The Dr. Lois Lee Show

In Part 2 of Javier's story, he reflects on the extraordinary reality of surviving not one, but two of Los Angeles County's most infamous child abuse scandals.
As a child, Javier was among the students impacted by the Mark Berndt case, a nationally known abuse scandal that shocked parents and educators across the country. After speaking up about what happened, he entered the foster care system, where he would later experience additional trauma at MacLaren Hall, the now-closed Los Angeles County receiving center that became the subject of widespread allegations of abuse and neglect.
Javier shares how these experiences shaped his life, his understanding of resilience, and his determination to keep moving forward despite the odds.
Dr. Lois Lee and Javier also discuss a powerful truth that has guided Children of the Night for nearly five decades: compassion cannot be taught. The adults entrusted with the care of vulnerable children must possess the empathy, humanity, and commitment necessary to help young people heal.
The conversation concludes with a deeply personal reflection on the lifelong bond between Javier and Dr. Lois Lee. What began as a rescue became a relationship built on trust, support, and unconditional care—a reminder that healing often starts when one person chooses not to give up on a child.
Topics Discussed:• Surviving the Mark Berndt abuse scandal• Experiences within the foster care system• MacLaren Hall and its lasting impact on youth• The importance of believing children when they speak up• Why compassion matters when working with vulnerable youth• Resilience, healing, and rebuilding a life after trauma• The lifelong relationship between Javier and Dr. Lois Lee
If you or someone you know is a young person in crisis, Children of the Night provides free services, education support, case management, and emergency assistance to youth across the United States.
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Listen Now:
🎧 New episodes weekly on Spotify, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Podbean, and wherever you listen. Follow & Support
🌐 Website: childrenofthenight.org
📲 Facebook & Instagram: @childrenofthenight
🕊️ X/Twitter: @LoisLee_COTN
👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this podcast to help us reach more listeners and protect vulnerable children.

Javier was one of the children impacted by the Mark Berndt abuse scandal, one of the most notorious school abuse cases in Los Angeles history.
As a third-grade student, he tried to escape what was happening by running away from school. When he spoke up, he says no one believed him.
What followed was a childhood spent moving through systems that were supposed to protect him. After entering foster care, Javier was placed at MacLaren Hall, where he experienced further abuse at the hands of staff members.
His story could have ended there.
Instead, Javier eventually found support through Children of the Night and Dr. Lois Lee, beginning a long journey toward healing and recovery.
Today, Javier shares his story not only as a survivor, but as someone who has spent years advocating for children who have experienced abuse and trauma. In this powerful conversation, he reflects on survival, resilience, accountability, and the lifelong impact of being believed.
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Listen Now:
🎧 New episodes weekly on Spotify, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Podbean, and wherever you listen. Follow & Support
🌐 Website: childrenofthenight.org
📲 Facebook & Instagram: @childrenofthenight
🕊️ X/Twitter: @LoisLee_COTN
👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this podcast to help us reach more listeners and protect vulnerable children.

In Part 2 of Lynne’s story, retired Homeland Security professional and former Children of the Night outreach worker Lynne shares one of the most heartbreaking cases she encountered while working the streets of Hollywood alongside Dr. Lois Lee.
Drawing from her years of outreach experience, Lynne reflects on the realities of meeting vulnerable young people where they were, building trust, and witnessing the devastating impact of exploitation. Among the many cases she encountered, one stands out as the most disturbing: a young girl who had been handed over by her mother to her father, who was exploiting her.
Through this candid conversation, Dr. Lois Lee and Lynne discuss the complex dynamics of trafficking, family betrayal, grooming, and the lasting trauma experienced by victims. They also share insights from decades of frontline work helping young people find safety, support, and hope for a different future.
This episode provides a sobering look at the realities behind child exploitation and the critical role outreach workers play in identifying victims and connecting them with life-changing resources.
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Listen Now:
🎧 New episodes weekly on Spotify, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Podbean, and wherever you listen. Follow & Support
🌐 Website: childrenofthenight.org
📲 Facebook & Instagram: @childrenofthenight
🕊️ X/Twitter: @LoisLee_COTN
👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this podcast to help us reach more listeners and protect vulnerable children.

