North Dakota

‘Horrifying’ human trafficking story becomes full-length movie filmed in North Dakota

Published

1 year ago

November 13, 2024

‘Horrifying’ human trafficking story becomes full-length movie filmed in North Dakota

BISMARCK — Ejaz Khan was in the middle of filming a movie about horses in Linton, North Dakota, when he waltzed into a gas station for coffee.

Standing behind him with no shoes on — in the dead of winter — was a young woman who he later learned was a survivor of child sex trafficking. While also battling addiction, she was still shackled to the industry as a sex worker.

That was over four years ago. The New Yorker was still completing

“Before They Vanish”

— released in 2022 — when he became friendly with the woman after buying her food.

Upon hearing the shoeless woman’s “horrifying” life story, Khan’s focus whipped from horses to victims and survivors of child sex trafficking.

“After that, I just was devastated. I went back home, spoke to my wife and said, ‘Here we are creating this film on horses and donating proceeds,’ ” he recounted. “But yet, look at this human. Look at what her family members have done to her.’”

The moment was the inspiration for “Trapped,” which follows the story of a young girl who is being sex trafficked by her mother’s boyfriend.

Official movie poster for “Trapped,” which was filmed in North Dakota.

Contributed / Ejaz Khan Cinema

Filmed

entirely in subzero Linton,

Khan said the plot was inspired by the woman he met at the gas station.

Sex trafficking is a form of human trafficking.

According to the North Dakota

Human Trafficking Guide,

the term is used to describe the process of recruiting, harboring, transporting and/or soliciting a person to perform forced, coerced sex acts for money. Victims and survivors can be of any age but are often people who were minors at the time of the crime.

Statewide data from North Dakota’s annual

Human Trafficking Report

documents 102 sex trafficking victims and just two arrests made in 2023.

Nearly one in four of those women trafficked identified as American Indian or Alaska Native, according to the report.

Khan told Forum News Service that the movie doesn’t specifically point to the disproportionate effects sex trafficking has on Native American communities since it follows the story of the woman he met in Linton, who he said didn’t identify as Native American.

However, the director said Native American women still inspire aspects of the movie, having made up a notable portion of the more than 80 survivors with whom he spoke throughout the production process.

BTS EJAZ OF TRAPPED.jpg — Ejaz Khan films a scene of “Trapped” in Linton, North Dakota.

A screening of the movie will take place Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the Grand 22 Theater in Bismarck. Lt. Gov.-elect Michelle Strinden is set to attend as an audience member along with Attorney General Drew Wrigley, who is currently on the list as a “maybe.”

Audience members are by invitation only, including people who belong to related organizations in addition to community leaders.

There will also be representatives from the 31:8 Project,

a resource based in Bismarck

for survivors of human and sex trafficking. Khan worked with the organization while filming the movie.

“Trapped” will be officially released on Jan. 31, 2025, during Human Trafficking Prevention Month. It will be available on Amazon, Google Play and iTunes.

Though the movie is not yet rated, Khan said the crew has worked “very hard” to bring down its rating to PG so that all audiences can learn from its subject material.

“As a director, I’m saying that it’s going to be very uncomfortable. But just imagine what an hour and a half can do. Put yourself in that hour and a half-hour, 40 minutes, of discomfort to help your own children. That’s all I’m asking for,” Khan said.

“Don’t sweep it under the rug,” he said. “We have to face it. Period.”

Peyton Haug joined The Forum as the Bismarck correspondent in June 2024. She interned with the Duluth News Tribune as a reporting intern in 2022 while earning bachelor’s degrees in journalism and geography at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Reach Peyton at phaug@forumcomm.com.

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North Dakota

Iowa State wrestling rolls North Dakota State in Sunday road dual

Published

5 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

Iowa State wrestling rolls North Dakota State in Sunday road dual

Iowa State wrestling left little to chance on the road against North Dakota State, rolling to a 36-3 win over the Bison on Jan. 11.

The Cyclones won nine of 10 bouts against NDSU, including two by major decision, two by technical fall and a win by fall for MJ Gaitan. Iowa State left the dual with four ranked wins as well.

