| For Immediate Release Case # 11CF2110 May 23, 2014 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami Spokesperson Office: 714-347-8405 Cell: 714-323-4486 |
MAN SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS TO LIFE FOR MURDERING UNCLE IN LA PALMA BEFORE DUMPING AND BURNING BODY IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced today to 15 years to life in state prison for murdering his uncle and dumping the victim’s body in a remote area of Santa Barbara County after setting it on fire in an attempt to destroy the evidence. Kirk Michael Galvin, 25, La Palma, pleaded guilty April 14, 2014, to one felony count of second degree murder.
On July 27, 2011, Kirk Galvin murdered his 53-year-old uncle Douglas Galvin. He committed the murder in his father’s La Palma apartment while his father was out of town. Kirk Galvin drove the victim’s murdered body to Santa Barbara County, dumped it in a remote area, and attempted to destroy the body by setting it on fire. He then fled the scene.
On July 30, 2011, two people found Douglas Galvin’s burned body while out on a walk and contacted the police. Following an investigation by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department and La Palma Police Department, Kirk Galvin was arrested Aug. 5, 2011.
At the sentencing today, victim impact statements were submitted to the Court, and some were read aloud:
Colleen Galvin said that her cousin, Douglas Galvin, “was a man like no other. His heart was as big as his smile. He always put others first.”
Douglas Galvin’s sister, Judith Galvin Vargas told the Court that her brother was a good man. She said, “As for Kirk Galvin, I do not want to see him paroled period…What you did Kirk, was so horrendous, you will never get my forgiveness. You brought shame to yourself and your family…”
Lenora Galvin, the victim’s mother, told the Court that “Doug is sadly missed by me and all his family.”
Douglas Galvin’s youngest brother, T Galvin, expressed to the Court, “The nightmares, sleepless nights, feelings of despair, stress, waking up every morning and going to bed each night with deplorable images of Doug’s final days here on earth, are indescribable.”
Senior Deputy District Attorney Susan Price of the Homicide Unit prosecuted this case.
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