Randall is typical of online predators who become expert at gauging who will make a good victim. He knows that adolescents in particular have a need to form new relationships, and that kids from rural areas who have limited access to new people are frequently more open to online relationships. Kit's blog, shown in Figure 6-1, provides several clues to Kit's emotional state, such as an entry about a fight with his parents and another where he states that he can't wait to get out of his small town. Figure 6-1. Kit's blogBy introducing sex into their conversation and sending gradually more graphic pornography to Kit, Randall was able to manipulate the teen into staying silent about their relationship. What 14-year-old kid would admit to his parents that he's getting pornography from a friend? Eventually most sexual predators convince a child that he or she is a willing participant in the sexual exploitation and that what happens is at least partly their fault. This approach uses the victim's guilt to prevent them from revealing what's going on to others who might intervene. According to law enforcement officers, including Kenneth Lanning, and mental health professionals, predators are so good at building up this trusting relationship that many victims don't feel they are being abused until years later. They come to believe that what's happening is a form of love relationship. Think About It How prevalent is the sexual exploitation of minors in general? Every two and a half minutes, somewhere in America, someone is sexually assaulted. About 44 percent of rape victims in the United States are under 18 years of age (www.rainn.org). |