The Brief

PHOENIX - Sixteen-year-old Anaiah Walker was known as a routine runaway, but police believe she was sex trafficked before being killed in a hit-and-run.

The connection isn't uncommon. Experts have studied the link between missing Department of Child Safety kids and trafficking in Arizona.

‘The Blade’

A 4-mile stretch of road in Phoenix from Indian School Road to Northern Avenue is known as "The Blade" or "The Track." Through previous reporting and interviews with law enforcement, it has been a longtime hot spot for prostitution and sex trafficking.

In August alone, police say two girls, ages 17 and 15, were trafficked by multiple adults throughout The Blade. It's unknown where the victims came from, but a recent study from Mercy Care shows more than 60% of

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