Her husband and her son. I think that theres no limitation for lodge. No age limitation. Nothing. Nightline, the child bride next door will be right back. This special edition of nightline, the child bride next door continues. Gloria rivera reporting. Reporter theyre portrayed as modern day romeos and juliettes, young, starcrossed lovers. In dramas like the secret life of the american teenager. I now pronounce you man and wife. Reporter and reality shows like say yes to the dress. Im 17. Excuse me . Like a one and a seven . Yes. Wow reporter but for hundreds of thousands of young girls across america, their weddings a far cry from happily ever after. My aunt got on the bus and said get off the bus, youre going to get married today. I was 11 years of age when we got married. And he was 20. Reporter Child Marriage, an issue many cant imagine exists in american neighborhoods. Theres no place in Civilized Society for the early or forced marriage of children. End Child Marriage now reporter butve cg instigatie traveled from the east coast to the mountainous west to the heartland, uncovering americas child were here in steele, missouri, a small, rural town, and were about to meet ashley, who got married at 15. For ashley duncan, a freshman in high school, what started as a Typical School day ended with her becoming a wife. My aunt, she got on the bus not long after i did and said come on, get off the bus, youre going to go get married. Reporter after discovering she was pregnant, ashley believed marrying her 18yearold boyfriend was her only option. Did anyone ask you anything at the courthouse . Did they take you aside to say, are you sure you want to do this . No. Reporter no one. What do you remember feeling at that point . I was scared, but at the time, i was told and believed, since he was 18 or older, he would go to jail because i was pregnant. Reporter did you understand at the time, at age 15, what getting married meant . No. I dont realize how big of a commitment i was making. Reporter what did you dream about when you dreamed about your wedding . My dress. I always wanted to be different and a traditional wedding is the bride wears white and the husband wears like black tuxedo or something, and i wanted to wear a black dress and i wanted the men to wear white. Reporter on that actual day, do you remember what you were wearing . Um i think i was wearing just regular pants i wear every day and my hoodie. Because it was cold. Reporter not the dress you dreamed about. No. Not at all. Reporter alarmingly, the numbers show that ashleys story is far from unique. A report by the Justice Center revealed that between 2000 and 2015, over 200,000 children were married in america. And its perfectly legal. Almost every state in america allow the Child Marriage with exceptions. Many require either the approval of a clerk or judge and or a parent or legal guardian. And in 13 states there is no minimum age to wed. What was it like going back to school . It was hard. Reporter yeah. I wasnt the same going back as it was the day bus. Reporter in one day. Yeah. Reporter it changed. Everything changed. It wasnt me anymore. Ly i had a whole different last name. The teachers were confused. Kids were picking on me, and i was too young to be married. Reporter when you went to asey tidwell. Reporter and in one day, you go back to school and you took his name. So now are you ashley . Its crazy to think that out here there was actually so many kids grew up out here. Reporter soon enough, ashley would drop out of school, after two years of marriage and the birth of her second child, she and her husband would separate, even though ashley and her husband were both teens, the vast majority of marriages occur between an adult man and younger girl. Some of them as young as 11. Like sherry johnson, now 59 years old. This is that 11yearold girl that got married. This is the dress that my mom made. Reporter you look back at that photo, what do you think . It shouldnt have happened. I think that this shouldnt be. Reporter at age 11, before she was even a teenager, sherry married a man age. We got married. That night after church. Nobody said anything. I knew i was a child. I know i was 11. I knew he was 20. So i knew something was wrong then. And i was really totally surprised that they allowed it to happen. Reporter she says she was forced into the responsibilities of marriage by her mother. Her husband, a deacon in the church had statutorily raped her prior to their marriage. I was being raped by people with authority. I didnt know what was actually really happening. I just know that something wasnt right about it. Reporter she had already given birth to their first child at just 10. Soon, she was pregnant again. I remember going to school at the time in the fifth grade and coming home and had to wash diapers out in the tub. Reporter like so many child brides, she dropped out of school. Over their seven years of marriage, she would have six children, finally leaving her husband when she turned 17 and later divorcing him. Ms. Johnson is the reason for this bill. She is the voice for this bill. Reporter now shes on a mission, fighting to end Child Marriage in florida. Ms. Johnson was raped at a very young age by her deacon at church. And, when it was found out that she was pregnant, her parent, her parents did the unthinkable. They forced her to marry the man who impregnated her as a child. Reporter her story read into the record last year just before lawmakers passed a bill meant to protect her. By your vote the bill passes. [ applause ] there is obvious potential for abuse and exploitation. A whole host of horrors to lurk behind a marriage license that involves a child. Reporter jenny smoot, an advocate with the tahuri Justice Center says the abuse rate is three times higher. In many states, it can be used as a loophole, allowing men to skirt statutory charges. You put all of this together and youve effectively road mapped a way that predators can find a work around through a marriage to gain sexual access to young girls that would otherwise be prohibited. Reporter to what extent do you see this