In 2014, the town of San Fernando was still reeling from the 2011 massacre committed by the Los Zetas, a wing of the Gulf Cartel.
Nearly 200 people were murdered in the attack, with many of the victims being kidnap victims from bus hijackings.
The community was on edge, as thousands of people had fled the area in fear of becoming the next target.
One of those affected by the violence was Miriam, whose 20-year-old daughter Karen was kidnapped by the cartel.
Despite the danger, Karen had stayed in San Fernando to complete her education and help out at her family's cowboy store, Rodeo Boots.
After paying the kidnappers' ransom demand, Miriam was told that Karen had been released, but her daughter never returned home.
Determined to find out what had happened to her daughter, Miriam began her own investigation.
She started with the man who had been present at the ransom drop-off, a man who went by the name of Sama. Using information from a family friend who had been kidnapped alongside Karen, Miriam was able to track Sama down on social media.
She discovered that he was living in a nearby town and began gathering information on him to present to the authorities.
But Miriam's quest for justice was cut short when a heartbreaking discovery was made: a portion of Karen's femur was found among the dozens of bodies buried in the area.
Though her daughter was gone, Miriam's determination to bring her kidnappers to justice continued.
Miriam knew that she couldn't rest until she had answers. She spent months gathering information on Sama and his associates, and eventually presented her findings to the police. With her help, they were able to arrest Sama and several other members of the cartel.
The trial was long and difficult, but in the end, Miriam's persistence paid off.
Sama and his accomplices were found guilty of Karen's kidnapping and murder, and were sentenced to life in prison.
Though her daughter was gone and the pain of her loss was still fresh, Miriam felt a sense of closure knowing that the people responsible for Karen's death were being held accountable. Her fight for justice had not only helped bring closure to her own family, but it had also helped protect the community from the violence of the cartel.
Miriam's story is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest of times, one person can make a difference. Her dedication and determination to find answers and seek justice for her daughter serves as an inspiration to us all.
