Yale Professor Reacts to Her Father's Arrest in Connection to Her Mother's 1982 Murder

A Yale professor expressed gratitude toward law enforcement after authorities revealed an arrest linked to the 1982 murder of her mother, Nancy Galvani. On November 24, police detained 81-year-old Patrick Galvani, Nancys estranged husband, charging him with murder and booking him into the San Mateo County Jail.

Patrick had been a suspect in Nancys death decades ago, but prosecutors dropped charges at the time due to insufficient evidence and a lack of witnesses. Alison Galvani, now a Yale professor and about five years old when her mother was killed, praised the Foster City Police Department and San Mateo County District Attorneys Office for their ongoing commitment to her mothers case. She described their work as an extraordinary combination of compassion and resolve aimed at shedding light on even the most difficult cases.

Nancy Galvani was discovered deceased inside a sleeping bag near the San Mateo Bridge in Foster City, California. Although the case went cold for years, authorities said recent developments allowed them to advance the investigation, though they did not specify the nature of these developments.

Patrick Galvanis previous legal team had highlighted that he passed a lie detector test, and he claimed at the time that his wife struggled with a mental illness. His current attorney, Douglas Horngrad, maintains Patricks innocence, stating that the evidence is unchanged from the original investigation and predicting a similar outcome. San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe, however, told the press that the office believes the evidence is sufficient for a conviction.

At the time of Nancys death, she and Patrick were estranged. She had filed for divorce and obtained a restraining order during the summer of 1982, relocating from their Pacific Heights home to a residential hotel in San Francisco. According to reports, Patrick allegedly called Nancy on August 8 to pick up their daughter Alison a day early, after which Nancy disappeared and was later found dead. Her vehicle was recovered in Patricks garage.

Alison Galvani reflected on the lasting impact of her mothers unresolved murder, admitting she has struggled with questions about her fathers possible role. She described how uncertainty over her mothers death affected her personal life, including moments at her wedding and earlier confrontations with Patrick where she accused him of the crime. He reportedly responded, It wasnt my fault.

Author: Lucas Grant