Runaway teen found safe

CRESTVIEW — A North Okaloosa County teen who was missing for a week has been found safe.

Heaven Hickman was reported missing by her mother, Christina, on Oct. 20. Cmdr. Andrew Schneider, with the Crestview Police Department, said Hickman was listed as a runaway, and the department had no reason to believe of any suspicious activity. But Christina said she felt this time it was different.

“She’s involved in human trafficking…,” Christina said.

Heaven had been in and out of the Department of Juvenile Justice twice and has been on probation for the past few months, according to Christina. On Oct. 19, Heaven removed her GPS ankle monitor on Alabama Street in Crestview, and for a week, her family and her probation officer lost contact with her.

Christina said she believed her daughter was involved in human trafficking because of information she received from Heaven's friends. She said Heaven was last seen with a 32-year-old male, and she heard that Heaven was reportedly being “prostituted out” and going by the name Honey.

“No one is taking it as seriously as I am, and I feel like no one believes me and… I’m getting upset with it,” Christina said. “I believe she is going down a dangerous road, and she left on her own free will. But, I believe there is pressure behind that."

According to Dominica Smith with DCF, the department could not confirm any allegations when there is an active investigation, unless a fatality is involved, due to confidentiality laws.

However, Smith said, “We have several human trafficking investigations and victims in [the area]."

According to CPD Public Information Officer Brian Hughes, Heaven runs away often and police had no reason to believe this time was human-trafficking related.

Heaven was located Thursday night in Freeport by the Walton County Sheriff's Office and sent back to DJJ, according to Christina.

"Heaven said he (the 32-year-old male) kidnapped her and she called for help while he slept," Christina said.

Deputies involved in finding Heaven have not responded to phone calls about the situation as of this writing.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Runaway teen found safe