Alison Galvani, a Yale epidemiology professor, went public after her 81-year-old father, Patrick Galvani, was arrested in connection with the 1982 death of her mother, Nancy Galvani. Nancy’s body was found near the San Mateo Bridge in August 1982; the case remained unsolved for decades before recent developments prompted new charges. Patrick was an early suspect but was not charged at the time; his current attorney maintains his innocence. He is held without bail pending a Jan. 15 hearing.
Yale Professor’s Father Arrested in Decades-Old Murder of Her Mother; She Says He ‘Used Me as Bait’
Yale professor’s father charged in mother’s decades-old murder, says he ‘used me as bait’: report
A Yale epidemiology professor has spoken publicly after her 81-year-old father was arrested in connection with the 1982 killing of her mother — a case that remained unsolved for more than four decades.
Recent Arrest
On Nov. 24, the Foster City Police Department announced that Patrick Galvani was taken into custody in San Francisco and booked into the San Mateo County Jail on a murder charge tied to the death of his wife, Nancy Galvani. Authorities say the case was reviewed multiple times over the years and "remained unsolved until recent developments allowed investigators to move forward," though officials have not publicly detailed those developments.
What Happened in 1982
According to police, Nancy’s body was discovered in August 1982, "floating inside a sleeping bag near the San Mateo Bridge" in Foster City. At the time, Patrick was considered a suspect, but charges were dropped due to a lack of witnesses and usable evidence. Earlier defense filings said Patrick had passed a polygraph and suggested Nancy was experiencing mental-health issues.
The moon rises over San Francisco Bay behind the San Mateo Bridge in Foster City, California, on Dec. 15, 2024.
Family Reaction
Alison Galvani, now an epidemiology professor at Yale who was about five years old when her mother was killed, told the Los Angeles Times she is grateful investigators and prosecutors have pursued the case. In a text to the paper she said investigators display "an extraordinary combination of compassion and resolve" to bring clarity to a decades-old tragedy.
"I have long feared my father used me as bait to lure my mother to her death," Alison told the L.A. Times. She said the uncertainty about her mother’s final hours has haunted her for decades and even affected personal milestones, recalling that she asked her father to walk ahead of her at her wedding so she "did not have to touch him."
Allegations and Legal Status
Police say that on Aug. 8, 1982, Patrick allegedly asked Nancy to pick up their daughter a day earlier than planned under a shared-custody arrangement; Nancy disappeared that evening and was found dead days later. Investigators also noted that Nancy’s yellow Buick was located inside Patrick’s garage.
Patrick’s current attorney, Douglas Horngrad, has maintained his client’s innocence, saying the original case was dismissed for lack of evidence and that he believes the evidence now is unchanged. San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe told the L.A. Times prosecutors "think we have enough to convict" and said an ambitious prosecutor is pursuing the case.
Next Steps
Jail records list Patrick Galvani as being held without bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 15. Representatives for Alison Galvani, Horngrad’s office and the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office did not respond to additional requests for comment.
