Kristen Marie Galvan: A Case That Demands Justice
- shannonlastword
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Kristen Marie Galvan was 15 years old when she went missing in 2020 after being trafficked. For more than five years, her mother, Robyn Cory, has searched for her daughter becoming, through necessity, an unintentional expert on human trafficking along the way.
Kristen was trafficked by gang members she initially encountered through Instagram, a tactic commonly used by traffickers to target and groom vulnerable youth online.
In 2019, Kristen was a typical teenager. She participated in Girl Scouts, served as a local ROTC cadet, and was a member of her high school drill team. She had two younger brothers and a future filled with possibility. But after being targeted by a boy at her high school who allegedly acted as a scout for a local gang, her life took a devastating turn.
Kristen began receiving Instagram messages filled with flattery, praise, and attention. Traffickers often use this method, sometimes referred to as 'lover boy style grooming”, to build trust and identify vulnerabilities. Over time, they manipulate those vulnerabilities for exploitation.
These traffickers were able to isolate Kristen from those who loved her. She went missing for approximately two weeks before being located in Houston’s red-light district on Bissonnet Street.
When Kristen returned home, she was deeply traumatized by the experience. According to reporting by The Guardian, during the five months she was home before being trafficked again, Kristen expressed intense fear for her family’s safety. Her mother, Robyn, recalled her daughter saying:
“My daughter screamed at me, ‘You don’t know what they made me do! They’re going to kill you all! I have to go back. They have pictures of you all. They’re going to kill my brothers.’”
It is believed Kristen returned to her traffickers under coercion, out of fear that her family would be harmed if she did not comply.
Threats of violence, retaliation against family members, and psychological manipulation are common control tactics used by traffickers.
During the five months Kristen was home, she demonstrated extraordinary courage. She provided testimony to law enforcement about her exploitation and those responsible. That testimony later contributed to the conviction of Houston-area rapper Aryion Dupree Jackson on child trafficking charges. He was sentenced to 27 years in prison. Her cooperation also helped lead to the arrests and convictions of three additional individuals, including Tasheika Bush, Jacksons own mother, Gerald Jones, and Samaria Kearney.
On January 2, 2020, Kristen would disappeared again.
This time, she would not return home.
Her mother spent the last five years searching, walking streets, following leads, working with nonprofits, and advocating for her daughter. Along the way, Robyn has helped other vulnerable young girls escape exploitation while continuing to search for Kristen.
On January 29, 2020, the remains of an unidentified female were discovered under a bridge in Missouri City, Texas. The victim was labeled a Jane Doe.
Those remains sat unidentified for years and were known as Fort Bend County Jane Doe.
Recently, DNA testing confirmed that the remains were those of 15-year-old Kristen Marie Galvan.
According to reporting by The Guardian, Robyn became aware in 2022 of remains listed on NamUs that she believed could be her daughter. At that time, law enforcement investigating Kristen's case reportedly did not believe the Fort Bend County Jane Doe was her, and DNA testing had not yet been completed on the remains they had found 2 years prior.
The Guardian has reported that investigators believe Kristen “was bound with duct tape, beaten and stabbed to death.” Only parts of her skull were recovered in 2020. Her limbs, lower body, and additional remains have not been located.
Her death is being investigated as a homicide.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Missouri City Police Department at 281-403-8700.
Kristen was 15 years old.
She was a daughter. A sister. A friend. A student. A child.
We extend our deepest condolences to Robyn Cory, Kristen’s family, and all who loved her. We stand in support of their pursuit of justice and accountability.
Cases like Kristen’s demand more than awareness. They demand vigilance, systemic reform, and sustained commitment to protecting vulnerable youth from exploitation.
Hard questions need to be answered in order to prevent the next child from falling prey to traffickers.
Justice for Kristen Marie Galvan.
Sources:
good