More key evidence against the man accused of murdering Danielle Stislicki can’t be used during his trial.
Floyd Galloway returned to court Wednesday for a pretrial hearing. His defense is trying to kick out the prosecution team, and the judge is going to rule later on that request.
Meanwhile, Local 4 learned that more evidence is being suppressed in his trial.
New court documents show the searching of Galloway’s home was well within reason, but his wallet and TCF bank debit card, as well as any transactions made on that card, must be suppressed.
Prosecutors were hoping to use a purchase that Galloway made at a Bed Bath & Beyond store, but now that evidence is off limits.
In all, there are 16 pieces of evidence being suppressed because the judge ruled it was collected illegally. That includes Stislicki’s Fitbit, her keys, surveillance video of Galloway, and a taxi ride from when Stislicki disappeared.
Stislicki’s disappearance
Stislicki, 28, disappeared over eight years ago in Oakland County.
She walked out of her office in Southfield on Dec. 2, 2016, and was never seen again. Her body has never been found. Floyd Galloway, a security guard who worked in her office, was charged with her murder.
According to prosecutors, Galloway was known to seek out or flirt with Stislicki, and had previously sent her flowers. Galloway told police he had worked until 11 p.m. that night. Investigators later learned that Galloway did not work and had called off for a “doctor appointment.”
A witness said that Galloway was in the parking lot of the office with the hood up on his Buick Regal. A witness later told police they saw Galloway in the passenger seat of Stislicki’s Jeep Renegade and they were leaving the parking lot.
Stislicki had plans to go to dinner with her best friend that evening but did not show up and did not contact her friend. She was never seen again.
--->View: Full interactive timeline of the Danielle Stislicki murder case
Galloway was ordered to stand trial for Stislicki’s murder back in September 2019, nearly three years after the 28-year-old woman went missing. The trial is scheduled to begin in February 2026.
Hearing on Wednesday
Galloway appeared in court on July 16 for a pretrial hearing. His attorney filed a motion to disqualify the attorney general’s office from the case.
The defense attorney asked the judge to consider giving the case to “untainted” prosecutors. She said that the attorney general’s office was the reason there had been suppressed evidence due to the “mishandling” of the case.
Prosecutors on the case responded to the motion, stating that the suppressed evidence provides the defense “a shield, not a sword” in the trial, and there is no legal authority for the court to decide on this.
The prosecutors said the memorandum in this case clarified that there is evidence that is privileged information, therefore, it cannot be used. They said everyone involved in the case is expected to follow the orders of the court.
The judge did not make an immediate decision on the motion. He said he will be issuing a written opinion. It’s not clear when the opinion will be released.
More about this case
Danielle Stislicki walked out of her office on Dec. 2, 2016, and was never seen again. Her body has never been found. Floyd Galloway, a security guard who worked in her office, has been charged with her murder.
According to prosecutors, Galloway was known to seek out or flirt with Stislicki, and had previously sent her flowers. Galloway told police he had worked until 11 p.m. that night. Investigators later learned that Galloway did not work and had called off for a “doctor appointment.”
A witness said that Galloway was in the parking lot of the office with the hood up on his Buick Regal. A witness later told police they saw Galloway in the passenger seat of Stislicki’s Jeep Renegade and they were leaving the parking lot.
Stislicki had plans to get to dinner with her best friend that evening but did not show up and did not contact her friend. She was never seen again.
Floyd Galloway is currently serving a 16-to-35-year sentence for the kidnapping and sexual assault of another woman, a jogger he encountered a few months before Danielle Stislicki disappeared.
---> View: Full interactive timeline of the Danielle Stislicki murder case
How tainted evidence was discovered
Galloway took a lie detector test seven days after Stislicki vanished. The lie detector test was ordered by an attorney that Galloway had hired. James Hoppe, a former FBI agent, administered the test.
Something Galloway said during the test disturbed Hoppe so much that he called his personal friend and then chief of police of the Troy police, Gary Mayer, and relayed what he learned during the test.
According to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Hoppe told Mayer that “he had information on the security guard and the homicide, and he said that he wanted to relay it, it was very important, but he couldn’t relay it unless [Mayer] could keep his identity confidential.”
Mayer shared the information with Farmington Hills police Chief Chuck Nebus, who was investigating the case.
Nebus filled out a tip sheet, stating: “A caller said the security guard did it. He drove the victim’s car from his house in Berkley to her apt., then walked to Tim Horton’s at 10 and Halsted where he called Shamrock cab or something that sounds like Shamrock where he received a cab ride to within walking distance from his work where his car was parked. There should be evidence on or in the victim’s car. The subject threw the victim’s keys in a grassy area by the freeway while walking to Tim Hortons. The Fitbit should be near the keys. The victim’s cell phone was placed in the trash inside Tim Hortons. The victim’s body should be inside a beige and brown comforter. Upon further questioning, the caller had no further information and wished to remain anonymous.”
Following that tip, investigators found Stislicki’s Fitbit, keys, and obtained forensic data from her cell phone. They also obtained testimony of Galloway being spotted at a nearby Tim Horton’s, surveillance video and phone records from the coffee shop and evidence of a cab ride Galloway took that night from where near where Stislicki vanished.
The evidence that has been excluded from the trial:
- Danielle Stislicki’s Fitbit, keys, and telephone.
- The testimony of persons working at Tim Hortons.
- Surveillance footage and phone records from Tim Hortons.
- Surveillance footage from a gas station near Tim Hortons.
- Information from the Green Cab company.