Trafficking the Disappearance of Lily Rose Flannery: Based on Many True Stories

by Rachael Elizabeth Lee

  I am from San Francisco, California. I am your typical teenage girl. I really enjoy going to the mall, hanging out with my friends and my family. We are a close-knit family. My friends and I spend a lot of the time going to the mall to shop, to see a movie, we love to hang out, and we take drives up and down the Pacific Coast Highway. Sometimes, we go into Los Angeles on long weekends and school vacations. My boyfriend name is Zack we have been dating for almost 3 years. I was looking forward to my senior ball before I tell you what happened to me.

  Zack and I went to his senior ball last year. Zack graduated high school a year before me and started college. I plan on attending the same college as him in the fall.

  For Zack’s senior ball I wore an A-Line, Princess dress with off the Shoulder Sweep Train Chiffon, Sequence and a Split Front it was dark blue. My high heels were patent leather navy in color with narrow straps with a navy-blue heel.

  This year I bought myself an A-Line Princess Scoop Neck Asymmetrical Satan Dress with Lace Beading. My dress was crimson red and I bought crimson red high heels, that I could slip on easily. My heels have a pointy toe and a stiletto heel. Mom, did my hair for me last year along with my makeup. This year I am going to have my mom do my hair and makeup again. I was excited to pick up my dress. It did not turn out that way. There are times when things do not go according to plan. Sometimes life throws you awful and devastating surprises.

  I had so much to look forward to. I was supposed to graduate high school with a 4.0 GPA and I fully intended on keeping the same GPA in college. My life was perfect at the time. I once had really good friends and a loving supportive family who were always there for me. My Mom was my best friend and I was a Daddy’s girl. My little brother Gabe was also one of my best friends. He is funny, kind and very smart. Sometimes I forgot that he was only 12. I will get to what happened to me in due time.

  My family and I often went to the Red Wood Forrest, it used to be one of my favorite places to go. My Grandparents live in Florence Oregon, along with my Aunt Dee and Uncle Mike. It is absolutely breathtaking.

  My parents have been married nearly twenty years. My Dad’s name is Patrick and my Mom’s name is Patricia. My Mom and my Aunt Dee lost their parents when they were young. My grandma and grandpa died in a head on collision. Mom and Aunt Dee received a large inheritance when my Grandparents died. It was close to $75 million dollars. My Dad only has his Parents he does not have any brothers or sisters. Unless you count Uncle Mike and Aunt Dee. Mom is a Nurse Practitioner and Dad is a well-known Plastic Surgeon. Mom rotates shifts a lot in the emergency room where she works. For the most part our family used to sit at the dinner table and we ate dinner together almost every night. Especially, when Mom was home to eat with us. Cell phones or electronic devices were not allowed at the dinner table. My mom and dad were old school. They believed that a family “that eats together, stays together.” My younger brother Gabriel, is going into junior high in September. I would have been graduating high school this year. At one point I was looking forward to graduating and beginning the next chapter in my life.

  That changed in a moment.

  It was almost the end of the school year for us and I was looking forward to my summer vacation. I worked part time at a fast-food restaurant and I absolutely loved it. But that is all gone now. My life will never be the same.

  I live in a four-bedroom, four-bathroom Victorian home, our home was built in 1895. My family and I live in Lower Pacific Heights and my home exudes with the original turn of the century details.

  Each floor consisted of two huge bedrooms, and two on suite beautiful bathrooms, as well as a bonus room on each level. I loved having laundry on each floor and I would not trade it for the world. My favorite features of my home are the high ceilings, pocket doors, bay windows, original molding and the grand staircase.

  These features took my brother, and I back in time, to the historic pre-earthquake days when Victorians ruled San Francisco.

  My home is absolutely breathtaking. On the lower level was a huge 3 car garage and a bonus storage room for Gabriel and I. Behind our garage was a small garden that mom loved to work on in the spring and summer months. She has a green thumb and I love gardening with her.

  The weekend, that everything went wrong was supposed to be special weekend. It was Zack and mine 3rd anniversary. We started dating on April 8, 2014. He took me out to dinner and we were supposed to see a movie. I bought a pretty dress for our special occasion. It was a red strapless dress with white lilies. It’s wasn’t too short and not too long. I bought myself a beautiful sheer white coverup to go with it. I hated to show off a lot of skin. I sometimes watched my brother on the weekends, but not that coming weekend. That weekend my Parents decided to watch Gabriel for me. They wanted me to have fun before school ended. Little did they know I was in danger. I didn’t even know that I was in grave danger.

  That night was supposed our big night. It was date night. Zack told me not to buy him anything special. I happened buy him his favorite movies in DVD boxset. I was so excited to see Zack as I hurried to get ready. I showered, quickly shaved my legs and blew dry my hair. I started to apply my makeup and realized I did not have my favorite lip stick. I asked my Mom if I may borrow hers and of course she said yes. I started to do my hair.

  I wasn’t sure how I wanted to wear it. Curly or straight? Half up or half down? I did a lace braid with a bun in the back.

