Alicia Kozakiewicz

Alicia Kozakiewicz
Born	(1988-03-23) March 23, 1988 United States
Occupation(s)	Media figure, motivational speaker, advocate
Known for	Internet safety advocacy, child protection, survivor of child abduction

Alicia Kozakiewicz (), also referred to as Alicia Kozak (born March 23, 1988), is an American media figure, motivational speaker, and advocate dedicated to Internet safety and child protection. She established the Alicia Project, an organization focused on raising awareness about online predators, abduction, and the exploitation of children. The legislation known as "Alicia's Law," which allocates specific funding for child rescue operations, is named in her honor. Kozakiewicz has partnered with Investigation Discovery to enhance public understanding of Internet security, missing persons cases, human trafficking, and child safety issues.

At the age of 13, Kozakiewicz became the first prominently publicized victim of Internet enticement and child abduction, drawing nationwide attention to the dangers posed by online predators. Her experience has been covered extensively by major media outlets such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, Dr. Phil, CNN, MSNBC, and the A&E Biography Channel. She is featured in an Emmy-winning documentary produced by Enough is Enough as well as a PBS Internet safety film titled Alicia's Message: I'm Here to Save Your Life. Her advocacy work has also been recognized in magazines including People and Cosmopolitan.

Kozakiewicz has provided testimony before the United States Congress concerning children's Internet safety and federal support for initiatives aimed at rescuing abducted children.

Abduction

Kozakiewicz initially communicated online with an individual she believed to be "Christine," who was later revealed to be a 31-year-old man. This man introduced her to Scott Tyree, aged 38 and residing in Herndon, Virginia, through a Yahoo chat room. Over the course of nearly a year, Tyree groomed the 13-year-old Kozakiewicz by frequently contacting her during nighttime hours when her family was asleep, despite the computer being located in a shared family space.

On January 1, 2002, Tyree deceived Kozakiewicz near her home in Pittsburgh, compelled her into his vehicle, and transported her to his residence in Virginia. She was confined for four days in a basement dungeon where she suffered shackling, sexual assault, and physical abuse. Tyree recorded and live-streamed these acts over the Internet.

Rescue

A viewer in Florida recognized Kozakiewicz from news reports and a missing persons flyer issued by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Concerned about legal consequences, this individual anonymously alerted the FBI using a payphone.

The FBI traced Tyree’s IP address through the Yahoo username provided in the tip to his townhouse in Herndon. On January 4, 2002, agents conducted a raid at 4:10 pm and rescued Kozakiewicz. Initially frightened, she suspected the rescuers might be sent by Tyree to harm her. Tyree was apprehended shortly thereafter at his place of employment in Herndon.

Kidnapper

Scott William Tyree, born in 1963 to Erma Tyree, was Kozakiewicz’s abductor. He graduated from Westmoor High School in 1981. At the time of the kidnapping, he was divorced with a 12-year-old daughter who had been staying with him during winter break but was sent back to her mother on the day of the abduction. His former wife, Sarah Tyree, described him as "a classic, long-haired computer guy" with interests in science fiction and computer games and no previous criminal record.

Aftermath

Once rescued, Kozakiewicz underwent a medical evaluation at a hospital before being placed under the care of Fairfax County Child Protective Services. Due to widespread media coverage, the FBI arranged for her parents to be discreetly transported to Virginia to reunite with her. She experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and considerable memory impairment, relying heavily on therapeutic counseling for healing. In 2002, societal awareness was limited, and victim blaming remained prevalent despite some support from the community.

In September 2003, Tyree was sentenced to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison. He was released in February 2019 from the Federal Correctional Complex, Butner and moved to a halfway house in Pittsburgh. Kozakiewicz, her family, along with several congressional representatives, petitioned the Federal Bureau of Prisons to transfer him away from her local area. A judge ordered his relocation on March 22, 2019. Nevertheless, in October 2019, Tyree returned to prison for a two-year term after violating parole by accessing pornographic material online. He was freed again on September 22, 2021.

Advocacy

At age 14, one year following her abduction, Kozakiewicz established the Alicia Project—an advocacy organization dedicated to raising awareness and educating about Internet safety for children, online predators, and abduction prevention. She has courageously shared her experience at educational institutions and professional conferences, despite acknowledging the emotional challenges involved.

In 2007, Kozakiewicz appeared before the House Judiciary Committee to emphasize the urgent need for legislation protecting children on the Internet. She played a key role in advocating for the Protect Our Children Act of 2008 and has collaborated with PROTECT to advance Alicia's Law within various state legislatures. This legislation allocates funding for state-specific Internet Crimes Against Children task forces (ICAC) through diverse revenue sources such as fines and unclaimed lottery proceeds, supporting training programs, research initiatives, and rescue operations. Alicia's Law has been enacted in 11 states, including Virginia, Texas, California, Hawaii, and Idaho, with efforts underway for nationwide implementation.

By 2018, Alicia's Law had contributed to more than 1,000 arrests of online predators in Wisconsin alone. It also financed a K-9 officer trained to detect concealed electronic devices; named "Kozak" in honor of Kozakiewicz, this dog played a vital role in significant cases like the Kidnapping of Jayme Closs.

Kozakiewicz has been honored with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Courage Award (2007) and received a Jefferson Award for Public Service (2009). She has provided training at the FBI National Academy on youth violence issues and was featured in the Distinguished Speaker Series at the Clinton School of Public Service in 2013. Her 2008 publication, You're Not Alone: The Journey From Abduction to Empowerment, offers guidance for survivors navigating recovery.

In partnership with Investigation Discovery, Kozakiewicz lends her expertise on Internet safety topics. Additionally, she serves as an Airline Ambassadors International Human Trafficking Awareness trainer and spokesperson, educating airport personnel on recognizing trafficking indicators.

Kozakiewicz has expressed apprehension regarding the 2022 American Data Privacy and Protection Act, cautioning that it might impede law enforcement’s capacity to swiftly respond to child abduction cases. While endorsing most aspects of the legislation, she warns that if it had been enacted during her captivity, locating her abductor could have been impossible.

Education

During the period of her kidnapping, Kozakiewicz was enrolled at Carlynton Junior/Senior High School. She later obtained a bachelor's degree in psychology from Point Park University and went on to achieve a master's degree in forensic psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2016.

See also

• Elizabeth Smart
• List of kidnappings
• List of solved missing person cases: post–2000