HOUSTON – In the busy streets of Houston, a mother’s relentless search continues, filled with uncertainty as she seeks her missing 15-year-old daughter, Kristen Galvan. Robyn Cory’s search for her daughter uncovered the harrowing realities of human trafficking and the determination of a mother’s want for answers.
Where is Kristen? Cory has lived with this question every day since her daughter disappeared from Spring in 2019.
The circumstances surrounding Kristen’s disappearance revealed a chilling reality: she may have fallen victim to human trafficking. She was found on the Bissonnet Track, a known prostitution and human trafficking area.
Despite Cory’s vigilant efforts as a mother, Kristen’s innocence was shattered, leaving behind a hollow shell of the vibrant girl she once was. Cory recalled Kristen’s past as a Girl Scout and honor roll student, to her present therapy and psychiatry appointments. She had undergone a drastic transformation. Cory described the heartbreaking sight of Kristen curled up on the floor, trembling with fear, as she recounted the traffickers’ threats to harm her family if she didn’t comply.
“Kristin started therapy, and there are hardly any resources for child victims of human trafficking. It’s shocking. And, honestly, I didn’t even know human trafficking existed. I thought it only happened in poor countries. Selling a child is a whole other level of evil. And she’s not a prostitute; she can’t consent, she’s only 15,” Cory said. “There are a few facilities for victims, but they charge around $1,000 a week. So we just started therapy. I was there every day, even stayed overnight. Kristen kept waking up with night terrors, believing they were going to kill her.”
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Tragically, a few weeks later, on January 2, 2020, Kristen vanished once more, plunging her family into a desperate search for answers.
Her relentless quest for Kristen’s return led Cory to embark on a persistent mission to unravel the webs of deception and exploitation that had trapped her daughter. Robyn’s determination led her to uncover the grim realities of human trafficking hubs like Bissonnet Street, where countless victims fell prey to traffickers’ brutal grasp.
“With COVID, I wasn’t getting any news. I wasn’t getting any help at all. That’s when I met Texas Center for the Missing and Clear Channel Outdoor, the billboard company, and in June 2020, that’s when we started putting up billboards to try to gain attention. The D.A. was still trying to convict these guys and they got Kristen to give her testimony because, without that, I don’t think a lot of these men would have been convicted.”
Cory shared how her weekends were consumed by relentless searches on Bissonnet, desperately seeking any clue about Kristen’s whereabouts. As the situation intensified, she noticed her vehicle being tailed, prompting her to resort to renting cars, borrowing vehicles, and even disguising herself with wigs in a desperate attempt to evade detection and continue her pursuit.
“Months have gone by, and I’m just thinking, she’s not here. I’m scouring ads online, seeing the horrors of human trafficking. Then, in February 2021, the D.A. from Houston called me and sent two pictures. One shows a partially covered face, the other, some hair. I’ve seen countless lookalikes of Kristin by now. Tips keep pouring in about girls with curly hair. But deep down, I just know, this is my kid.”
“I know my daughter. I know every freckle, every birthmark. I know my child. They wouldn’t give me the website, so I found it myself and got the full-body photos. It was an ad in Atlanta, Georgia.”
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As evidence emerged that Kristen had been transported across state lines, her case escalated to the federal level, prompting federal involvement.
With no signs of Kristen except for the potential lead in Georgia, Cory took matters into her own hands and traveled to the state. Venturing into the streets of Atlanta, she confronted the city’s dark side. Despite the harrowing experience, Cory pressed on, determined to uncover any information that could lead to Kristen’s whereabouts. However, her efforts yielded little success, as the other girls in the advertisement denied Kristen’s presence, leaving Cory grappling with the agonizing uncertainty of her daughter’s fate.
Cory expressed her frustration with the legal system, highlighting the lack of support and communication she received as a victim’s family member. Despite her efforts to engage with victim witness coordinators and attend court proceedings, she faced constant setbacks, with court dates repeatedly being rescheduled without notice. Robyn lamented the violation of her daughter’s rights as well as her own, as she was denied the opportunity to present Kristen’s crime impact statement or seek restitution.
“The thing about missing people is they just go missing. The thing about this case is we have convictions,” she explained. “To see the justice system when I relied on it, fail. At one point I thought we were going to get justice for her. To see it fail, not only my daughter but the whole community.”
Her advocacy efforts garnered recognition from Mayor John Whitmire and Councilmember Mary Nan Huffman, who honored Robyn’s tireless commitment to combatting human trafficking in her daughter’s name.
SEE ALSO: Where is Kristen? Mother of missing woman honored at Houston City Hall
In a touching tribute, Kristen’s birthday, April 23, was declared “Kiki’s Day” in her honor, a testament to the enduring love and unwavering determination of a mother who refused to relent in her quest for justice. Cory’s steadfast belief that Kristen is being held captive by traffickers underscores the harrowing reality of modern-day slavery that plagues communities across the country.
As Cory stood before the city officials, she spoke of Kristen, who would have turned 20 that day, forever frozen in time as a 15-year-old in the hearts of those who love her until she returns home.
“If Kristen were still with us, she’d never do this. She wouldn’t abandon her family. So either she’s being held against her will or something even more horrific has happened,” Cory said. “We miss Kristen, her laughter, her playful pranks. Just come home, there’ll be no judgment, no backlash. It’s not your fault, it’s the traffickers’. We miss her, we’ve been through so much.”
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As Robyn grapples with the heart-wrenching question of “where’s Kristen?” she remains undeterred in her pursuit of truth and justice. Despite the uphill battle and the relentless torment of uncertainty, Robyn’s unwavering faith in her daughter’s resilience fuels her relentless determination to bring Kristen home.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children shared an updated picture showing how they think Kristen might look now that she’s older.