Murder trial begins for Florida woman accused of killing her stepdad-turned-husband

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (TCD) -- A 48-year-old woman is standing trial 3 1/2 years after she allegedly stabbed her former stepfather, who later became her husband.

Orange County Court records show jury selection for Danielle Redlick’s trial began June 6 and opening statements on June 9. She has been charged with second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence for the death of 65-year-old Michael Redlick.

On Jan. 12, 2019, Winter Park Police Department officers responded to a home on the 1200 block of Temple Drive at 9:30 a.m. regarding a death. Police said they discovered a deceased male in his 60s and were treating his death as "suspicious." Danielle has been in custody since February 2019.

According to WKMG-TV, Michael Redlick worked at the University of Central Florida’s DeVos Sport Business Management Program as the director of external affairs and partnership relation. Spectrum News 13 reports Michael Redlick was married to Danielle’s mother. When Danielle’s mother died, he and Danielle began a relationship, got married, and have two children together.

Their relationship, however, reportedly became rocky before Michael’s death.

According to the affidavit, Danielle called Winter Park Police the morning of Jan. 12 and said there was a "tragedy at her home" because she "believed her husband was deceased."

Danielle reportedly told the 911 operator her husband had died the night before and she believed he might have died from a heart attack. She claimed she and Michael "had an altercation and he stabbed himself," so she ran into the bathroom to hide.

The affidavit says Danielle and Michael got into an altercation the night of Jan. 11 at approximately 10:30 p.m. because he was "trying to choke and suffocate her."

When she came out of the bathroom, he was "'out of it' and she was slipping on his blood." The operator asked why she didn’t call 911 the night he died, and Danielle reportedly said she was on probation and "was afraid and I didn’t think anyone would believe me and I was just trying to get him to wake up."

She went to sleep and then allegedly cut her wrists when she woke up.

A detective arrived at the scene and saw Michael "laying on his back with his arms stretched out in a 'T' position." The detective reportedly noticed the room had "circular marks in the blood as if someone attempted to clean up the blood" as well as blood in several other rooms.

According to the affidavit, the detective noticed a "strong smell of bleach" and found Michael’s shirt underneath a pile of bloody towels. A trail of blood reportedly led from room to room.

The medical examiner determined Michael died from a stab wound to the torso and there were "no signs of a heart attack." At the autopsy, the medical examiner and detective reportedly noted there were defensive wounds on Michael’s arm.

One witness reportedly told the detective Michael said in the past that Danielle "is crazy but as long as I hide the steak knives everything will be fine."

In February 2020, WKMG reports Danielle rejected a plea deal which offered her 10 years in prison for a guilty plea to manslaughter.

Her trial continues in Orange County, Florida.

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