Teen Vanishes After Testifying Against Her Pimp
Kelsey Emily Collins’ mother says prosecutors “used her and they threw her away.”
Kelsey Emily Collins had a turbulent childhood. Having been born with Hirschsprung’s disease, she required several surgeries and spent the first year of her life in and out of a hospital.
Her parents divorced when she was 3-years-old due to her father’s alcoholism. Kelsey’s mother, Sarah Collins, remarried shortly after. Sarah was a victim of domestic violence and would later find out that her husband had sexually abused her older daughters. Kelsey had witnessed these assaults.
Sarah ultimately took her children and fled from the Midwest. 7-year-old Kelsey spent a year living with her mother, two older sisters, and younger brother in shelters across the US while Sarah changed their names and social security numbers. Kelsey’s name had been Emily up until this point. The family eventually settled in Washington.
Sarah’s abusive husband would later be convicted of abusing her older daughters and served a 20-year prison sentence.
By the age of 12, Kelsey was getting into a lot of trouble. She often ran away from home and missed school. Kelsey drank alcohol, used and sold drugs, and was sexually active.
