LIVONIA, Mich. – The mother of Danielle Stislicki sent a strong message Tuesday in the search for her missing daughter after watching the person of interest in her disappearance agree to a plea deal in a different case.
"We will not give up," Ann Stislicki said. "We are here, and we are not going to give up."
Tuesday's guilty plea was centered around a Hines Park assault case, but the spotlight still shines on Floyd Galloway in connection with Stislicki's case.
Galloway was named a person of interest in the disappearance of Danielle Stislicki, and her mother and sister sat in the courtroom Tuesday with a message for Galloway.
It was a difficult day for the Stislicki family. Ann Stislicki said she had to be in court Tuesday to see the face of the man named a person of interest in her daughter's disappearance.
"It was, for us, the opportunity to go ahead and let him know we are still here," Ann Stislicki said.
Danielle Stislicki mysteriously disappeared Dec. 2, 2016, after leaving her office in Southfield. It's the same place where Anne worked and Galloway was a security guard.
"When he spoke, how did you feel?" Local 4 Defender Karen Drew asked Ann Stislicki.
"It was unnerving," she said. "That is the Floyd Galloway I know, so I was glad he was advised to admit the guilt."
Galloway took the plea deal in the Livonia jogger attack, admitting to kidnapping, sexual assault and strangulation. In his words, he did it in order to have sex with her.
"We are grateful that the results of today's hearing means the Hines Park survivor does not have to go through and testify to a jury and relive that situation," Ann Stislicki said.
It was the first step for justice in the Livonia case, but now the question remains: Did Galloway have anything to do with Danielle Stislicki's disappearance?
"Now it will give us an opportunity, for all the resources that have been on Dani's case, too, to go ahead," Ann Stislicki said. "An opportunity to spend the time on what we need to do."