In Episode 33, we begin part one of Lynne’s story. Lynne entered prostitution in her early 20s . She was married, raising a child, and living in Minnesota when a man she met on a night out promised to care for them both. But his promises led her to the streets of New York City. After his run-in with the law, Lynne found herself in Los Angeles—still trapped. When a new threat emerged, an attacker claiming she belonged to him, Lynne reached out to Dr. Lois Lee—setting the stage for her escape.
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Listen Now:
🎧 New episodes weekly on Spotify, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Podbean, and wherever you listen. Follow & Support
🌐 Website: childrenofthenight.org
📲 Facebook & Instagram: @childrenofthenight
🕊️ X/Twitter: @LoisLee_COTN
👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this podcast to help us reach more listeners and protect vulnerable children.

In Episode 32, Sarah shares how she was introduced to exploitation at 15, her years of addiction and instability, and the turning point that came when she sought help from Children of the Night. With ongoing support, she earned her GED, completed two degrees, and is now preparing for a career helping others recover and rebuild their lives.
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Listen Now:
🎧 New episodes weekly on Spotify, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Podbean, and wherever you listen. Follow & Support
🌐 Website: childrenofthenight.org
📲 Facebook & Instagram: @childrenofthenight
🕊️ X/Twitter: @LoisLee_COTN
👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this podcast to help us reach more listeners and protect vulnerable children.

Connie’s story is one of survival, support, and the possibility of rebuilding.
As a young person, she experienced early harm that made her more vulnerable to exploitation by someone she trusted. When she was eventually found by law enforcement, she was placed in juvenile hall, a reality many exploited youth still face.
Through it all, her father never gave up on her.
Connie was later connected to Children of the Night, where she found safety and long-term support. That support didn’t end when she left. It continued through education, emotional care, and guidance as she began rebuilding her life.
Today, Connie is working toward reconnecting with her children and moving forward with strength and purpose, with a team still standing beside her.
Her story is a reminder that consistent support, safe relationships, and advocacy can change the trajectory of a life.
Listen to the full episode of The Dr. Lois Lee Show on YouTube. New episodes every Tuesday.
⸻
Listen Now:
🎧 New episodes weekly on Spotify, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Podbean, and wherever you listen. Follow & Support
🌐 Website: childrenofthenight.org
📲 Facebook & Instagram: @childrenofthenight
🕊️ X/Twitter: @LoisLee_COTN
👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this podcast to help us reach more listeners and protect vulnerable children.

Part 2: In this episode of The Dr. Lois Lee Show, Alex R reflects on her journey out of exploitation and what it takes to rebuild a life after years of survival on the streets and online.
Alex marks February 14 as her “celebration date”—two years since leaving the life. After 16 years of exploitation, she reached a breaking point. Her body could no longer endure what she had been through, and she knew she had to find a way out.
Although she initially planned to leave in 2020, economic instability and limited work experience led her back to survival-based choices. With few employment options and a criminal record tied to her past, barriers to stability remained high.
During the conversation, Alex shares how a conviction from Iowa has continued to follow her, impacting her ability to move forward. Dr. Lois Lee discusses the importance of long-term advocacy, including access to legal support. Through partnerships with volunteer attorneys, efforts are made to help clear records and remove barriers that keep survivors stuck.
Alex’s story highlights the reality that leaving is not a single moment—it is a process that requires ongoing support, opportunity, and care.
At Children of the Night, that support does not end. The organization remains committed to walking alongside survivors as they rebuild their lives.
⸻
Listen Now:
🎧 New episodes weekly on Spotify, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Podbean, and wherever you listen. Follow & Support
🌐 Website: childrenofthenight.org
📲 Facebook & Instagram: @childrenofthenight
🕊️ X/Twitter: @LoisLee_COTN
👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this podcast to help us reach more listeners and protect vulnerable children.

