Police look to link person of interest in Danielle Stislicki's disappearance to unsolved sex crimes

Floyd Galloway Jr. charged in Livonia sexual assault case

LIVONIA, Mich. – Police from multiple Metro Detroit agencies are investigating possible links between the person of interest in Danielle Stislicki's disappearance and unsolved sex crimes, Local 4 News has learned.

Floyd Galloway Jr. appeared in court Thursday via video livestream for a probable cause conference on charges stemming from an attack on a jogger at Hines Park in Livonia.

Galloway, of Berkley, is considered a person of interest in the case of 28-year-old Danielle Stislicki's disappearance.

In the Hines Park case, he's charged with sexually assaulting a jogger during a September attack at Hines Park. He faces charges of kidnapping, criminal sexual conduct with intent to commit penetration, and assault with intent to do great bodily harm by strangulation.

As he faces charges in the case, police are exploring possible links Galloway might have to other unsolved cases.

Stislicki, of Farmington Hills, has been missing since last December. Galloway's arrest in the Hines Park attack was a huge break in her cold case.

Livonia police recovered DNA evidence from the attack and, working with Farmington Hills police, named Galloway a suspect in the brutal rape attempt.

It's believed that DNA is a huge part of the Hines Park case, but details of the case remain sealed by the judge.

With Galloway in custody, investigators in the Stislicki case have been quiet about the connections. But the focus on Galloway has never been more intense.

Local 4 has learned that multiple agencies are checking to see if unsolved attacks and sex crimes could be linked to Galloway. Livonia has checked him out in connection to three cases, but so far investigators haven't tied him to any new cases.

Galloway's preliminary examination will be Aug. 1. His attorney, John Dakmak, waived his client's right for a preliminary examination within seven days of the date of the probable cause conference. 

Hines Park jogger attack

On Sept 4, a 28-year-old woman told officers that a man wrapped his arms around her neck and struck her on the side of her face when she was jogging in Hines Park. She struggled with the attacker as he attempted to drag her toward the Rouge River. Police said the man attempted to remove her clothing and told her that he wanted to have sex with her.

The victim was able to fight off the man and run away. She flagged down a motorist and used his phone to call police. 

Connection to Stislicki

Galloway, 30, is no stranger to the Stislicki family. He was a security guard at a Southfield building where Stislicki and her mother, Ann Stislicki, worked. That's the last place the 28-year-old Farmington Hills woman was seen in December.

"Floyd would watch many folks who would work late at night," Ann Stislicki said. "Would watch you walk to your car to make sure you were OK."

Ann Stislicki said Galloway was always kind and professional in his dealings with her.

Farmington Hills police said they have been working with Livonia police and have spoken to Galloway in the past. 

"The detectives investigating the Stislicki case have spoken to Galloway in the past and have conducted previous searches at his Berkley home," Farmington Hills police said in a statement released June 28. "Galloway is a former security guard who worked for a contracted company that previously provided security at MetLife in Southfield where Danielle Stislicki was employed. Galloway was acquainted with Danielle during his security duties at MetLife."

The combined evidence collected from both investigations led Livonia police to arrest Galloway. Farmington Hills police wouldn't be specific about the evidence.

View: Timeline in Danielle Stislicki's disappearance

Berkley home searched in December

Galloway's home in Berkley was searched on Dec. 22, 2016, about three weeks after Stislicki vanished. Law enforcement officers searched the home, which is in the 2900 block of Oxford Road in Berkley. Sources told Local 4 a mattress and other items were taken out of the home. Neighbors said the man living at the home has not been seen in Berkley since police searched the home.

Officers carried a mattress out of the home. Local 4 was told some floorboards were confiscated by authorities and sent out for testing. Police also removed a car from the garage.

Neighbors didn't want to speak on camera, but one said it's "very unnerving" and "feels better that he's at least in custody." He was shocked Galloway has been named as a person of interest and very upset that he's charged in the Hines Park attack.

Galloway, 30, has a clean criminal past, other than a misdemeanor charge for operating while intoxicated in 2008. He pleaded guilty to the charge and received six months' probation. 

Allen Park police investigate similarities

Allen Park police are investigating similarities between a sexual assault case they are investigating and the Hines Park attack case investigated by Livonia police.

In September, Livonia police released a sketch of the attacker. Allen Park police said that sketch is similar to the one they released Tuesday in connection to a sexual assault that took place on June 10, 2017. Allen Park police believe the cases could be connected due to the similarity of the sketches, which were made by two different sketch artists.

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About the Authors:

Local 4 Defender Shawn Ley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has been with Local 4 News for more than a decade.

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.