It started with an innocent bath time question: “Why don’t you like Uncle Mark’s hugs?” My daughter, Lily, froze. Then she whispered seven words that made my blood turn to ice:
“He tickles me where my swimsuit covers.”
The Grooming Tactics No One Warned Us About
Mark wasn’t some stranger—he was my husband’s college best friend, the “fun uncle” who:
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Always brought extra gifts (stuffed animals, glitter pens)
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Insisted on “special tickle time” during visits
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Told Lily “this is our secret” with rainbow stickers as bribes
When I checked her iPad, I found 37 deleted messages with heart emojis and “Don’t tell Mommy” stickers.
The Trap We Set
With police guidance, we:
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Had Lily wear a hidden recorder in her teddy bear
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Let Mark visit one last time while officers watched nearby
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Heard him whisper “You’re my best girl” before the arrest
The Chilling Discovery
Mark’s phone revealed:
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12 other victims in our neighborhood
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A “trophy album” of kids’ underwear photos
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Group chats where predators traded babysitting tips to access children
How to Protect Your Kids
What I learned too late:
🔹 “Secrets are bad” – Teach kids adults should NEVER ask for them
🔹 “No tickles under clothes” – Even from family
🔹 Check devices weekly – Predators groom through games like Roblox
Where We Are Now
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Lily (now 7) sleeps with a therapy dog named Hero
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Mark got 15 years (he’ll be out in 9 with good behavior)
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I run a parent safety group that’s exposed 3 other predators