Clovis, N.M. — A woman was found murdered in an SUV, leading to charges against her former boyfriend in a case that has raised questions about their volatile relationship. Authorities have identified the victim as Ricki Lee White, whose body was discovered on May 12 in an abandoned vehicle in Roosevelt County.
Vincent Galvan, also 38, now faces a first-degree murder charge along with several other felonies in connection to White’s death. Investigators believe that White was killed shortly after she gathered evidence against Galvan, which she hoped would lead to his arrest. The details surrounding her death and the circumstances leading up to it are emerging from court records and police reports.
White was last seen alive on the evening of May 4, when she contacted a family member. Investigators believe she was likely shot in the early morning hours of May 5. In their search of the SUV where her body was found, authorities discovered items that suggested she had been compiling evidence against Galvan, including a folder related to past alleged crimes. Phone data from a cellphone lent to Galvan was tracked to the area where the crime occurred, strengthening the case against him.
The couple’s relationship reportedly had a history of violence and conflict. Friends and family described an on-again, off-again relationship marked by frequent arguments. Law enforcement records indicate that White had previously reported incidents of domestic violence, including threats made by Galvan and an instance in which he allegedly shot at her and damaged her property.
Galvan’s arrest occurred two days after White’s body was discovered, spurred by a separate report of a stolen pickup truck. A local business owner had reported his employee’s truck missing and began searching for it. After spotting the vehicle, he followed it and witnessed Galvan firing shots at him during the pursuit. Though he lost track of the truck, police later discovered it abandoned near a restaurant in Farwell, Texas.
Farwell police soon learned about White’s connection to the area and learned that Galvan was being driven by a friend back toward Clovis. Officers initiated a traffic stop, but Galvan allegedly took control of the vehicle and fled, leading to a brief chase that ended in a crash. He was apprehended, and police subsequently found a 9 mm handgun in the vehicle he had attempted to escape in, which matched the caliber of a bullet recovered from White.
In communications with friends and during a recorded call from jail, Galvan reportedly made statements indicating he felt threatened by White, rather than acknowledging involvement in her death. Family and friends have portrayed White as a fiercely independent individual torn between her loyalty to Galvan and the dangers of their relationship.
Galvan is currently being held in Texas while authorities address charges stemming from the vehicle pursuit, after which he will be returned to New Mexico. He faces multiple charges, including tampering with evidence and unlawful possession of a firearm. No trial date has been set, as the investigation continues to unfold amid ongoing concerns about domestic violence highlighted by this tragic case.