Remains of missing Houston-area teen Kristen Galvan identified 6 years after disappearance: Officials

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Six years after a Houston-area teen went missing, authorities have identified her remains, according to the Texas attorney general’s office.

On Tuesday, Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a statement that the Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit identified the remains of Kristen Galvan – a Houston teen who went missing in 2020.

Authorities said Galvan went missing after she became a victim of human trafficking. For six years, her case remained unsolved.

In 2021, Paxton launched the Cold Case Unit and has since helped bring answers to cases. In November 2022, the unit received a help request from the Missouri City Police Department regarding unidentified remains found on Jan. 29, 2020 – a few days after Galvan went missing.

At the time, authorities said the victim was a woman between 13 and 18 years old and had apparently been a victim of a homicide. Missouri City PD said it attempted to identify the remains, but the condition prevented them from doing so.

Through an extensive investigation, advanced forensic investigative genetic genealogy work resulted in the identification of the victim as Galvan, Paxton’s office said.

“I launched my Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit to secure justice for victims and to provide closure to families whose lives have been forever changed by violent crime,” Paxton said. “Right now, I ask every Texan to join me in praying for Kristen Galvan’s family during this unimaginably difficult time. My office will continue to work on cases with agencies and law enforcement across the state on behalf of innocent victims and their loved ones.”