DALLAS -
Standing around the kitchen table, everyone agrees, the large clear zip-lock bag the North Texas parents are holding is disturbing.
The contents are telling.
"… a shirt, some underwear, a makeup brush,…" says Brooke Morris who has collected these items from her teenage daughter's room.
Investigators had asked them to put it together in case they needed to compare the DNA from the personal belongings to their daughter's body.
"This was so that she can be identified as mine," admits Morris.
"…as horrible as everything is, it's important to understand the growth that's going to come from it because the story is far from over."
That was the conversation the Morrises had with the I-Team in March of 2023. They were explaining the last few months of their lives.
Nine months later…
Fast forward to December, nine months later, and it's clear how "far from over" their story is. The I-Team sat down again with the Morrises, in the same living room, but this time, they shared something else.
Reaching for her phone, the teenage girl's mother said, "I'm going to show you a couple of hard pictures."
The Ad
In April 2022, a family captured the attention of the nation. Kyle Morris and their then 15-year-old attended a Mavericks game, but after leaving her seat, she vanished. The last known sighting of her was on surveillance video with two unidentified men.
After nine agonizing days, a private investigator managed to track her down to a hotel room in Oklahoma. The parents had discovered her picture in an advertisement, which they shared with the investigator.
The first image that Brooke Morris, the mother, displays on her phone is from the ad. It shows her daughter's long dark hair, seen from the back and shoulder angle.
The ad includes the following message: "How are you gentlemen doing? I am here from Dallas visiting, looking for some company. Just hit me up and we will go from there."
This particular photo was not one the Morrises intended to share, but they have another one to reveal.
The Police Car
"This is a difficult one," says Brooke Morris, her gaze fixed on the photo on her phone.
"This was taken in the police car when she was found in Oklahoma."
The young girl is seated in the back of the police car, looking directly into the camera. She is wearing a green, short-sleeved t-shirt and shorts. Her shoes are placed on the seat beside her. With no makeup on, she appears very young, disoriented, and almost unrecognizable.
Morris believes she can see sadness and darkness in her daughter's eyes.
"She was crying. Praying to God that He would find her and save her," a parent explains what their child was doing just moments before the picture was taken.
"That's the picture we use to identify her while she was in the car still."
The parents are sharing these images for the first time ever, because they say their child wants their story heard. They say the child is just not ready to do it themselves.
"Their main message would be you are believed," says a parent talking about what their child would be saying if they were sitting with their parents.
"No matter what other people say. No matter what attorneys say, what a judge says, what the media says. You are believed! That I know beyond a shadow of a doubt. That is exactly what they would say."Photo 3- The Puppy
The young person is now 17- years old. They recently got their driver's license. They would like to finish high school.
And, they are working on rekindling and creating new friendships- especially one in particular.
"I know that might sound silly, but they have this puppy," says a parent. "…and it has really given them something to take care of. Something that needs them. Something that relies on them."
The parents explain how important this relationship has become.
Young Beagle and Her New Friend
A heartwarming story unfolds as two pictures capture the bond between a young beagle named Gunter and her new friend. The images showcase the affection and care shared between the two.
"She loves this puppy, and she does everything for this puppy and this puppy's well-being is her responsibility. And I think that has really helped kind of shape her into more of a caregiver instead of like a care receiver," says a proud observer.
The first image depicts a teenager with her hair hanging over her shoulder, dressed in a white tank top. She holds the paws of a little brown and black puppy, showering him with kisses on the side of his face.
Despite the challenges she has faced, the young girl remains strong and resilient. She refuses to adopt a victim's mentality and harbors no anger.
"Having her here and whole and happy to me transcends, you know, anything else," expresses Brooke Morris, the girl's mother. "I would say she's happy."
During the interview with the I-Team, the girl was not present at home. Her parents emphasize that allowing her independence is a skill they have acquired through their faith.
"…that is the only way I can tell you that we've been able to cope with any of this for the last 18 months. The peace that comes to you that doesn't make sense like how do I feel okay with this? I really don't feel okay with this. It's knowing that when we didn't know where she was God knew exactly where she was."
Being home for the holidays is a blessing. This time, last year, their daughter was in treatment- dealing with the demons of trafficking.
Today, she's safe and, as the last two pictures show—they say, she's more than surviving.
Looking back one year ago, Kyle Morris says, "Hope was waning."
Brooke Morris agrees and says, "We were just surviving a year ago."
But now, she says, they are all "thriving!"
"Now"
Flipping to the last two pictures on her phone, she says, "This is what she looks like now."
The image is a beautiful, young girl with her hair straight, long hair partly pulled back. Her green eyes are glowing under long eye lashes. This time, there are no dark circles and no fear in her face. She is smiling.
Brooke Morris says, she sees "joy" in this image.
"Yesterday"
And then the couple flips to one last picture. And this one is drastically different.
"This is a new picture." The parents smile with pride. "This is yesterday."
Her brownish hair has blonde highlights. It's curled. She has makeup on. And she's glowing.
Her parents are amazed by her good health. She looks directly at the camera, smiling. She has a youthful yet confident appearance.
"The power of prayer is evident. It's a redemption story right there. Just by looking at those five pictures, you can say 'Wow!' without even knowing the full story."
The Morrises have decided to establish a non-profit organization to assist other young girls who have fallen victim to sex trafficking. Their daughter wants to connect with other teenagers who are facing similar challenges. She believes she can relate to them better than any adult who hasn't experienced the dark side of this growing crime firsthand. (source)
Last month, Dallas County concluded its investigation into the Texas suspects, with no further arrests or prosecutions. (source)
