Is he still alive?? Or was he killed shortly after being kidnapped? What about the pedophile ring theory? Does anyone find Paul Bonacci credible? I think some of what he said is true, but I'm not totally convinced that he helped kidnap Johnny Gosch, or had any kind of interaction with him.
shareMy gut just wouldn't let me believe him. Not sure why. Might turn out every word he said was true
shareI was sure this was going to be the conventional story where the child (whether found or not) was going to have been abducted, probably raped, murdered, and dumped/buried. Then it took this wild turn to human trafficking...
Despite his obvious emotional problems (especially back then), I believe Bonacci. He seemed to have details that had not been released to the public -- although we didn't see the interview and it's possible that Noreen subconsciously coached him like those who visit clairvoyants often do ("I see red, brown, blue..." "Yes! Mom loved the color blue! Does she have a message for me?!")
I think such horrific things do exist in the world and that it can happen in Omaha just as easily as in Thailand or Russia. We already know that pedos tend to network, and while it never before occurred to me, I think Noreen made a good point: not all pedos are on the street risking to capture children themselves, the rich and powerful have procurers.
I think Bonacci's account is more truthful than not, shocking and lurid as the story sounds.
I'm a social worker in the foster care system in northern California...and I am sad to report that human sex trafficking happens a LOT in the US, not just Thailand or Russia. (I used to think that it was only in places like that too) Statistics now show that the US is the greatest "consumer" of sex trafficking. In the WORLD, And with that kind of demand, there is always someone willing to supply.
I live in a relatively small town, yet there is a known sex trafficking ring that comes through my area, moves the children/teens to other towns nearby, and ends up in Reno. And tragically, the foster care system often feeds that ring, because of all the runaway (or suddenly missing, and PRESUMED runaway) children and teens who slip through the cracks. Many of the youth I work with (both male and female) have been trafficked in the past. Some of them go back to their traffickers voluntarily because they feel they have done terrible things (as if they were responsible) and that the traffickers and other victims are the only ones who will ever understand and accept them now that they are so damaged.
It breaks my heart.
And then there's the possibility that like Paul they perpetuate the cycle and end up in prison.
shareYes. Some victims form a trauma bond with their abusers and end up identifying with them or recreating the pattern on their own. It's tragic when it happens. However, think of all the people who were sexually abused and/or trafficked in the world--what percentage of them actually go on to be perpetrators of sexual abuse later in life? I don't know the stats off the top of my head, but it's a fairly low percentage. More often the victims develop self-destructive behavior.
But no matter how it plays out, the effects are devastating.
And I'll be honest, I'm not sure what to make of Paul's part of the story. He seemed to have some mental health issues. I also didn't understand, he made it sound like he had been abducted and forced into this human trafficking ring at a very young age...yet he also spent time with his family during that period of time. So early in his victimization, his traffickers would never have let him come and go, especially back to his family. I don't think he made up the story on purpose--he didn't get anything concrete out of telling the story and he didn't seem to be wanting to hurt the family by making up a false story--but he might have been delusional and really believed what he said. Then again, maybe it was true. Who knows.
If you read Nick Bryant's book it's explained a lot better.
The reason some kids are "throwaway" kids is that they are in foster care or have parents that are junkies that don't care well for their children.
Paul could totally come and go as the sex ring needed because he wasn't missed and no one cared when he was gone.
My gut says Paul is lying about most things. Very possible he was abused and he abused but the rest....something is very off about him. It became a national story and those stories always bring out people who lie about being involved. He did it before that pattern was recognized. The multiple personality thing, they were presenting it as if he just switches personalities and remembers everything that happens. That isn't typical is it? Can see the mother wanting to see any pattern, any link as a path toward her son. Seeing what she wants to see, people often do this when they want resolve or a link to a loved one. Rather believe a lie than the truth because sometimes lies leave and opened end possibilities.
share