  As I walked out of my room my Dad told me how lovely I looked. My Mom begin to cry, as she said to me, “you look stunning.”

  They both wanted a picture. They offered me money, and said to me “don’t forget your phone.”

  Zack, came to the door my Parents exchanged a quick hello. We all told each other we love one another. Those three words are so important. You never know what is going to happen. Life is so fragile, as I had to learn. Zack, and I went off into the early evening.

  It was still light out as spring was approaching. Zack drove me down my favorite street Lombard Street, as we held hands. I admired the curves on the road and the homes. It used to be my dream to one day own a home on that street. I wanted a big family with Zack and so many happy years with him.

  We were going to dinner and later we were going to see a movie. After the movie we would go to admire the Golden Gate Bridge. We could look at the bridge at the Kirby Cove or maybe even at Hawk Hill it really depended on the parking. It took my breathe away being able to see the lights and the city lit up at night. The panorama view of the lights overlooking the bay, and the shimmering of the lights hitting the water was marvelous. I was blessed to have such beauty and stillness in my life. Whenever I go to go and witness the awe of it all.

  The rolling hills at Marin Headlands are spectacular and Kirby Cove is just as gorgeous. Going to the beach was the way we may have observed the impressiveness of the bridge.

  That night, the beach and the bridge should have been all ours. That night, the entire world would have belonged to Zack and I, it was a night that I wanted to last forever.

  We arrived at the restaurant Zack gave the hostess, his name for our reservation. We were seated almost immediately and our eyes were only on each other. For a moment we were the only ones in the restaurant. He handed me my gift and I opened it. It is was pandora bracelet with a mother and daughter heart charm. Zack told me that the mother and daughter charm came from my parents.

  Zack also gave me a skull charm, a horseshoe clove and ladybird dangle charm. In addition, Zack got me a butterfly charm and a piano charm. “Try it on Lily Rose.” I put on the bracelet and he attached the clasp for me.

  I handed him my gift and I told him to open it. He opened it and he was so excited he told me “I have wanted this DVD boxset for a while now.”

  The waiter approached our table, and asked “if we would like to start with drinks?” I replied I am ready to order. We sat and chatted for a while and we waited for our food. I couldn’t wait to eat and have some of my favorite foods. The salad was the best. Af
ter we finished eating, we left to head out for our movie.

  Zack and I arrived at the theater with not a whole lot of time to spare. I looked at him after I put my window up and I reminded him to roll his window up. After he put his window up, he leaned over to give me a kiss and I heard a loud bang I felt warmth and wetness on my face.

  My ears were ringing and confusion set in. Oh my God it was Zacks blood. I began to scream; I was calling out to him and he was not answering me. I saw an arm reach through the broken driver’s side window, and unlock the doors. I heard a voice saying to grab her. I reached down for my cell phone and dialed 911.

  Everything happened so fast. Someone opened my door and pulled me out. I was screaming as loud I could. One told the other to shut me up. They had me and they dragged me into a van. I was asking them. Why are you doing this to me? Who are you? I was told to “shut your God DAMN MOUTH!” I was pleading with them to help Zack! Oh my God please help Zack. Then I blacked out. My whole life changed that night and there was nothing I could have done to stop it, or prevent it. Real evil entered my life that night, something I had never encountered before. I must warn you my story gets quite violent and this story is not for the faint of heart.

  3

  Lily Rose is Held Captive

  When I awake, I can hear muffled voices, I am confused, I am disoriented, and scared I have no idea where I am or what is happening to me. I am terrified I don’t know why I am here, am I going to be killed?

  My eyes are blurry for a moment and I cannot seem to focus. I feel the back of my head, and there is a large bump and it is bleeding. As I start to look around at my surroundings, I realize I am in a bed and in a place I do not recognize. I see a window with glass blocks, it is dark outside, I can see the light of the moon. There is a bathroom with no door in front of me, there is a toilet, sink, shower and tub.

  The room I am in is dim and dingy the lamps are chained down. At this moment I try to get up and my right leg is chained to the bed. I begin to scream as panic takes over. The fear is consuming me and I don’t know what to do. I can feel Zacks dried blood on my face and I try to wipe it. I look down, and I keep looking because at first, I am unsure what I am looking at. I am looking at “oh my God it is Zacks brain matter.” I begin to weep and I cannot stop crying at this point. I am petrified and I have no clue what is in store for me.

  I have to calm myself and I focus on the voices. I cannot make out what they are saying. I hear a key and the sound of a deadbolt unlocking. Until this moment, I was a happy teenage girl looking forward to college and my summer vacation. I had a boyfriend and we were happy. We were in love. I never knew my life could come to this.

  I see a shadow enter the room it is small in stature. I am unsure if it is a male or female. I hear a voice say “hello Lily Rose my name is Carl and this is your new home. You will not try to escape; you will not fight me, and you will do everything I say. As long as you follow these rules, I will not hurt you.”

  I ask him why he is doing this to me? I ask him, where am I? I ask him who he is and what he wants with me? I ask him to please take me home. Carl replies, you are not going home yet and you will have answers in due time.

