HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Kalie Goodwin now believed dead as Baytown PD pursues murder charges against her accused kidnapper.
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Investigators now believe Kalie Goodwin is dead and the man they say is responsible has been indicted for the second time in connection with her disappearance. A Harris County grand jury indicted Quan Flowers on Tuesday on an aggravated kidnapping charge in connection with the 2024 disappearance of Goodwin, a Baytown woman who has never been found. While Goodwin remains officially classified as missing, the Baytown Police Department says investigators believe she is deceased.
The Baytown Police Department says its investigation into Goodwin’s disappearance remains active, and detectives are continuing to gather evidence to support murder charges against Flowers. Baytown Police Chief John Stringer said the indictment marks a significant step forward in a case his department has refused to let go cold.
“This indictment is a significant milestone in our pursuit of justice for Kalie and her family. From the beginning of this investigation, our detectives have remained committed to finding answers and have never stopped pursuing the truth,” Stringer said.
“We have said that anyone who commits violence against our community or our visitors will be brought to justice. While our work is not finished, this indictment represents an important step toward holding the offender accountable,” he added.
How investigators built the case
Goodwin was reported missing on April 22, 2024, after her mother received a call from an unknown male demanding money through a CashApp account. Detectives learned Goodwin was last seen the evening before — April 21, 2024, at approximately 7 p.m. — leaving an apartment complex in the 3100 block of Decker Drive in a vehicle with an unknown man.
Using License Plate Reader technology, detectives located a vehicle near the apartment complex around the time Goodwin was last seen. The vehicle was registered to the owner of the CashApp account used in the ransom demand. Investigators determined that Flowers, then 39, was in possession of that vehicle while it was in the Baytown area.
Flowers was arrested on June 1, 2024, by the Houston Police Department — but on an unrelated charge. He was taken into custody for the May 3, 2024 murder of Megan Rouse in Fort Bend County.
Information obtained during that arrest, combined with cellular data analyzed by the Baytown Police Department’s Digital Forensics Unit, led detectives to an area in Houston where both Goodwin’s phone and the phone used to contact her mother had been tracked.
Detectives canvassed the area and identified a residence connected to the ransom phone. A person associated with that residence — wanted on unrelated felony charges — was arrested with assistance from the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force. A search warrant executed at that location uncovered evidence linking Goodwin to the residence and revealed she had been assaulted by Flowers and taken from the property.
Baytown Police first filed an aggravated kidnapping charge against Flowers on June 20, 2024. He was previously indicted by a Fort Bend County grand jury on October 28, 2024. The July 14, 2026 Harris County indictment is the result of ongoing collaboration between the Fort Bend County and Harris County District Attorney’s Offices, with the Harris County DA’s Office now assuming prosecution of the case.
‘She no longer has a voice’
Chief Stringer acknowledged the weight of the case and what it means for a family that has spent more than two years without answers.
“Their dedication, persistence, and collaboration with our law enforcement partners demonstrate our commitment to seeking justice for every victim, especially those who no longer have a voice,” he said.
Detectives continue working to locate Goodwin’s remains and to ensure all individuals responsible are held accountable. The investigation indicates she was last in the Houston area.
Anyone with information about Goodwin’s disappearance, the location of her remains or any information related to the investigation is asked to contact the Baytown Police Department at 281-422-8371 or Baytown Crime Stoppers. Tips can be submitted anonymously by calling (281) 427-TIPS (8477), online at p3tips.com or through the P3 Tips app available in the Apple App Store and Google Play.