Murder charge for wife of deceased UCF professor

WINTER PARK, Fla. (FOX 35 WOFL) - The wife of a University of Central Florida faculty member is being charged with second-degree murder, just a few weeks after her husband was found deceased.

On January 12, investigators say the body of 65-year-old Michael Redlick was discovered inside the Winter Park home that he shared with his wife, 45-year-old Danielle Justin Redlick. At the time, authorities called the death "suspicous" in nature.

On the same day that the investigation into Michael Redlick's death had begun, police learned that Danielle Redlick violated a probation rquirement that she abstain from alcohol.  That probation stemmed from a 2018 case out of Seminole County, in which she reportedly got into a fight with a woman and proceeded to push, kick, and bite responding paramedics and a deputy.  She was soon picked up for that violation.

According to a police report, Danielle Redlick first told authorities that her husband may have had a fatal heart attack, but she later told them he had stabbed himself.  The same report states that she waited 11 hours before calling police.  Police say she also admitted that she and her husband were the only two people at their home at the reported time of her husband's death. Officers said she told them did not call sooner, because she was scared, on probation and exhausted.

Court records show that Danielle Redlick filed for divorce from her husband last March, but she later withdrew and they never got divorced. 

She was arrested on Wednesday morning and is currently being held at the Orange County Jail on charges of second-degree murder with a weapon, and tampering with evidence.

Michael Redlick was the director of external affairs and partnership relations for the DeVos Sport Business Management Program at UCF. He had previously worked for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Cleveland Browns and Memphis Grizzlies.