  He proceeds to take the chain off of my leg and Carl instructs me to go get in the shower and clean myself up, he hands me clothing to put on, a bottle of shampoo, a bar of soap, mouthwash, toothpaste, a toothbrush, a wash cloth and a towel.

  He tells me he is going to take my picture and I am going to make him a lot of money. I ask Carl about Zack and he tells me I will never see Zack again. I tell Carl, I have to call my family to let them know I am safe. He looks at me and says I can call them after I shower and he is finished taking pictures of me.

  I reluctantly get into the shower the water is freezing cold. I can see Zacks blood running down my body and small pieces of brain matter. Coming off of me, my body goes numb and I collapse in the shower. Carl rushes over and picks me up, he tells me to “hurry the fuck up and to get out of the shower the moment I am done.”

  I shampoo my hair, and wash the blood and Zacks brain matter off my face and my body. Carl hands me the towel, and I begin to pat my hair and body dry. I am so cold.

  I ask Carl how he knew my name. He looked at me and said.

  “I know exactly who you are, I know you have a little brother named Gabriel and your parents are Patrick and Patricia. Your Father is a prominent Plastic Surgeon and your Mother is a Nurse Practitioner. I also know that your Grandparents, Aunt Dee as well as your Uncle Mike live in Florence Oregon. Now you don’t want to do anything to hurt them do you?”

  No, no I don’t.

  “Wow Lily you really should be more careful on social media. That is how I found you. You show your location in your photos and on your social media accounts. I have been watching you for a while.”

  Carl what is going to happen to me?

  “Now I am going to take pictures of you, you are to put these clothes on. Tomorrow you will have your first customer. This guy is paying top dollar for your virginity.”

  Carl, you cannot make me do this.

  “You will do as your told and you will not fight me on this. I own you now and you owe me a large debt. I will let you go home only if you behave.”

  Carl, I will not do this, you cannot force me into having non-consensual sex with someone.

  “Lily you have a lot to learn. I own you; you are my property. You will do this or suffer the consequences. Plus, do you think once your family finds out what a whore you are, they will want you back or love you ever again.”

  I put on the clothes Carl gave me it’s a red lacy bra, with red lacy underwear. He hands me a short skirt and a short halter top. I try to cover up my belly and he tells me to relax. Carl gives me a drink and I take a sip. He tells me “finish the fucking drink, and not to waste any of it.”

  He proceeds to instruct me to dance and look sexy. I begin to sob and he slaps me across my face. Carl, tells me to stop crying. He takes picture after picture; he tells me I am a sexy little thing and I begin to feel woozy. I remember being placed on the bed and Carl putting the chain on my leg. I was out and I do not recall anything else from my first night with Carl.

  When I woke up the following morning. I am confused, disoriented and terrified I have never been this scared before. I cannot hear anything it is silent I am listening for the voices I heard before. I do not hear anyone. I know that it is the following day I can see light shining in through the glass block windows. The room is not as dim and I am in the same skimpy outfit that Carl gave me the night before. I begin to think how am I going to escape this madness? Is my family looking for me? Has anyone found Zack? Does anyone even know what happened to me? Am I being looked for at all?

  I hear the deadbolt unlocking and the door handle. I see Carl come into the room. He is carrying something in his hands. It is a plate of food and a drink. He tells me I need to eat. I respond with I am not hungry. He assures me he did not drug it and it is perfectly safe to eat.

  “Lily you need to eat, you have a busy day ahead of you. You need to keep your energy up. I have scheduled twelve customers for you. Your first customer will take your virtue. He is paying big money for you. You are quite popular and men cannot wait to fuck you.”

  So, Carl, will I be getting any of this money? You are pimping me out correct? I get a share, right? You cannot force me to sleep with these men.

  “No Lily you have rent, water, and other utilities to pay, food costs and clothing. You get nothing, I told you. You owe me and I own you now. I am the only one who will ever truly love you and take care of you. You will sleep with whoever I tell you to, you got it little girl? Stop being an ungrateful bitch!”

  Well Carl, obviously you missed the history class when slavery was abolished. It is illegal to own someone and it is a federal crime.

  “Shut the fuck up, you little slut. You do not want to piss me off little girl.”

  What are you going to do Carl? Huh?

  “This
is what I am going to do you little cunt.” Carl kicks me in the stomach knocking the wind right out of me. I am gasping for air; I feel like I cannot breath.

  Carl tells me to take a pill I do not want to take it.

  “If you do not take this, I will shove it down your fucking throat, now Lily you don’t want that. Plus, I do not want to hurt you.”

  I do as Carl tells me, and I swallow the pill. I ask him if I can call my family please?

  He says “I’ve called your family they know that you are alive and safe at the moment. They told me they do not want you back. Finish eating your food, I need you to have energy today. Do not disappoint any of these men! Ground rules no fighting any men, you cannot resist and you must perform for them every time. You have to act like you are enjoying it. If you don’t, I will beat you into an inch of your life. When you are finished with one, you go into the bathroom and clean yourself up. Nobody wants to sleep with a pig. Do you understand?”