The highlight bout of the dual was the opener at 125 pounds between Iowa State’s Stevo Poulin and No. 17 Ezekiel Witt. Poulin got a nice 7-1 win by decision over Witt, with a takedown into a two-point turn in the second period helping decide it. At 5-5 entering the dual, it was a good sign for No. 14 Poulin as he looks to get back on track.

Evan Frost earned the second ranked win of the day at 133 vs. No. 30 Tristan Daugherty. He walked away with a 9-0 major decision with two takedowns and a two-minute ride in the second period. Anthony Echemendia followed it up with a 21-6 technical fall vs. Michael Olson at 141.

To close the first half of the dual, Jacob Frost hung on for an 11-5 win by decision over No. 25 Max Petersen. Frost got out to an early lead with two takedowns in the first period, but had to fend off a late surge in the third period with a takedown to put the match away at 11-5.

Vinny Zerban had a nice bounce-back effort at 157, defeating former NCAA All-American Gavin Drexler at 157. After taking a loss earlier in the week vs. Arizona State, Zerban went wire-to-wire vs Drexler in a 12-5 decision and nearly had a major decision had he not conceded a takedown late in the third period.

Iowa State came out of intermission still rolling. Connor Euton earned a 11-2 major decision over Boeden Greenley at 165, followed by a win by fall for Gaitan at 174 over three-time Iowa state champion Max Magayna and a gritty 4-1 sudden victory for Isaac Dean over No. 26 Aidan Brenot at 184.

CJ Carter was unable to help secure a shutout win for ISU with a 10-4 loss by decision to Devin Wasley at 197, but Yonger Bastida ended the dual on a high note with a 19-4 technical fall over Shilo Jones. at heavyweight.

Iowa State moved to 6-1 in duals. Kevin Dresser’s team has the Cyclone Open up next on Jan. 18, but no dual until Jan. 23 vs. Northern Colorado.

Iowa State wrestling vs. North Dakota State results

125: Stevo Poulin (ISU) over Ezekiel Witt (NDSU) (Dec 7-1)
133: Evan Frost (ISU) over Tristan Daugherty (NDSU) (MD 9-0)
141: Anthony Echemendia (ISU) over Michael Olson (NDSU) (TF 21-6 4:11)
149: Jacob Frost (ISU) over Max Petersen (NDSU) (Dec 11-5)
157: Vinny Zerban (ISU) over Gavin Drexler (NDSU) (Dec 12-5)
165: Connor Euton (ISU) over Boeden Greenley (NDSU) (MD 11-2)
174: MJ Gaitan (ISU) over Max Magayna (NDSU) (Fall 1:39)
184: Isaac Dean (ISU) over Aidan Brenot (NDSU) (SV-1 4-1)
197: Devin Wasley (NDSU) over CJ Carter (ISU) (Dec 10-4)
285: Yonger Bastida (ISU) over Shilo Jones (NDSU) (TF 19-4 4:53)

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.

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North Dakota

North Dakota HS Boys | Girls Basketball Scoreboard from Jan 10, 2026

Published

18 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

High School Basketball logo. Courtesy Midwest Communications.

