A Cold Case Reopened: The Suspicious Death of Nancy Galvani
For years, renowned epidemiologist Alison Galvani suspected that she had spent part of her childhood raised by a killer. Her mother, Nancy Galvani, was found dead in 1982, and despite Alison’s efforts to convince authorities of her father’s involvement, no arrest was made. That changed recently, when 81-year-old Patrick Galvani was taken into custody by the Foster City Police Department.
The police department announced that Patrick Galvani was arrested without incident and charged with murder by the San Mateo County district attorney’s office. He is currently being held in the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City and is due to appear in court. Patrick Galvani’s attorney, Douglas Horngrad, has stated that his client is innocent, claiming that the evidence presented is the same as it was years ago, when the case was dismissed due to lack of evidence.
New Evidence and a Renewed Investigation
San Mateo County Dist. Atty. Stephen Wagstaffe has revealed that new evidence will be presented in the case, although he did not elaborate on what that evidence entails. Wagstaffe expressed confidence in the prosecution’s ability to secure a conviction, stating that they have an “ambitious prosecutor” who can accomplish that. The Foster City Police Department has not commented on the circumstances surrounding Patrick Galvani’s arrest or the new evidence that led to it.
Alison Galvani, who is the founding director of the Yale Center for Infectious Disease Modeling and Analysis, has thanked the San Mateo County district attorney’s office and the Foster City Police Department for their efforts in pursuing justice for her mother. She praised their “extraordinary combination of compassion and resolve” in working to shed light on the case. The investigation into Nancy Galvani’s death began in August 1982, when a fisherman found her body floating near the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge.
A Complex and Troubling Case
Nancy Galvani’s body was found bound and weighted down, with evidence of strangulation. She had filed for divorce from her husband and had a restraining order against him in the summer of 1982. The couple’s 5-year-old daughter, Alison, was initially in the custody of her father, but was later sent to an English boarding school. Alison has spoken publicly about her suspicions regarding her father’s involvement in her mother’s death, stating that she believes he used her as “bait” to lure her mother to her death.
The case has been marked by controversy and challenges, including the destruction of physical evidence and a lack of witnesses. Patrick Galvani’s attorney has maintained that his client is innocent, citing a lack of evidence and a previous dismissal of the case. However, the San Mateo County district attorney’s office is confident that they have enough evidence to secure a conviction. As the case moves forward, it is likely to garner significant attention and scrutiny.
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