13 when she was trafficked."
The girl, who has not been identified, reportedly underwent a number of treatment programmes after her release but they proved inadequate.
"She did get some help, but it wasn't specific for what she needed," said Ms Estrem.
Ms Estrem told the broadcaster the girl had followed a boy she liked into the toilets, where he asked for sex, and she complied. However, other students soon became aware of what was happening. Around 25 more male students came in and some had sex with her, while others just watched. It lasted for around an hour.
“She was not equipped to make a stable, rational decision in that situation,” Ms Estrem added.
The girl’s behaviour was likely due to conditioning she had been subjected to while enslaved. "She has been in an environment where she has been told to behave a certain way, and there were severe consequences if she didn't," Ms Estrem said.
The age of consent in Florida is 18, though 16- and 17-year-olds may legally have sex with partners aged 16-24. Sex with a 15-year-old counts as statutory rape.
The girl has been withdrawn from the school.
