Ebby Steppach

Ebby Steppach was just a normal young adult, of just 18 years of age, when she went missing unexpectedly and was believed to be snatched from a park in Little Rock, Arkansas back in 2015. This case has remained unsolved since that time much to the disappointment of not only Ebby’s loving family but the law enforcement officers who have worked on the case throughout the years. 

Ebby Was “The Every Girl”

Ebby’s case is an example of “every girl”, the way that human trafficking can horrifically impact the lives of virtually any family, no matter their background or socio-economic status. Friends of the family said that the most surprising fact about Ebby’s situation is the normalcy of her life before her disappearance. Her family loved her, they went on vacation every year to Florida,  and she enjoyed snacking on Hot Pockets. In other words, she was part of a normal family. There were no indicators that something like this was going to happen. 

Ebby’s Mom's Unique Perspective

Ebby’s mom Jernigan differs from many parents who hope their missing child is still alive but in some sort of trafficking ring. Their logic is if they are still alive, they can be found and rescued. While that is the truth, the trauma the victims experience when they are used in this manner is immense. Instead, Jernigan believes and even hopes in some ways that her daughter is deceased because that would mean that she is free from the prison and the horror of the abuse. She said the following to explain her unique perspective on her daughter’s case:

“Someone said to me, ‘Best-case scenario, she is sex trafficked.’ I said ‘No, that’s the worst-case scenario. The best-case scenario is that she's deceased and with God.’ They don’t get that. I think so many people are afraid of death because they don’t know what death is. Well, I know what death is. It’s freedom.”

She also added:

“I don’t want her broken. She doesn’t have to struggle. She’s not being traded or sold. You can survive something like that, but why would I want her back at that cost? A lot of people don’t believe it that way.” 

This sad case is an example of the reality facing families all over the nation who are seeking help for their children who have been victimized by the human trafficking industry.