North Dakota High School Boys | Girls Basketball Scoreboard from Jan 10, 2026

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL=

Alexander-Trinity Christian 81, Divide County 58

Beulah 55, Des Lacs-Burlington 26

Harvey-Wells County 61, Nedrose 51

Killdeer 54, Dunseith 52

Linton 75, Sargent County 32

Milbank, S.D. 64, Hillsboro-Central Valley 61

New Salem-Almont 71, Mandaree 32

Our Redeemer’s 89, Kenmare 32

Parshall 71, Trenton 70

Richey-Lambert, Mont. 57, Beach 55

Rothsay, Minn. 71, Richland 38

Shiloh 70, Oak Grove 59

Watford City 77, South Prairie/Max 64

Westby-Grenora 49, Savage, Mont. 40

White Shield 72, Strasburg 55

Dickinson Trinity Shootout=

Central McLean 70, Bowman County 54

Dickinson Trinity 63, Stanley 22

Wilton-Wing 70, South Heart 51

Ramsey County Tournament=

Championship=

North Star 65, Lakota/Adams-Edmore/Dakota Prairie 57

7th Place=

Warwick 72, Benson County 61

5th Place=

Carrington 53, Griggs-Midkota 45

3rd Place=

Devils Lake 73, Larimore 63

Stutsman County Shootout=

Drake-Anamoose 54, South Border 49

Glen Ullin 47, EKM 44

MPB 63, Washburn 59

Midway-Minto 61, Ellendale 53

Napoleon/G-S 53, Kindred 44

Oakes 69, Kidder County 39

GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL=

Ashby, Minn. 65, Tri-State 49

Benson County 47, Hatton-Northwood 38

Dunseith 46, Killdeer 39

Ellendale 54, South Border 36

Flasher 42, New England 16

Garrison 54, Grant County/Mott-Regent 51

Kenmare 55, Our Redeemer’s 43

Kindred 70, Bottineau 21

Lambert, Mont. 52, Beach 50

Maple River 53, LaMoure 52

Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood 57, TGU 54

New Salem-Almont 67, Mandaree 44

North Prairie 67, Westhope 49

Park River 42, Griggs-Midkota 37

Richey-Lambert, Mont. 52, Beach 50

Rothsay, Minn. 65, Richland 32

Sargent County 55, Linton 48

Savage, Mont. 40, Westby-Grenora 33

Shiloh 56, Oak Grove 47

Sisseton, S.D. 66, Oakes 17

Strasburg 39, White Shield 30

Surrey 67, Larimore 38

Trenton 58, Parshall 40

Dickinson Trinity Shootout=

Central McLean 55, Bowman County 41

South Heart 45, Stanley 41

Sanford Pentagon Classic=

West Fargo Horace 70, Tea, S.D. 41

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North Dakota

Bankruptcies for North Dakota and western Minnesota published Jan. 10, 2026

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court

North Dakota

Kaitlyn Grace Lucier, Fargo, Chapter 7

Samuel Todd Hicks, formerly known as Thomas Samuel Hicks, Fargo, Chapter 7

Teresa and Dominik Renwick, Fargo, Chapter 13

Susan Renee Fuller, formerly known as Susan R. Schaffer, doing business as Susie’s Sparkling Cleaning Service, Fargo, Chapter 7

Shannon Lynn Taylor, Fargo, Chapter 7

Jesse Patrick and Jaime Elizabeth Brown, Williston, Chapter 7

Kerri Lee Weishaar, Minot, Chapter 7

Terry Marie Moritz, Valley City, Chapter 7

Joshua Allen Sewill, Hatton, Chapter 7

Bryan Eugene Flecker, Minot, Chapter 7

Anna Marie Rahm, formerly known as Anna Marie Tanner, and Joshua Edward Rahm, Bismarck, Chapter 13

Sherri Rae Fisher, Baldwin, Chapter 13

Heather Lynn McElroy, formerly known as Heather Anderson, Grand Forks, Chapter 7

Kaitlyn Autrey, Grand Forks, Chapter 7

Michelle Lynn Miller, Fargo, Chapter 13

Kimberly Georgeann Callahan, Fargo, Chapter 13

Erin Elaine and Jose Luiz Murphy, Bismarck, Chapter 7

Shelly and Kieth Quimby, St. Thomas, Chapter 7

Minnesota

Bankruptcy filings from the following counties: Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, Mahnomen, Norman, Otter Tail, Polk, Traverse, Wadena and Wilkin.

David Howard Gilpin, Osakis, Chapter 7

Timothy Virgil Hoag, Moorhead, Chapter 7

Jason Darryl Dykhoff, Ottertail, Chapter 7

Zachary Nicholas Hodgson and Jolynn Beth Warnes, formerly known as Jolynn Beth Hodgson, Kensington, Chapter 7

Riley Matthew Hinman, Alexandria, Chapter 7

Layne Christopher Condiff, Park Rapids, Chapter 13

Thomas Beecher Hoyer, Menahga, Chapter 13

Christine Karen Jakubek, also known as Cristine Anderson, Chapter 7

Chapter 7 is a petition to liquidate assets and discharge debts.

Chapter 11 is a petition for protection from creditors and to reorganize.

Chapter 12 is a petition for family farmers to reorganize.

Chapter 13 is a petition for wage earners to readjust debts.

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

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