On May 12, 2017, Kimberly Avila’s family hosted a gathering at their home in Brownsville, Texas, where relatives visiting from across the border in Mexico joined them. As the night came to a close, Kimberly prepared to head out to downtown Brownsville to visit clubs and bars. Around 2:30 AM on May 13, Kimberly asked her sister, Ivon, to drop her off. Although Ivon had concerns about the timing, Kimberly was determined to go out, and Ivon eventually agreed. Kimberly’s family shared that she had worked as a sex worker in the downtown area of Brownsville for several years but always returned home safely at the end of each night. She had her cellphone with her, but it has not been active since her disappearance. Given Kimberly’s transgender status and her line of work, along with the lack of communication from her, her family fears she may have come to harm.