The ABC program Four Corners had a terrifying but compelling doco made last year on an Aussie/American couple caught participating in a worldwide pedofile ring and how they were caught (by dedicated detectives and a bit of luck). It was called "The Boy with the Henna Tattoo". It really gives a sense of what these people do and how hard it is to catch them. Worth the watch if you can stomach the sickness these people inflicted on little kids. Synopsis below before watching.
"To the world they appeared as model parents with a beautiful son. But the happy facade set up by Australian citizen Peter Truong and his American partner Mark Newton concealed the darkest of secrets.
They claimed he was their surrogate child. But Newton and Truong had actually bought him for US$8,000, the result of an unwanted pregnancy. They sexually trained and groomed their son to be exploited by a network of men around the world, known as 'Boy Lovers'. The abuse began when he was less than two years old.
Next on Four Corners, with unprecedented access, reporter Caro Meldrum-Hanna tells the inside story of the extraordinary global investigation, involving police from three continents, that finally rescued the young boy and put his parents behind bars. The program has obtained never-before-seen videos charting their lives.
With co-operation from authorities in Australia, New Zealand and the United States, Four Corners follows investigators as they uncover a global paedophile ring like no other. The program reveals how the super secret ring operated online, who its members were and how they remained hidden behind walls of sophisticated encryption for almost two decades. During that time, members of the network were able to produce millions of images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children. Four Corners exposes Truong's connection to this network.
Four Corners reveals how the key that unlocked the conspiracy was a henna tattoo.
This global story ends in Florida, where Meldrum-Hanna speaks with the father of the boy, Peter Truong. He is currently in a federal prison serving a 30-year-sentence for his crimes. What you will discover about him is unforgettable."