happening in our country today . Some of the amazing survivor advocates who have come forward and are helping to lead this campaign forward, their stories are heartbreaking. They really do involve young girls, twice older men taking advantage of the vulnerabilities of an abusive or broken home, preying on them, grooming them. Reporter that harsh reality prompting some to action, like reese. From the very blue state of commute to the step of the capital in new jersey. Nows the time to pass the bill reporter reese is the head of the nonprofit, unchained at last. Much of her battle is to convince legislators and the public that it is an issue needing attention. Are we okay with Child Marriage being legal right here in new jersey . No this is frayedy. Reporter this is a personal crusade. The location of her office hidden, a secret to keep those trying to escape safe. Most of the time, legally, theres nothing she request can help. Whethn a child reaches out t us, theres almost nothing we can do to help her. We can be charged with kidnapping if we help her to leave home. Reporter how does that make you feel that theres almost nothing you can do . Its heartbreaking. I started this organization to help people. And i said call me, im going to help you. I didnt realize when youre not 18 i cannot help you. When these girls call and they end up in the hospital because they tried to kill themselves or they stop calling, and i understand that theyve given up and decided to go along with the marriage, its heartbreaking. That is why i said im not going to accept this. Reporter when we come back, the fight to end Child Marriage continues, and we meet a child bride who stands by her decision to marry young. There are a lot of lawmakers who think theyre presenting young girls. I think theres no limitation for love. Reporter stay with us. This is amazing. With moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, are you okay . Even when i was there, i never knew when my symptoms would keep us apart. So i talked to my doctor about humira. I learned humira can help get, and keep uc under control when other medications havent worked well enough. And it helps people achieve control that lasts. So you can experience few or no symptoms. Humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. Serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers, including ;lymphoma, ha as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. Before treatment, get tested for tb. Tell your doctor if youve been to areas where certain fungal infections are common, and if youve had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have flulike symptoms or sores. Dont start humira if you have an infection. Be there for you, and them. Ask your gastroenterologist about humira. With humira, control is possible. Want to brain better . Say hello to neuriva, a new brain supplement with clinically proven ingredients that fuel five indicators of brain performance focus, accuracy, memory, learning, and concentration. Neuriva. only tylenol® rapid release gels have laser drilled holes. They release medicine fast, for fast pain relief. Tylenol®. For fast pain relief. Honey, we are seriouslynternet keeping up with the joneses. We are seriously keeping with the andersons. We are finally keeping up with the fords. Keeping up with the garcias. Keeping up with the harveys. With the wahhthewahh. With the romeros. Patels. Carters. The allens. Wah. Wolanskes. Right them. No one is going to have internet like this. No one is going to have internet like this. Xfinity makes keeping up with the joneses. Simple. Easy. Awesome. Check out gigspeed internet or any of our other amazing speed options. Click, call or visit a store today. Nightline, the child bride next door continues. Reporter for the past year weve been traveling across america, uncovering the hidden truths of this nations child brides. Young girls married off before they could even drove or vote. Some legislations standing by current policy. But there are some teens who stand by their own decision to wed, saying that for them this is happily ever after. Weve come to wyoming, it is snowing, the middle of may. Second surprise is the High School Program is teaching kids thousand have healthy marriages, not the typical thing youd find at a high school. But this isnt your typical curriculum either. How do you deescalate a situation . Here at triumph, teachers like dr. Michelle aldridge build their courses around very real issues, coparenting, domestic abuse. You can take care of that not in front of the child. Reporter when you see these young women say were going to get married, whats the first piece of advice you have for them . My first piece of advice is always tell me why this is the one . Why is this the one . Is it because its a way out . A way to get away from your home life or your parents . Is it because you are just madly in love . Reporter in class, we meet abby gillis, at the age of 16 she found out she was pregnant by her 20 year old boyfriend. Why was it important to get married . For me, i would rather be married when i had a baby because i knew i was going to be married regardless. Weve been best friends for quite some time. We met at roller city back in the day. Reporter it will be one year in june that youve been married. How is married life . It has its challenges, ups and downs, but we seem to work through it together. Reporter but her marriage was i by choice. No one forced her into it. Not everyone was thrilled about abby becoming a teen bride. On her wedding day, abbys mom tells us there why tears. Nobody wants to see their 16yearold get married. So i cried. And i had a whole lot of emotions that day. I wasnt sure if she was mature enough to handle all of the things that come with marriage and children and everything. Reporter but her mom says that to her surprise shes seen a noticeable change in her daughter post marriage. Abby was kind of my terrible dean ag teenaged daughter. Then after she got married and had the baby, abby was actually on the honor roll. Her dad and i went to the Parent Teacher conferences and every one of her teachers