AI Powers Search For Trafficking Victims
By Taylor Whartnaby & Photojournalist Kourtney Ford Tue, May 27th 2025 at 7:51 PM
Human trafficking remains a hidden crisis, with many victims vanishing from their communities and undergoing drastic changes in appearance. (Caption for image above, source: Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO — Human trafficking remains a hidden crisis, with many victims vanishing from their communities and undergoing drastic changes in appearance.
The Challenge of Changing Appearances
Lori Wittmeyer, case intake manager with Search and Support San Antonio, highlighted the transformative impact of trafficking on victims. "Could change their hair. It could change their body. They could lose weight, or perhaps become malnourished, and then be more bloated. So the changes are remarkable," she stated.
AI Offers New Hope in Victim Identification
Advancements in artificial intelligence now offer a beacon of hope. This technology allows for the creation of digital images that predict how victims might look today, functioning similarly to age progression videos used for long-term missing persons. Wittmeyer explained, "We do the same thing. We look at how their appearance could change."
This innovative approach brings new hope to families searching for loved ones, though it's acknowledged that the technology may not always be perfectly precise. The challenge is immense, as Wittmeyer pointed out, "You could be walking past them every day and not have an idea of what their appearance was a year ago or two years ago, even six months ago now."
Real Cases Illustrate AI's Potential
One such case is that of Jeanie Chavez, a young mother who was last seen in July of the previous year. She is believed to have fallen victim to human trafficking. AI-generated photos are now circulating, showing how her appearance might have changed, offering a new tool in the search. Her daughters are left with the painful question, "Why mommy's not calling them?"
Giving a Voice to the Missing: Cecilia Huerta Gallegos
The technology is also being applied to other missing persons cases, such as that of Cecilia Huerta Gallegos, who disappeared in 2019. An AI-generated likeness of Cecilia was featured in a video where she appears to speak, stating, "My story needs to be heard and shared worldwide until my beloved children and family can give me a proper burial and I can finally rest in peace."
Her sister shared the profound emotional impact of seeing the video: "It's hard. It's tough. When I saw the video, I cried. I'm like, I can't believe she's speaking and saying her story."
Law Enforcement Explores AI Solutions
The potential of AI in these critical situations is not going unnoticed by authorities. The Bexar County Sheriff's Office is currently exploring AI technology specifically designed to protect youth from sexual exploitation. The aim is to leverage these tools to bring more attention to these urgent cases and enhance efforts to locate and rescue victims.
