I-Team’s Riveting Docuseries ‘He Made Me Do It’ Premieres on 12News Soon

Is a suspect in an Arizona jewelry store robbery also a victim of sex trafficking? The 12News I-Team spent more than a year trying to answer that question.

PHOENIX — This series discusses sexual assault, trafficking and suicide. Please read and watch with care.

Is Helen Simmons a suspect, victim or both?

Helen couldn’t wait to get to Arizona. She’d been accepted at ASU’s journalism school and she had dreams of being a photojournalist. Coming from a rough childhood and a small town in New England, she was eager to start her new life. So eager, that she started swiping on a dating app before she even landed in Phoenix. It was an effort to try and meet new people in the new place she was about to call home. But Helen Simmons swiped wrong.

Less than three weeks after she arrived in Phoenix, she was in jail. She’d been arrested and charged in a jewelry store robbery with a guy she’d just met online. A guy Helen said forced her into the crime. A guy that Helen said made her do some horrible things. A guy that Helen said she couldn’t escape.

In the robbery case, Helen Simmons is a suspect. But is she also a victim of domestic violence and sex trafficking? The 12News I-Team spent more than a year trying to answer that question.

He Made Me Do It is an I-Team series that uncovers where things went horribly wrong for Helen Simmons. We look at whether someone can be both a suspect and a victim and whether someone could be forced to commit a crime. We investigate if allegations of abuse were ignored and if anyone could have helped Helen before or after meeting a guy with a history of hurting women. We also follow Helen through the criminal justice system as she faces serious prison time.

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If you or someone you know needs help, you can call or text 911.

Human Trafficking Tip Line in Arizona: Call 1-877-4AZ-TIPS

National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call 988

National Human Trafficking Hotline: Call 1-888-373-7888

National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-799-7233 or text “START” to 88788

Operates 24 hours a day

Online Chat option on website

National Sexual Assault Hotline: Call 1-800-656-4673

Operates 24 hours a day

Operated by RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)

Online chat option on website

Strong Hearts Native Helpline: 1-844-762-8483

Dating Abuse/Teen Dating Abuse Hotline: 1-866-331-9474 or Text LOVEIS to 22522

Operates 24 hours a day

If you are concerned your Internet history is being monitored, you can call 1-866-331-9474

Online chat option on website

Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence: Call 206-279-2980 or 800-782-6400

ASU Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention and Research (STIR)

Phoenix Dream Center: Call 602-346-8716

Solari Crisis Response Network: Call 1-800-203-CARE

24-hours a day crisis lines for those experiencing a mental health crisis

Solari operates in Arizona and Oklahoma

211 Arizona Referral Service

Eligibility and Care Services

Homeless Management Information Services

La Frontera Trauma Healing Services

24-hours a day services for individuals affected by sexual assault, domestic violence, or hate crimes

Sexual assault hotline: 480-736-4949 or 866-205-5229

LGBTIQ: 480-736-4925

EMPACT 24-hour Crisis Hotline 480-784-1500 or 855-785-1500

UMOM New Day Centers: Call 602-275-7852

Referral Service

Operates 24-hours a day

Non-profit that helps survivors of human trafficking and prior gang affiliation in removal of “branding” tattoos and scars

Scholarship application on website

Contact form on website

Arizona Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family