Five years ago, 15-year-old Kristen Galvan vanished from Spring, Texas. Jan. 2 marks five years since her disappearance, and her mother, Robyn Cory, continues to search, refusing to let Kristen’s name fade into the void of forgotten cases.
“Today marks five years since I last saw my daughter, Kristen,” Robyn said. “Every day is a battle to keep her story alive. My biggest fear is that she’s being forgotten, that the world has moved on while we are still waiting for answers. But I won’t stop. I won’t give up.”
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The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children released an age progression image of Kristen, showing what she might look like today. Robyn hopes the image will reignite interest in the case and help uncover new leads.
Kristen’s disappearance began like so many tragic stories—a seemingly ordinary day that turned into a nightmare. The belief is that Kristen, a once vibrant honor roll student and Girl Scout, fell victim to traffickers, leaving her family in a desperate fight for her return.
In the weeks following her disappearance, Robyn dove headfirst into the murky underworld of human trafficking. She spent countless hours searching websites, poring over classified ads, hoping to find a trace of Kristen. One lead in 2021 led her to Atlanta, Georgia. A pair of photos—one partially covering a face and another showing strands of hair—left her breathless.
“I know my daughter. I know every freckle, every birthmark. I know my child,” Robyn recalls. “They wouldn’t tell me where the photos came from, so I found the website myself. It was an ad for girls in Atlanta. Deep down, I just knew—it was my kid.”
Despite the promising lead, the trail went cold. Other girls in the ad denied Kristen’s presence, leaving Robyn grasping for answers. As months turned into years, Robyn’s fight only intensified, fueled by the belief that her daughter was still out there.
Robyn’s pursuit of justice has been anything but conventional. Weekends spent driving along Bissonnet, tailing potential leads, renting cars, wearing disguises—she did whatever it took to avoid detection and stay one step ahead. She even found herself under surveillance, her vehicle followed by unknown individuals.
Through her tireless efforts, Robyn brought attention to Kristen’s case and the broader issue of human trafficking.
Fighting against the system
Robyn’s battle hasn’t been just against traffickers but also a justice system she feels has failed her. Despite early convictions of men tied to Kristen’s trafficking, Robyn says she was denied a chance to share her daughter’s crime impact statement or seek restitution.
“The thing about missing people is they just go missing,” Robyn explains. “The thing about this case is we have convictions. At one point, I thought we were going to get justice for her. To see the justice system fail—not only my daughter but the whole community—it’s heartbreaking.”
But Robyn’s advocacy has also brought recognition. Houston city officials declared Kristen’s birthday, April 23, as “Kiki’s Day,” honoring her memory and Robyn’s relentless fight. Kristen, who would now be 20 years old, remains forever frozen in time as the 15-year-old her family remembers.
“Come home”
For Robyn, the pain of not knowing where Kristen is—or if she’s safe—never eases. Her plea to Kristen is simple yet deeply heartfelt:
“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. 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 love you, and we’ll never stop looking.”
As the fifth anniversary of Kristen’s disappearance comes and goes, Robyn’s determination remains steadfast. She urges anyone with information to step forward, knowing even the smallest detail could lead to a breakthrough.
If you have any information about Kristen’s disappearance, please contact:
- Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office: 1-936-760-5800
- FBI Houston Field Office: 1-713-693-5000
- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: 1-800-843-5678