Yale Professor’s Father Arrested in Cold Case Murder of Mother After More Than 40 Years
FOSTER CITY, Calif. — In a stunning development that has reopened a decades-old mystery, Patrick Galvani, the father of a Yale epidemiology professor, was arrested and charged in connection with the 1982 murder of his wife, Nancy Galvani. The case, which remained unsolved for more than 40 years, has drawn renewed attention following the arrest made by the Foster City Police Department.
Nancy Galvani’s body was discovered in August 1982, floating inside a sleeping bag near the San Mateo Bridge. Despite multiple reviews over the years, the investigation stalled due to insufficient evidence and lack of witnesses. Patrick Galvani had been an early suspect but was never charged at the time; his defense team cited a passed polygraph test and claims that Nancy was suffering from mental illness.
Patrick was taken into custody in San Francisco and booked at the San Mateo County Jail, according to official records. His current attorney, Douglas Horngrad, maintains his client’s innocence, stating that the evidence has not changed since the original dismissal of charges. “This murder charge was filed against him years ago and the case was dismissed for lack of evidence,” Horngrad told the Los Angeles Times. “We believe the outcome will be the same. Mr. Galvani will be exonerated again.”
Contrastingly, San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe expressed confidence in the prosecution’s case. “We think we have enough to convict and we have an ambitious prosecutor who can accomplish that,” Wagstaffe said.
Alison Galvani, the couple’s daughter and a professor at Yale University, has broken her silence following the arrest. She was around five years old when her mother was killed and has described a fraught family history. In a rare public statement, Alison said she feared her father “used me as bait” to lure her mother to her death. She expressed gratitude toward law enforcement and prosecutors for their relentless pursuit of justice. “With an extraordinary combination of compassion and resolve, they are working tirelessly to ensure that light is shone upon even the darkest of cases,” she said in a text message to the Los Angeles Times.
The Foster City Police Department’s announcement on November 24 marked a significant breakthrough in what had been a cold case for over four decades. While the department has not disclosed the new evidence or investigative techniques that enabled the arrest, advances in forensic science and renewed investigative efforts have increasingly helped solve cold cases nationwide.
This case highlights the challenges law enforcement agencies face in resolving long-unsolved crimes. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has emphasized the importance of cold case units and forensic advancements in bringing closure to victims’ families.
As the legal process unfolds, the community and family members await further developments. The San Mateo County District Attorney’s office has pledged a thorough prosecution, while defense attorneys prepare to contest the charges vigorously.
For now, the decades-old tragedy that once seemed destined to remain a mystery has reemerged into the spotlight, reminding all of the enduring quest for justice. Updates on the case will be closely followed by both local authorities and the academic community connected to Alison Galvani.
For more information on cold case investigations and forensic procedures, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Justice websites.
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