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Shamed Into Silence

Shamed into silence

Editor's note: This story contains graphic descriptions that may not be suitable for children and might be disturbing for some... Updated Mar. 23, 2012

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Laurel Edinburgh is a St. Paul pediatric nurse practitione who works with young Hmong girls that have been traumatized by rapes and exploitation. She's pictured talking with colleagues in a 2005 file photo.

Documenting a hidden crisis, case by case
Article By: Pam Louwagie and Dan Browning ,Star Tribune Publish October 11, 2005 2:00 AM / Update March 23, 2012 4:43 PM
Quietly, she listens to their stories of horror.

A St. Paul pediatric nurse practitioner who examines child sexual-assault victims, Edinburgh, 36, has heard countless stories about brutal rapes. But when police started sending more Hmong girls her way in 2003, she noticed a difference.
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Men charged in the case
Publish October 9, 2005 2:00 AM / Update October 8, 2005 11:00 PM
The life of a St. Paul 12-year-old turned into a nightmare after she met two men called JB and Taz. After giving the girls crystal methamphetamine, the men made her pay for the drugs by prostituting her, police say. A Hmong teenager who lived in the house where the first rape took place was charged with soliciting a minor to commit prostitution. Age 15 at the time of the attacks, he entered a plea agreement, but because he was a juvenile, his case is not public.

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Becoming well-known in the Hmong community is one way law enforcement officials can help encourage rape victims to step forward. In this file photo, St. Paul police Sgt. Richard Straka is pictured at a Hmong New Year's festival.

Shamed into silence
Article By: Pam Louwagie and Dan Browning , Star Tribune Publish October 9, 2005 2:00 AM / Update March 23, 2012 5:05 PM
Editor's note: This story contains graphic descriptions that may not be suitable for children and might be disturbing for some readers.

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A voice of outrage from within
Article By: Dan Browning and Pam Louwagie , Star Tribune Publish October 11, 2005 2:00 AM / Update October 10, 2005 11:00 PM
Ilean Her's concern about young Hmong girls getting raped in St. Paul started in church.

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Two cops who are reaching out
Article By: Pam Louwagie and Dan Browning , Star Tribune Publish October 11, 2005 2:00 AM / Update October 10, 2005 11:00 PM
Kevin Navara walked into the tiny St. Paul apartment, his tall frame and booming voice commanding attention.

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Experts battle Hmong crisis
Article By: Dan Browning and Pam Louwagie , Star Tribune Publish October 11, 2005 2:00 AM / Update October 10, 2005 11:00 PM
On a Friday morning in September, St. Paul police officer Craig Nelson was driving through Frogtown when he noticed a boy strolling along eating a sweet roll.

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Culture clash can stymie help
Article By: Pam Louwagie and Dan Browning , Star Tribune Publish October 10, 2005 2:00 AM / Update October 9, 2005 11:00 PM
Chue Lee hung up the phone and wept. Her eldest daughter had run away again, and Lee couldn't get the police to find her and bring her home.

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In this world, there are no easy cases
Article By: Dan Browning and Pam Louwagie , Star Tribune Publish October 10, 2005 2:00 AM / Update October 9, 2005 11:00 PM
Editor's note: This story contains graphic descriptions that may not be suitable for children and might be disturbing for some readers.

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