In Part V of The War We Owe Them, Dave and Steve sit down with Sean Wheeler, founder of Starfish Ministries Colorado and a survivor of child sex trafficking. Sean shares his story in his own words, including the grooming and abuse he endured as a young boy, his experience being exploited in child sexual abuse material, and the ritual abuse that shaped his early years. He offers a perspective that is too often missing in public conversations, the voice of a male survivor. Sean speaks candidly about the myths that silence boys and men, the stigma surrounding female offenders, and the reality that trafficking does not always look the way people imagine.

Sean also discusses his experiences with law enforcement and the broader system, highlighting what helped, what hurt, and what investigators must better understand about trauma responses. As a member of the Survivor’s Council with PACT and founder of Starfish Ministries, Sean continues to advocate for accountability, prevention, and a future where every survivor, regardless of gender, is seen, believed, and protected.

Protect All Children from Trafficking (PACT) Website:

https://www.wearepact.org/

PACT Survivor’s Council:

https://www.wearepact.org/about-us/#survivors-council

Starfish Ministries Colorado:

https://www.starfishcolorado.org

Sean's Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Wretch-Haunted-Shadows-Rescued-Jesus/dp/1498486738

Sean's LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wheelerseanm/

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In Part IV of The War We Owe Them, Dave and Steve sit down with Chantal, a mother, entrepreneur, and survivor of human trafficking. In a courageous and deeply personal conversation, Chantal shares her story in her own words, offering insight into the warning signs others may have missed, the myths that harm survivors, and the trauma responses that are often misunderstood. She speaks openly about what trafficking looks like in real life, why victims don’t always leave or report immediately, and the turning points that made healing possible.

Chantal serves on the Survivor’s Council with PACT and engages in legislative advocacy with members of Congress to promote systemic change and prevent child sexual exploitation. Dave and Steve explore what law enforcement does well, where it falls short, and what investigators can do better to help victims of trafficking. They also examine where the system fails survivors and what real accountability should look like. This episode challenges listeners to rethink what they believe and what responsibility we all share moving forward.

Protect All Children from Trafficking (PACT) Website:

https://www.wearepact.org/

PACT Survivor’s Council:

https://www.wearepact.org/about-us/#survivors-council

Connect with The Detectives Podcast: https://linktr.ee/thedetectivespodcast

Join us on Patreon for early access, ad-free episodes and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/thedetectives

Shop official merch: https://www.tritonpublishing.net/thedetectivespodcast

Directly support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/thedetectives

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this February 2026 Squad Meeting, we answer listener questions from our recent episodes, including some great follow-ups that dive deeper into investigations and the reality of the criminal justice system.

We also break down our latest Cross Examined episode with Lead Detective Emma, an elected Superior Court Clerk. The conversation pulled back the curtain on something we don’t often talk about, the real relationship between detectives and the court system. We discuss how cases move behind the scenes, how court staff and law enforcement interact, and what people often misunderstand about the judicial process.

Also, we give you an update on an important battle between Dave and Steve… shirt sales. Is Team Dave still holding the line, or is Team Steve making a comeback?

Connect with The Detectives Podcast: https://linktr.ee/thedetectivespodcast

Join us on Patreon for early access, ad-free episodes and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/thedetectives

Shop official merch: https://www.tritonpublishing.net/thedetectivespodcast

Directly support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/thedetectives

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.