Part 1: In this episode of The Dr. Lois Lee Show, Alex R reflects on her journey out of exploitation and what it takes to rebuild a life after years of survival on the streets and online.
Alex marks February 14 as her “celebration date”—two years since leaving the life. After 16 years of exploitation, she reached a breaking point. Her body could no longer endure what she had been through, and she knew she had to find a way out.
Although she initially planned to leave in 2020, economic instability and limited work experience led her back to survival-based choices. With few employment options and a criminal record tied to her past, barriers to stability remained high.
During the conversation, Alex shares how a conviction from Iowa has continued to follow her, impacting her ability to move forward. Dr. Lois Lee discusses the importance of long-term advocacy, including access to legal support. Through partnerships with volunteer attorneys, efforts are made to help clear records and remove barriers that keep survivors stuck.
Alex’s story highlights the reality that leaving is not a single moment—it is a process that requires ongoing support, opportunity, and care.
At Children of the Night, that support does not end. The organization remains committed to walking alongside survivors as they rebuild their lives.
⸻
Listen Now:
🎧 New episodes weekly on Spotify, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Podbean, and wherever you listen. Follow & Support
🌐 Website: childrenofthenight.org
📲 Facebook & Instagram: @childrenofthenight
🕊️ X/Twitter: @LoisLee_COTN
👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this podcast to help us reach more listeners and protect vulnerable children.

Locked inside an apartment. No phone. No food. No way out—until she found one. Janel left home as a teen, searching for safety and a way to survive. What she found instead was control and exploitation.
At one point, she was kept inside an apartment, cut off from the outside world, with basic needs used against her. She found a way out.
When Janel called Children of the Night, everything began to shift. With support, she earned her GED and was flown out to celebrate a milestone she once thought was out of reach: her graduation.
Her message to her 18-year-old self:You are worthy of love without having to earn it from anyone. You do not need a man to survive. Invest in yourself.
Every young person deserves the chance to rebuild, to learn, and to choose a different path.
Support the work that makes stories like Janel’s possible.
⸻
Listen Now:
🎧 New episodes weekly on Spotify, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Podbean, and wherever you listen. Follow & Support
🌐 Website: childrenofthenight.org
📲 Facebook & Instagram: @childrenofthenight
🕊️ X/Twitter: @LoisLee_COTN
👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this podcast to help us reach more listeners and protect vulnerable children.
 

In Episode 27 of The Dr. Lois Lee Show, Jayla shares a story of betrayal, survival, and the long path toward rebuilding safety.
At 13, Jayla reached out to an estranged half-brother in the Bronx, hoping for connection. Instead, she was harmed by someone she trusted and exploited over a period of weeks.
After escaping, Jayla told her best friend, who then informed her grandmother. From there, she was connected to Children of the Night and flown to Los Angeles to receive care at the organization’s shelter home.
At the shelter, Jayla experienced structure, safety, and support during a critical time. With guidance and stability, she began the process of healing and redirecting her life after a deeply traumatic experience.
Today, Jayla is focused on being a present and protective mother to her 6-year-old daughter. She speaks openly about the importance of parenting differently — creating safety, setting boundaries, and putting her child first.
Dr. Lois Lee also continues to support Jayla as she navigates ongoing safety concerns, including threats from her incarcerated brother, reinforcing the importance of long-term advocacy and protection for survivors.
Jayla’s story is a reminder that exploitation often comes through trust, and that recovery requires more than rescue — it requires sustained care, protection, and guidance over time.
⸻
Listen Now:
🎧 New episodes weekly on Spotify, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Podbean, and wherever you listen. Follow & Support
🌐 Website: childrenofthenight.org
📲 Facebook & Instagram: @childrenofthenight
🕊️ X/Twitter: @LoisLee_COTN
👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this podcast to help us reach more listeners and protect vulnerable children.