‘It didn’t need to end this way’: mother of US teen trafficked and killed decries police failures
Summary
A 15-year-old girl named Kristen Galvan from Texas was sex trafficked and murdered after being rescued from her traffickers. Her remains were identified over six years later using advanced DNA testing, and her mother says police did not provide adequate protection after Kristen gave evidence against her traffickers.Key Facts
- Kristen Galvan was a 15-year-old honor-roll student from Houston who was sex trafficked and later murdered.
- Her remains were found in January 2020 near Missouri City, Texas, and identified in July 2024 using advanced DNA tests.
- Kristen was rescued by police in November 2019 but was not given witness protection despite fear for her and her family's safety.
- She had given statements that helped convict three traffickers, but the Houston police did not provide sufficient protection afterward.
- Kristen disappeared from her grandmother's house in January 2020, two and a half weeks after being rescued.
- Parts of her body were found, but not the entire body; the investigation into her murder is ongoing.
- Experts say trafficking victims connected to gangs should receive witness protection to prevent harm.
- Kristen’s mother criticized law enforcement for failing to protect her daughter, stating her death could have been prevented.
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