Survivor Changes Texas Law After 5-Year Fight

Rhonda Kuykendall was trafficked at 10 years old by a man who convinced her she'd become a model. Flown out on Fridays and returned by Sundays, she sat in her school seat every Monday morning, never telling a soul.

For decades, Rhonda carried the weight of what happened to her in silence. Like many trafficking victims, she was labeled a "bad kid" rather than recognized as someone who needed help.

The man who trafficked her was eventually convicted four times in four different states. But when Rhonda tried to hold him accountable, she hit a wall: the statute of limitations had expired.

So she decided to change the law itself.

Over five years and two legislative sessions, Rhonda fought to abolish the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse in Texas. The obstacles were constant, the setbacks frequent, but she pushed through.

She won. The bill passed, though it wouldn't apply retroactively to her own case.

Why This Inspires

Rhonda's fight wasn't just about her own justice. She knew that every barrier she broke down would open doors for future survivors who deserved their day in court.

Her determination rewrote the rules for an entire state. Now, survivors in Texas have the time they need to come forward, free from arbitrary deadlines that once protected abusers.

Today, Rhonda serves as task force director for the Fort Bend Anti-Trafficking Collective. She works in the same community where she was trafficked, now building bridges between law enforcement and victim services.

Kristi Hayes from Unbound Now says awareness matters deeply. Warning signs include sudden isolation, older partners speaking for someone, unexplained bruises, or new tattoos appearing on young people.

The statistics are sobering: 44% of trafficking victims are exploited by family members or those closest to them. Another 39% are trafficked by intimate partners or people pretending to love them.

Rhonda emphasizes that trafficking victims often don't recognize themselves as victims. They carry guilt for crimes committed against them, making it harder for communities to spot the real warning signs.

Her full-circle journey from victim to advocate proves that survivors can transform their pain into protection for others.