said i cant believe how mature abby is. And we both looked at each other and said are they talking about our kid . Reporter as a 17yearold teenage where he a child of her own, abby admits shes had to grow up fast but is committed to making the best life she can for her son. I dont think, had i not gotten pregnant i think my life would be a lot different now. Reporter but abby has better odds than most child brides. Shes working hard to graduate from high school. Marriage at 16 you would seixas been absolutely the right choice . Definitely. Reporter what would you say to other girls . I look at you, youre a girl, a high school girl, and youre married. To other girls, i think that want to get married, if they want to get married young or even if theyre dating somebody, dont let them put you down. Reporter dont let them put you down. You say stand up if you are young and want to get married. Always, yes, i strongly, strongly. Reporter but you needed your parents consent to get married. Right. Reporter if the law changes and even if parental consent doesnt make a difference, what would you do . I think i would be more disappointed our judicial system for making that a law. Reporter there are a lot of lawmakers out there who think theyll be protecting young girls if they change the marriage age to 18. I knew. Reporter no limitation to love . Never. Reporter no age limitation. Never. Reporter but many caution against that logic. Some say there shouldnt be an age limit on love if youre 16 or 17 and youre in love with your 18 year old boy friend, why shouldnt you be allowed to get married . Nobodys putting an age limit on love, were putting an age limit on marriage. Reporter since we first began reporting this story, thousands of new child brides have been made, ceremonies lasting a few minutes, affecting lives for decades. I was actually not the first one to get married at 15 in this town. Theres been plenty, and i wasnt the last one. Reporter you think the law should change to better protect young women . Yes, i mean, 15, 14, 13yearolds to get married, it should definitely be harder. Reporter as for ashleys aunt who pulled her off the bus to get married, she now regrets the decision and tells us she herself was married at the age of 15 and that she hopes the law will change. Do you think shy thought the th was the right thing for you . I think shes always not had the best judgment. Life got hard for us, for her. Not going to go into detail. But i love her. Reporter you love her . Yeah. Reporter youre able to say that, even after she was the one that said youre getting marry today . Yeah, if it wasnt for her, i wouldnt have had a good childhood. Reporter ah. She took me in. Reporter you dont blame her. No. She thinks that i blame her, but i dont. Reporter after ashley came forward to share her story, missouri raised the minimum age of marriage from 15 to 16. So if were you able to talk to a young, 15yearold, 14 year old in your situation, what would you tell her . You have a whole life ahead of you. And thats not how you want to do it, and if youre in a relationship that you think is going to last forever, you can at least wait until youre old enough to not have a legal parent or guardian sign your marriage license for you to get married. Reporter ashley is now 25. She has two morrisons ae sons a nothing more than though marry her fiance, but because of that wedding years ago, she cant, she doesnt have the money for a divorce. What are your hopes now, when you look at life ahead of you. I wt toe ablent to happen year am rorter or can only dream of that wedding, filled with love, driven by a choice she has made for herself. In a country where one day stories of Child Marriage only exist in history books. Nightline, the child bride next door will be right back. I wanted more from my copd medicine. Thats why ive got the power of 1 2 3 medicines with trelegy. The only fdaapproved 3in1 copd treatment. Trelegy. The power of 123. Trelegy 123 trelegy. With trelegy and the power of 1 2 3, im breathing better. Trelegy works 3 ways to. Open airways,. Keep them open. And reduce inflammation. For 24 hours of better breathing. Trelegy wont replace a rescue inhaler for sudden breathing problems. Trelegy is not for asthma. Tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high Blood Pressure before taking it. Do not take trelegy more than prescribed. Trelegy may increase your risk of thrush, pneumonia, and osteoporosis. Call your doctor if worsened breathing, chest pain, mouth or tongue swelling. Problems urinating, vision changes, or eye pain occur. Think your copd medicine is doing enough . Maybe you should think again. Ask your doctor about oncedaily trelegy and the power of 1 2 3. Trelegy 123 save at trelegy. Com but one blows them allmany moisturizers. Out of the water. Hydro boost with hyaluronic acid to plump skin cells so it bounces back. Neutrogena® and try our hydrating makeup. Its how we care for our Cancer Patients like job. When he was diagnosed with cancer, his team at ctca created a Personalized Care plan to treat his cancer and side effects. So job could continue to work and stay strong for his family. This is how we inspire hope. This is how we heal. We love you, daddy. Good night. I love you guys. Cancer Treatment Centers of america. Appointments available now. Has been excellent. They really appreciate the military family and it really shows. With all that usaa offers why go with anybody else . We know their rates are good, we know that theyre always going to take care of us. It was an instant savings and i should have changed a long time ago. It was funny because when we would call another insurance company, hey would say oh we cant beat usaa were the webber family. Were the tenneys were the hayles, and were usaa members for life. Get your usaa Auto Insurance quote today. That leave therea lasting impression. Like the feeling of movement as a new journey begins, or the sight of soft fur, warmed by the morning sun. You might remember new flavours, or a view that defies all expectations. These are the memories that stay with you, long after the moments have passed