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Yale Prof's Father Arrested for 1982 Wife Murder
4 Dec
Summary
- Father arrested 40 years after estranged wife's 1982 murder.
- Victim's body found in sleeping bag weighted with a cinder block.
- Professor long suspected father, confronted him in 2008.
After more than 40 years, a Yale professor's suspicions about her mother's 1982 murder have led to her father's arrest. Patrick Galvani, 81, was apprehended last week in connection with the strangulation death of his estranged wife, Nancy Galvani. Her body was discovered floating near the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge, concealed within a sleeping bag weighted with a cinder block. The case had remained unsolved since 1982, despite Nancy Galvani having filed for divorce and a restraining order against her husband.
The professor, Alison Galvani, reportedly witnessed domestic violence and even an attempted smothering by her father. Despite his arrest shortly after Nancy's death, charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence. However, Alison never abandoned her belief in her father's guilt, confronting him in 2008. Authorities have recently revisited the cold case, stating that new evidence has come to light, leading to Patrick Galvani's arrest.
Patrick Galvani's attorney maintains his client's innocence, citing the previous dismissal of charges and claiming the evidence remains the same. Nevertheless, the San Mateo County District Attorney's office emphasized that murder cases are never truly closed. The professor expressed profound gratitude that investigators have finally listened to her persistent concerns after so many years.
